Why I Love Mount Druitt!

This blogspot is created to try and get a great atmosphere of what Mount Druitt is all about. Also to provide photographic details of improvements in the area. We encourage all community members to add comments. Stories from community members, thoughts and comments. Send any information you would like, to advertise that you love of Mount Druitt, that is for the common good of all who live or visit the area. Become an author and publish blogs.. Contact e-mail: nsjpas@gmail.com

Thursday 30 November 2017

Blacktown City Council - Youth Ambassador Program

Here is a great promotional video from Blacktown City Council , inspiring our youth to apply and become our 'Youth Ambassadors'. this shows how this can change the lives of youth if they apply for this.

Click here for details

Wednesday 29 November 2017

Lifeline - The Gift Of Hope

"I was so relieved when I spoke to the person at Lifeline I can't express it...they offered me hope." - Trent

This Christmas you can give the gift hope to someone like Trent.

Dear John,

In the moments before Trent called Lifeline, he was scared. He didn't really want to die. He was afraid to hurt himself.

Trent was desperate. He thought that taking his own life was the only option.

This Christmas someone - perhaps someone you know or love - will feel the same way. Today you can be there for them.

Five years ago, Trent was a fit healthy 19-year old. He was a keen footy player who captained his local team when he headed off for weekend away with his mates expecting to have the best weekend:

"Little did I know that it was going to be one of the worst."
In a freak accident, a soccer cross bar collpased on him, crushing Trent's skull. His family were told the worst - but against all the odds Trent showed remarkable determination and survived.

The road to recovery was tough. Trent had to learn to walk, talk and do the most basic of tasks again. Every step of the way his friends and family were by his side.

There were many challenges and a few bumps along the way, but up until a few months ago everything was running along smoothly. It was then that Trent and his fiancé separated.

Trent was absolutely devastated but as a young man he thought he just needed to get over it. He told his friends and family that he was OK. But the reality was, he wasn’t:

“I lied to everyone. I said that I was doing well, and I dug myself so deep that I felt like I couldn’t go and then say I’m really struggling. So instead I told my family and friends I was in a good place.”

Thoughts of suicide began to crowd Trent’s brain:

“I was scared to die. I really didn’t want to die. I was afraid to hurt myself.”

At that moment when nothing but darkness and confusion filled Trent’s mind, he made a call to Lifeline.

That call changed his life:

“It was everything. It was non-prejudice, it was understanding. It was not pretending that you knew the answers. The guy on the phone listened and acknowledged everything that I felt … When I got off the phone, I felt an almighty sense of relief and calm come over my body.

He offered me hope.”

This Christmas, someone in deep distress - just like Trent - will call Lifeline on 13 11 14. That is why our need for your support is urgent, as sometimes the only thing that will keep them safe is that they picked up that phone.

That’s why I hope you will give from your heart this Christmas season. Your generous spirit and commitment will provide hope and healing to a fellow Australian.
Everyone deserves hope this Christmas.

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Sea Of White Ribbons

MEDIA RELEASE

29 November 2017

Blacktown’s Village Green was transformed into a sea of white on Tuesday in support of this year’s White Ribbon Day.

This week visitors to Blacktown CBD are invited to write a message on a ribbon and personally plant it on the Green to form a giant white ribbon.

The installation was organised by Blacktown City Council’s White Ribbon Committee - part of a program of Council events to highlight White Ribbon Day.

Mayor of Blacktown City Stephen Bali MP said it was important the community stands together and sends the message that violence in any form is wrong.

“We’re all aware of society’s problem of physical violence against women. Tragically, one woman is killed at the hands of a partner every week in Australia,” Mayor Bali said.

“But there are many other forms of violence: it can be emotional, psychological or financial.

“It is incumbent on all of us that if we know or sense someone is in this situation we make contact with them and ask ‘are you OK’?

“As a tolerant, caring community, we need to stand together and support each other to break this cycle of violence.

“I thank everyone for being part of this White Ribbon installation.

“Together, we are saying no to domestic violence.

