Bali and Bleasdale elected
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Published on 13 September 2018
Councillor Stephen Bali MP has been re-elected Mayor of Blacktown City Council and Councillor Tony Bleasdale has been re-elected Deputy Mayor.
In a 10-4 vote along party lines, Labor Councillor Bali enters his fourth term as Mayor of Blacktown City, defeating Liberal candidate Councillor Jess Diaz.
“Being elected for a fourth term as Mayor of Blacktown City is a great honour, privilege and responsibility. I sincerely thank the Councillors of this city for their faith and trust,” Mayor Bali said.
“My pledge is to continue to be a strong advocate for our city and a voice for Western Sydney.
“The past term of office has been highlighted by strong economic growth and the commitment to Transform Blacktown City.
“This year we announced Blacktown City Council’s largest budget, $623 million, cementing our plan to ensure the City is prepared for the 522,000 people who will live here by 2036. Blacktown City is the economic powerhouse of Western Sydney with a $15.6 billion local economy with an economic growth rate of 7.2% compared to Australia’s 2.4% growth rate.
“While Council is proud of its economic management, we are also proud of our record in providing services to our community budgeting more than $110 million dollars towards acquiring and improving our parks, recreation areas and community facilities in new release areas and across the city.
“Council will continue the transformational projects to deliver a vision for Blacktown to be a City of Talent.
Construction will begin next year on a multi-storey underground car park in Warwick Lane, which will be the springboard for the transformation of our CBD with a multi-storey business, commercial, residential and education precinct.
“An Expressions of Interest process has been called for universities to establish a campus in the transformed CBD, giving our kids the opportunity to reach the highest levels of education here in Blacktown. Council expects to confirm a partner during 2019
“Our vision for Blacktown City brings with it strong expectations and in return we promise stability and consultation as we seek to continue to deliver the outcomes needed for our community.” Mayor Bali said.
Deputy Mayor Tony Bleasdale said he was honoured and privileged to be re-elected to the position.
“I am looking forward to continuing in the office and supporting Mayor Bali and my fellow Councillors on our transformational journey and using my position to benefit the community of Blacktown.
“Having a strong and united Council brings stability of decision making, but also brings with it the responsibility to consult all our residents and ratepayers to ensure Council is a seen as service provider and leader, not a faceless, soul-less bureaucratic machine,” Deputy Mayor Bleasdale said.
Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Stephen Bali
Councillor Stephen Bali was first elected to Blacktown City Council in March 2004 and was re-elected Mayor in September 2016. He is married to Anne and they have a son, Stephen Jr.
Blacktown born and bred, he lives in Doonside and is a second-generation Councillor. His father, Charlie Bali, served on Council from 1977 to 1984 and was Deputy Mayor from 1982-84.
Key highlights of Councillor Bali’s contribution to Council include:
• Chair of the Blacktown City Sports and Recreation Committee 2004 – 2012
• Deputy Mayor 2009-2010
• Coordinator of 2007 & 2011 Blacktown City Games, with each Games having in excess of 60 sporting and recreational events and 350,000 participants and spectators in total. Personally raised $150,000 in sponsorships for Council to conduct the games events
• Reactivation of local village festivals and the Blacktown City Running Festival
• Reopening Mt Druitt Swimming Centre
• Defending the reputation of Blacktown after it was unfairly targeted by the SBS program “Struggle Street”
• