Saturday 31 January 2015

Mount Druitt Suburbs And Surrounding Suburbs Propertry Sales Inceases Compared For 1 Year - Provided By Sydney Domain

Property prices have been steadily growing in the past year within Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs. A lot of current home owners may not take interest but they would be aware that  there are plenty of sales in these suburbs and also you can tell  by the amount of Real Estate Agents requiring properties for sale.

There is a need for home buyers, with medium to low incomes purchase properties which are in the lower end of the market, has great access to schools, shops, public transport and roads. Mount Druitt and surrounding suburbs has all these ticks.

For this is the main reason that I started this blogspot, 'Whyilovemountdruitt'. I had seen Channel News in December 2013, Mount Druitt & Whalan were announced as 'Property Hot Spots'. My immediate thoughts were that for this to happen, you also need to ensure that all community infrastructure was in place and improved. That Stake holders do not neglect improvements that need to be done changing the image of the area that is usually portrayed by the wider press (not the local press). 

I also have a 'Bee in my bonnet' as to why a large private sector shopping center management would knock back a Free Shuttle Bus looping around the business hub of Mount Druitt, over 3 thousand signatures obtained by Mount Druitt Commuters Improvement Group Inc and acceptance by the local business! This is and was a great improvement idea that would have  placed a lot of community pride within the area. 

So here are the increases for suburbs in Mount Druitt suburbs houses since the last year, only suburbs that had  40 or more property sold are in these results provided by  Sydney Domain

Click Here 




Friday 30 January 2015

Further To Naming Of 'Amery Square' In Honor of Mr Richard Amery, Current State Member Of Mount Druitt.....

I have received an overwhelming comment from a community member stating that 'Mr Amery has been the State Member for Mount Druitt for 31 years - this is a terrific suggestion. on Part Of Dawson Mall To Be Renamed To 'Amery Square' And A New Image Of Being Colourful!

First of all, to receive such a wonderful comment from a community member within less than 24 hours of publishing a blog is so so tremendous. Currently the spot mention is called 'Mount Druitt Town Square', part of Dawson Mall (as per Google Maps) - Yes it is historical. A change of name is could make the area a much better tag and name then it has and uplift the area.

In relation to Mr Amery being a NSW State Member of Mount Druitt for 31 years, slightly disagree as both Wikipedia and NSW Parliamentary information indicate he was a member of  Riverstone  in 1983 - whether Riverstone covered Mount Druitt in those days, we would have to ask Mr. Amery? But the point the community member may have updated myself in stating was Mr Amery was a NSW State Member of Parliament for 31-32 years, as well as his representation of State Seat of Mount Druitt.

Click here for previous blog

Part Of Dawson Mall To Be Renamed To 'Amery Square' And A New Image Of Being Colourful!

We, as community members of Mount Druitt and wider community elect Councillors, to Blacktown City Council, Ward  4 & 5, Federal Member of Chifley and NSW State member of Parliament. Not everyone wants to place their own hand up, stand up for the local community, take part in voting for major changes with NSW for better and mostly great improvements and finally take a NSW Ministerial Portfolio making policies for State improvement. Then in your last term of office, be the longest serving colleague in your team 'to wave the flag' and rebuild in opposition.

Okay, who am I talking about? Mr. Richard Amery, current Honorary State Member for Mount Druitt and retiring on 27th March 2015. We normally honor legends with naming a place of interest, street or suburb after them.

Parramatta City Council Colourful covers!
In my opinion, Mr. Amery should have the centre part of Dawson Mall  named after him as 'Amery Square'. This would be where concerts and festivals are held. It is our way of saying, 'Thank you for being our State Member for 24 years.'

At the same time, colour could be added to the area, similar to Parramatta covers provided in their public Mall. This I would let Council decide on!

Again on behalf of the community, 'Thank you!'

Click for Wikipedia details history details for Richard Amery 

Click here for current NSW Current Parliamentary Details on Mr Richard Amery

Thursday 29 January 2015

Community Members of Mount Druitt Still Dumping Rubbish!

It is frustrating to rubbish in many streets dumped and strewn everywhere you walk, you see it. It boils down to community pride and  how each community treats its own backyard a basic education.

This happened at corner of Hythe and Earl Streets North Mount Druitt
What may not be aware to community members, is the annual cost to Blacktown Cit y Council and at the end, ending up to ratepayers.

I still think that more signs should be placed around the area for potential fines warnings. Not small signs. Signs that stand out and send a strong message to the community. Also this should be policed by relevant authorities, with impounding fines if caught, especially on video.


The other way is to send communication in streets to residences and businesses (provide photographic evidence) and outline consequences if caught dumping rubbish illegally, maybe include Council's waste brochures that is available.


Click here for previous blog last year

Edmond Atalla - Labor Party Candidate For Mount Druitt - 'Why I Love Mount Druitt'

Today, I have received  the first response from one of the candidates running for the NSW Seat of Mount Druitt in the upcoming NSW State Elections to be held on 28th March 2015, telling the community, 'Why I Love Mount Druitt'!

This is something important to all community members that need to know, how each candidate feels about the area they represent. From here, people of the community may have a clearer and better picture or mind as to who they will vote for.

This is the first of its kind to share information of candidates through a social media as a blog to the Mount Druitt and wider communities.

Councillor Edmond Atalla, Ward 4 of Blacktown City Council and resident of NSW State seat of Mount Druitt is now the preselected  Labor Party Candidate for the NSW seat of  Mount Druitt.

Click Here For Edmond's 'Why I Love Mount Druitt'

(It is suggested that you may need to scroll up and down the page, once you are viewing it. This will enable the full document to be read)


I would like to also thank Councillor Atalla for his kind words of appreciation, to myself as quoted on his e-mail yesterday, 'Thank you for the opportunity to inform the community about my Candidacy and what I stand for through your blogspot.'


Click here for previous blog

Give us feed back as to what you think of this kind of social media presentation is like for the general community. If you like to spread the word around in the community, please do so!

Westfield Mount Druitt Leaking Ceilings And Possibly Roofs As Well!

Yesterday morning, I could see that with the down pouring heavy rain, buckets literally buckets were inside Westfield Mount Druitt, catching dripping water falling from ceilings.

You could see Westfield Staff scratching their head as to what to do. I probably sounds easy, what is to be  done is to fix the problem, otherwise there maybe be many buckets along all arcades and then shoppers/walkers may not be able to move around.

I personally have been at Westfield Parramatta and I don't see this problem there.  Even though the buckets and warning signs were there, it appeared water was running downwards as a stream on tiles in one section! We all know the potential risk of having accidents and how to eliminate the problem, to make it safe. In my opinion, I think that Blackt





own City Council intervene as it is with their Local Government Area, assist Westfield Management Mount Druitt, leaking roof issues!











Outside was worse as there is no drainage along the arcade at Dawson Mall for the water to escape and this could lead to possible flooding of businesses if this is kept up. Check the gush of water coming from beside the camera on this right photo and the pool of water gathering at the entrances of local Westfield Shops! Improvements are definitely required in and outside Westfield Mount Druitt!

Wednesday 28 January 2015

Electronic Sign Boards At Mount Druitt Train Station Is Now Fixed!

The good news is I can now report that the Electronic Sign Boards were working today at Mount Druitt train station today, but there was stickers remaining on one of them!

Maybe, this can be fixed up in a shorter time!

Click here for previous blog 

Mount Druitt Hub Needs More Shared Cycling Paths or Special Lanes- Based On Observation Of Other Councils

On a recent trip to Canberra ACT and in NSW South Coast Regional Councils areas I have noticed that in Mount Druitt Hub, we are lacking in shared cycle pathways or special lanes for cyclists. Comparisons show that we are behind the times!

The Blacktown City Council current Blacktown City Council Bike Plan 2013 shows little cycle routes around this busy hub, that cyclists have a legal right to ride on.  In theses important areas, there is is no cycle route even to connect to other cycle routes within Blacktown LGA: Minchinbury, Whalan, Mount Druitt West, Emerton, Lethbridge Park, Bidwill, Hassall Grove and no links to Ropes Crossing route. Additional to this, Ropes Crossing is well looked after compared to older suburbs that hasn't been even looked at.

When you compare to other Councils,  cycleways are on major arterial roads - in Mount Druitt the Major arterial roads are Great Western Highway, Luxford Road, Carlisle Avenue and Popondetta Road. You will notice on our cycle map, areas hardly touched.

Canberra City Council (our nations capital) seems to be better funded then a larger populated Council as Blacktown City Council. I now think that that there has to be a push in Blacktown City Council to make cycle pathways connect to each other, colourful signs with information of the route of the cycle pathway and signs indicating historical places of interest etc. The signs must not be in black and white colourful signs attract the community to go more into healthy living cycling. Canberra has hundreds of community members (even in family groups) cycling around the city

Eurobodalla Shire Council has gone steps further to have volunteers planned and worked on new cycle pathways since 1986. They have beautiful coastal pathways that is used quite regularly.

Shoalhaven Shire Council also has been working towards 'Bike friendly Streets' and have well managed and planned coastal cycle pathways that encourage people to use cycles around the area.


Click here for ACT Cycle Maps

Click Here for Eurobodalla Shire Council  

Click here for Shoalhaven City Council Cycle Plans 

Although Regional Councils may plan differently to Blacktown City Council compared to area and landscape, we can do better to make Cycle Paths connect throughout all communities.

Another Suggestion To Warn The Community Of Rooty Hill Fireworks Events Being Cancelled Or Held Earlier!




There is another suggestion that I had thought of, overnight in relation to ways Blacktown City Council can inform the local community of any Rooty Hill firework events being cancelled altogether or  to commence prior to  event agenda of time. We just need to keep throwing suggestions to Council, until decisions can be made so that the majority of the community will how to be informed of any changes to any Rooty Hill Australia Day fireworks event.

Here it is use  the L.E.D. signs that are placed on the side of many roads,  that advertise goods and services and mostly used by NSW Roads and Maritime Services for road works. If these were  scattered around the area at major intersections and entrances to the event, this would be another way of notifying the wider community.

We will see if Council takes up this option in years to come. It would be similar to these signs used by the NSW Government:

Please ignore the wording itself

Click here for previous blog on it 

Tuesday 27 January 2015

Electronic Signs Not Working Platform 1 and 2, Mount Druitt Train Station

This morning, I arrived at the train station at Mount Druitt, shocked (like others) to see the most important  fairly new Electronic Signs on platform 1 and 2 not working. Luckily, audible notification was there as a back up.  I think we need to ask our local Hon. State Member of Mount Druitt, Mr. Richard Amery, to see how often maintenance checks are completed on the Electronic Signs at Mount Druitt train station and thus see whether this issue may be prevented for the future, to not happen again.

I also noticed that some commuters are placing stickers on these signs, which may block important information that is being read by public transport train commuters. If these two isues are not resolved by the NSW State Election date of 28th March 2015, then we hope the newly elected member of Mount Druitt, take this on and reports back to the community, unless Richard Amery does so, first!

By the way, platform 3 and 4 electronic signs were working!

New Traffic Stratergy From Blacktown City Council Traffic Officer - Stunned Community Members!

For many years,  at 'The Rooty Hill' for the Blacktown City Council Australia Day fireworks event  private cars have been parking along both directional sides of Francis Road, Rooty Hill and now temporary fences have been installed as barriers. This is preventing the Blacktown Local Government Areas community members to park in these available spaces.

I am sure that reports must have been received in the Traffic area of Council, recommending this to be boarded off for safety reasons or maybe there were complaints raised by neighboring properties for noise or abuse (we hope not).


Check the left side of Francis Road, Rooty Hill
Whilst Council does its best to accommodate for car parking and providing safety trafficking at 'The Rooty Hill', I get the impression that Francis Road was closed off in the expectation that it may have caused some potential accidents in the past. Also what happens if 'The Rooty Hill'  has car spaces fully utilised to its limit, in years to come - community members have to then walk further - again this may be a good health suggestion to the community to keep fit.

This may also be a new strategy to make more community members park on the hill! Hopefully, we will find out from Council.


Blacktown City Council Fire Works 2015 - Wonderful - Check Out The Videos!

Tonight, the Blacktown City Council Fire Works was held at an earlier time then expected. Yet this was due to possible worse bad wet weather commencing around 9.15pm.

As I arrived at "The Rooty Hill", the crowds were down from previous years. Here is the Video to confirm: Click Here for Video

I wasn't a hundred percent aware that the fire works event was starting early thus I missed a little bit of the beginning of it and also running from my car to a clearer area: Click here for First part of the fireworks

Then came the last part of the fireworks. Click here for the final Rooty Hill Fireworks 2015 

I hope you do enjoy it!


I personally, would like to Thank the Mayor, General Manager and Councillors and all Officers of Council for making this a great event! 

Please note that any comments/feedback would be appreciated about this years Blacktown City Council Rooty Hill Fireworks 2015!

Click here for Rooty Hill Fireworks 2014

Monday 26 January 2015

Blacktown City Fire Works Rooty Hill - Question Is How Does The Community Know If The Event Is Cancelled?

I remember a few years ago the Blacktown City Fire Works at Rooty Hill was cancelled due to extreme bad wet weather.

To publicize extensively and hold such a wonderful public event, the only thing that can stop it is wet rain. The question is then raised for the community and Council to respond too, 'How does Blacktown City Council inform all of the community of Blacktown local government area?'


In Blacktown City Council, it would  be difficult to inform the community unless notified by social media like twitter and face book. Although the event is sponsored by Channel Nine, I am not to sure whether it was advertised on their channel as a cancellation or whether the event would be held earlier.







 
The only problem is, the above is not enough to inform the community, on the same day. My suggestions after attending more then a decades worth of Australia Day events held by Blacktown City Council is that a flashing note could be on the home page of the Council's website indicating he decision of whether to hold the event or not. Other suggestions are to place the events phone number on the home page of the Council's website as well. Although yesterday I obtained a phone number from a drop down box from Council's website and later on could not locate it. Maybe others got the same result. 

Today, I twittered a question to Blacktown City Council twitter account@blacktowncc . As of today, it has 3,275 followers and this may not be enough to send messages to the entire Blacktown local government area. Blacktown City Council would need to take serious steps to increase the amount of followers. The first check would be to see if all Councillors are following it. From then they can ask their constituents to follow it and so on. The question raised was as follows:

10h hours ago
How do residents of BCC get notified of a weather cancellation?
and the response was from Council:
Blacktown Council @blacktowncc
yes, we will keep our followers updated on Twitter. At this stage the event is still on. You can also call 9839 6577 for updates.


And One response from the community:

favorited a Tweet you were mentioned in
10h:
yes, we will keep our followers updated on Twitter. At this stage the event is still on. You can also call 9839 6577 for updates.
 
Further suggestions are that through the NSW Government that there are paid advertisement/news read outs on all Free TV Stations at say, about 3pm, 5pm and 7pm informing of all Councils within Sydney, Fire Works being continued or not!
 
Should anyone in the community have any other suggestions/ideas please notify Blacktown City Council directly or contact nsjpas@gmail.com and will publish your suggestions.