“Together, we are sending a message that domestic violence has no place in our community.”

Blacktown Women’s and Girls’ Health Centre Chairperson, Olayidei Ogunsiji, is one of hundreds of people who has signed her name to a white ribbon in the Village Green.

Ms Ogunsiji said up to 400 women a week visited the centre seeking help with issues relating to domestic violence.

“On a yearly basis we see as many as 6,000 women,” she said.

“This is a huge statistic and one we need to work together to reverse.

“It’s important that we say as a community there is no excuse for domestic violence.”

The white ribbon installation will be in place in the Village Green until Friday morning.

Anyone wanting to take part is invited to pick up a white ribbon from the Civic Centre to sign and plant in the Green.

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A birds-eye view of the white ribbon installation at the Blacktown Village Green.

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Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali and Council Community Access Worker James Ansumana plant white ribbons in the Village Green.

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Blacktown City Council General Manager Kerry Robinson, Blacktown Women’s and Girls’ Health Centre Chairperson Olayidei Ogunsiji, Councillor Moninder Singh and Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali at the white ribbon installation in the Village Green.

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Council Scores Roads Upgrade

MEDIA RELEASE

29 November 2017

Blacktown City Council has scored a $58 million Government grant to upgrade two major roads in the City’s growing northwest.

Mayor of Blacktown City Stephen Bali MP said Council had successfully lobbied the NSW Government for $26.9 million to widen Hambledon Road between Stanhope Parkway and Schofields Road, Schofields.

Council had also secured a $31.6 million grant to widen Boundary Road and McCulloch Street between Schofields Road and Riverstone Road, Riverstone.

“The construction of these two major roads is a key part of the development of the North West Priority Growth Area and the responsibility of the NSW Government,” Mayor Bali said.

“Residents in Blacktown’s growth suburbs need more than just housing: they need a well-built road network that can handle increased demand, and they need this as soon as possible.

“Council has a strong track record of building major infrastructure projects, and building them quickly and well.

“For these reasons, we submitted business cases for the Hambledon Road and Boundary Road projects to the State Government asking that Council be enabled to build these roads.

“I’m pleased that the Government agreed with our proposal and Council can now get on with this important work for the benefit of our growing community in the City’s northwest.”

Mayor Bali said Council will upgrade both Hambledon Road and Boundary Road/McCulloch Street from two-lane rural roads to four-lane major urban roads, with construction to start early next year.

“Hambledon Road is a high capacity urban road and its reconstruction is essential to improving access within the Alex Avenue Precinct to Schofields Railway Station, Schofields Road and local schools,” he said.

“Boundary Road and McCulloch Street is a major road providing access to local streets, and a key flood evacuation route.

“When complete, both road projects will improve traffic flow, unlock land for housing development and accommodate future traffic growth in the area.”

The Hambledon Road project is expected to begin in February 2018 and be completed by July 2019.

The Boundary Road and McCullough Street project is scheduled to begin in May 2018 and be completed by October 2019.

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Tony Bleasdale And Peter Cosgrove: Paddo Mates With Parallel Lives

MEDIA RELEASE

28 November, 2017

The year was 1963. A Liverpool teenager by the name of Tony Bleasdale stepped off a ship into the streets of Sydney.

Alone except for a group of ragtag boys from the UK and a kindly woman who found them paid work and lodgings.

One of his first Aussie acquaintances was a knockabout lad called Peter Cosgrove.

One is now a successful businessman and Deputy Mayor of Blacktown City with an OAM and the other our highly decorated Governor General.

They bumped into each other last week when Governor-General Peter Cosgrove (AK, MC) was in Blacktown to shoot a video as part of his televised Australia Day address to the nation.

“The look on people’s faces was amazing when he said: “G’day Tony” to me as I walked in, Deputy Mayor Bleasdale said.

“It was absolutely fantastic to catch up with him and have a chat, considering it was 50-odd years since we were running around Paddington together as kids,” Cr Bleasdale said.

“He’s a kid from Paddo, just like me.

