Blacktown’s $160m commitment

Blacktown’s $160m commitment

Published on 10 May 2018

Blacktown City Council will spend just under $160m to make sure its roads, drains, footpaths and bridges are kept in good condition in the coming year.

“My administration inherited a massive and growing maintenance backlog from the previous Liberal-controlled Council,” Blacktown City Mayor, Stephen Bali MP said.

“In 2014 when there was a change of Mayor, from Liberal control to Labor leadership, this Council was in debt to the community for $80 million dollars’ worth of work it should have completed.

“We have been working hard ever since to reduce it, and by lots of hard work and efficient practices, it is reduced to $51 million.

“We plan to reduce it further this financial year with a $23 million funding allocation,” Mayor Bali said.

“Maintaining a City as large as Blacktown is a massive job, and our aim is to make sure it’s all working properly,” Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said.

“A well-built and adequately maintained road infrastructure network is critical for any city – especially one that’s experiencing Blacktown’s level of growth and change,” he said.

“Our city covers 247 square kilometres; has 48 suburbs with another six on the way and is home for 360,000 residents and ratepayers.

“Last year, more people moved to Blacktown than any other place in the state.

“There are nearly 1,400 kilometres of roads and 1,500 kilometres of footpaths, which if joined end-to-end would take you to far north Queensland.”

“Roads should always be a priority for our city and our residents, and it’s a matter of balancing this with the financial impact on our ratepayers.”

“We are also spending an additional $1.25 million to maintain our open space facilities and sports fields.

“This includes the work needed to provide new parks and reserves in the North West Growth Centre and better maintain our trees, sports fields and playgrounds.

The total program of capital works includes:

building improvements across the city ($11.2 million) road and footpath improvements across the City ($25.3 million) drainage and stormwater improvements across the City ($20.6 million) rehabilitation of Breakfast Creek, between Bessemer Street and Richmond Road    Railway line, Blacktown ($1.2 million) ·open space improvements across the City ($13.8 million) upgrade and renewal works at Nurragingy Reserve, Doonside ($1.6 million) land acquisitions in new release areas ($80 million) land acquisitions across the City ($1.5 million) transformational projects funding ($5 million)

Media contact: Communications Unit, Blacktown City Council Robert Grieve – (02) 9839 6543 Martha Azzi – 9839 5926 (phones divert to mobiles after hours) email:  [email protected]