“We grew up in that area at a time when Paddington wasn’t the salubrious place it is today.

“Paddington in those days was Struggle Street: people didn’t have a penny to rub together between them, but it had a great sense of community.

“There was no work in Liverpool at that time and the city was in dire straits in terms of the bombing that had taken place in World War II,” he said.

“I heard about an employment scheme that was sending British boys to Australia.

“I came ashore in 1963 with a group of 15 boys after travelling for six-and-a-half weeks by ship.

“We were met by a lady named Mrs Ferguson who took us to a boarding house in Paddington and she organised immediately for the older boys to commence work at the Anderson Meat Works opposite Victoria Barracks.

“I would earn five pounds a week and I’d send two pounds over to the UK to my mother.”

The young Tony Bleasdale said he met Sir Peter at the Paddington Police Boys Club, where they were both members.

Similar to the now PCYC, the Police Boys Club was an organisation run by the local police that offered free activities for boys.

“The other day at our catch up we talked about some of the venues and personalities we used to know: local pubs and the characters you could find in them.

“One of my favourite memories is at a pub in Paddington. Sitting at the bar one day I looked over and I saw this man in a magnificent blue suit smoking a cigarette.

“It was Chips Rafferty, one of Australia’s most famous actors. He was like the Paul Hogan of that era.”

After a few years working in the Paddington Meat Works and “running around the streets of Paddo” Cr Bleasdale got a job in the construction industry.

This was the beginning of a long and successful career, which included 12 years as the assistant secretary of what was then Australia’s biggest construction union, the Building Workers Industrial Union, and later as the Group Industrial Relations Manager at the W McNamara Group.

In addition to his work as the Blacktown City Deputy Mayor and Ward 5 Councillor, Cr Bleasdale runs a national construction labour hire business and is a supporter of many charity groups.

For his part, Sir Peter went on to have an illustrious career in the Australian Army, rising through the ranks to become the Chief of the Defence Forces, before being appointed as the current Governor-General of Australia.

“It just goes to show that you can achieve anything in life, no matter your background and circumstances,” Cr Bleasdale said.

“You can go from being a working class boy running around the streets of Paddo to being Governor-General of Australia.

“Australia offers those opportunities and there aren’t not too many countries that do.”

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Blacktown City Deputy Mayor Tony Bleasdale at Blacktown on 15 November with his childhood friend, the Governor-General of Australia, Peter Cosgrove (AK, MC).

Ability Councelling Therapy Announces NDIS Provider..... 'whyilovemountdruitt' Face Book Group

This is great news for this organisation, which is helping many people feel Better and place themselves in a better sense of well being. Here is their post on our Face Book Page:

\Ability Counselling Therapy would like to announce the we are a NDIS provider for Therapeutic Supports - Counselling.

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NSW IPART On Local Government Document And Media Release On NSW Councils Rate Pefg For 2018-2019

Here we have NSW IPART ( NSW Independent Pricing And Pricing Tribunal) on the import local Governments Rates Peg and various other rates.
These are interest topics to pick up on for house/ business landowners

Click Here - Application Form Part B - Minimum Rate Increase 2018-19

Click Here - Application Form Part A - Special Rate Variation 2018-19

Click Here - Application Form Part A - Minimum Rate Increase 2018-19

Click Here - Application Form B Special rate variation 2018-2019

Click here - Application To Increase Minimum Rates - November 2017

Click Here - Community Awareness And Engagement For Special Variations - November 2017

Click Here - Media Release 2018-19 Rate Peg For NSW Councils - 28th November 2017

Click Here - Fact Sheet How NSW IPART Will Assess Applications For Special Variations - November 2017

Click Here - Rate Peg for NSW Councils - 2018-2019 -November 2017

Monday 27 November 2017

NSW IPART - On Local Council, Water And IPART Annual Report

The NSW Independent Pricing And Regulatory Tribunal document on Local Councils, Water and their annual report ready for your perusal:

Click Here - Annual Report IPART Functions in relation to local government in 2016-17

Click Here - Compliance Report - Licence Report Under The Water Industry Competition Act 2006 (NSW)

Click Here for NSW IPART Annual Report 2016-17

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Family Fun Day Fights Violence

MEDIA RELEASE

27 November 2017

The Blacktown community united to prevent domestic violence at the Blacktown City White Ribbon Family Fun Day on Sunday.

More than 400 people gathered at Stanhope Leisure Centre for the event, organised by Blacktown City Council.

Mayor of Blacktown City Stephen Bali MP said he was proud the community had come out in force to show their support for ending violence against women.

“On average, one woman is killed every week in Australia as a result of domestic violence,” Mayor Bali said.

“In the City of Blacktown, there is an average of 40 reported incidents of family and domestic violence each week.

“These are shocking statistics that have a devastating impact the whole community.

“To break this chain of abuse, we as a society must stand up and say ‘enough is enough, we want this to stop’.

“By uniting as a community as we did yesterday, each one of us lends our voices to a chorus that cannot be ignored.

“We are sending a message that domestic violence has no place in our community.”

The fun day included free games, face painting, a jumping castle, rock climbing wall and live entertainment on stage.

Council’s White Ribbon garbage truck made an appearance, alongside trucks selling food and coffee.

There were also stalls where visitors could pick up small white ribbons to wear and learn more about domestic violence and the White Ribbon Campaign.

“The White Ribbon Campaign is a global movement working to end male violence against women and girls,” Mayor Bali said.

“As a White Ribbon accredited workplace, Blacktown City Council has made a pledge never to commit, excuse or remain silent about domestic violence.

“We promise to protect our workers from abuse in the workplace and support them if they face abuse at home.

“Violence in any form is unacceptable and I ask all residents to consider gaining White Ribbon accreditation for their workplaces, and sign up to a program designed to prevent and protect people from abuse.”

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Caption to come.

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St Johns Ambulance officer Simone Bland poses with Dhruv Kakkad, 4, and his mum Vasvi Kakkad of Schofields.

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Nine-year-old Ava Morrison (centre) with Senior Constables of the Quakers Hill Local Command, Kristina Trebar and Alana Woodbury.

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Julia Micallef poses with son Jessie, 4.

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Five-year-old Ava Manning of Stanhope Gardens is photographed by mum Monique on the jumping castle

Blacktown City Council Follow Up On ' Have Your Say'

An item of interest from last week that we want to share with you.Y
ou may have seen the Channel Nine story that the people wanting to build an energy from Waste generator at Eastern Creek are offering 1,000 solar panel gernerators for local houses if their plan is approved by the NSW Government. Mayor Bali's response to this (also attached) was pretty straightforward:

Blacktown Mayor slams “blanket and trinkets” offer for EFW approval

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP has reacted with outrage to the offer of free solar panels for western Sydney residents if an energy from waste incinerator is approved at Eastern Creek.

Dial a Dump founder Ian Malouf has offered to install solar panels at 1,000 homes in Erskine Park and Minchinbury once construction of his controversial proposed waste incinerator begins.

See the story here.

“There is a rich man’s arrogance about this that reminds me of the way natives were conned out of land rights by being given trinkets, beads and blankets,” Mayor Bali said.
“Let me understand this: Ian Malouf thinks giving 1,000 homes free solar panels is going to change the opinion of the 2,100,000 people who live in western Sydney about his project?

“As The Castle’s Darryl Kerrigan would have said: ‘Tell him he’s dreaming’.”

“He’s desperate for approval, it’s a cynical offer and it’s demeaning to the residents of western Sydney.

Mayor Bali also says there is an irony about the offer to give away a super-sustainable electricity generator in exchange for getting support for a waste incinerating electricity generator that the EPA has criticised.

“If he thinks solar power is so good, why not go somewhere outback and make money from a big solar generation plant?
There is a hint of desperation about this, which has angered the locals, Mayor Bali said.

“The feedback I have been getting is that Mr Malouf’s attempted PR tactic has backfired.

“Locals are rightly acting with contempt that someone thinks going into a solar power lotto they will be convinced to change their mind.

“I am wondering if ICAC should be taking interest in a developer who thinks approval for projects can be won by a give-away campaign where opinion is shaped by doing favours or handing out gifts.

“Any project should be either accepted or rejected based on its merit, not on trinket giveaways.

Sunday 26 November 2017

Busways NSW Bus Region 1 New Time Tables As From 26/11/2017

Click Here - Busways 724 Route

Click Here - Busways 726 Route

Click Here - Busways 728 Route

Click Here - Busways 729 Route

Click here - Busways 738 Route

Click Here - Busways 739V Route

Click Here - Busways 740 Route

Click Here - Busways 743 Route

Click Here - Busways 744 Route

Click Here - Busways 745 Route

Click Here - Busways 746 Route

Click Here - Busways 749 Route

Click Here - Busways 750 Route

Click Here - Busways 751 Route

Click Here - Busways 752 Route

Click Here - Busways 753 Route

Click Here - Busways 754 Route

Click Here - Busways 755 Route

Click here - Busways 756 Route

Click Here - Busways 757 Route

Click Here - Busways 758 Route

Click Here - Busways 759 Route

Thursday 23 November 2017

Blacktown City Council - Media Release - Blacktown Celebrates Disability And Diversity

MEDIA RELEASE

22 November 2017

Blacktown City Council is celebrating the International Day of People With a Disability with a series of free activities across the city from 4-8 December.

International Day of People With a Disability (IDPWD) is an annual United Nations-sanctioned event that aims to promote an understanding of people with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights and wellbeing.

Mayor of Blacktown City Stephen Bali said Blacktown’s IDPWD celebrations were an opportunity for the city to foster an inclusive and welcoming community for all.

“With a population of more than 350,000 people speaking 182 different languages, Blacktown is one of the biggest and most diverse cities in Australia,” Mayor Bali said.

“I am proud to be Mayor of a city that embraces, supports and celebrates people of all cultures, backgrounds and abilities.”

Mayor Bali said celebrations kick off on Monday 4 December with the Access All Areas film festival at Max Webber Library, showcasing seven exceptional films from across the world.

“This international program of award winning short films will screen with a suite of accessible features including audio description, open captions and a kit for sensory screening with a social story,” he said.

“Also at Max Webber Library on Tuesday 5 December, there will be a talent showcase where visitors will be able to see and talk to a number of local disability service providers.”

Mayor Bali said celebrations continue on Wednesday 6 December with a picnic at Blacktown Showground hosted by Disability Services Australia.

There will be fun activities, entertainment and a barbecue for all to enjoy.

Festivities come to a close on Friday 8 December with an open day at Sargents Centre, Blacktown.

“I encourage everyone to explore this fantastic centre, which has been purpose built to help people with a disability and their carers,” Mayor Bali said.

“Visitors can pop into the centre on the day to have a look around and enjoy a free barbecue.”

Events dates and locations:

4 December:

Access All Areas Film Festival: Max Webber Library, Flushcombe Road, Blacktown.

· 10 am to noon – Children’s screening filmfestival10amsession.eventbrite.com.au

· 1 pm to 3 pm – Main screening filmfestival1pmsession.eventbrite.com.au

· 4 pm to 5 pm – Children’s screening filmfestival4pmsession.eventbrite.com.au

· 6 pm to 7.30 pm – Main screening filmfestival6pmsession.eventbrite.com.au

5 December:

Talent Showcase: 10am – 3pm, at Max Webber Library.

6 December

Picnic in the Park: 10am – 2pm, at Blacktown Showground, Richmond Road, Blacktown.

8 December

Open day at Sargents Centre: 10am – 2pm, First Avenue, Blacktown.

Pages

Thursday 30 November 2017

Wednesday 29 November 2017

"I was so relieved when I spoke to the person at Lifeline I can't express it...they offered me hope." - Trent

Monday 27 November 2017

Sunday 26 November 2017

Thursday 23 November 2017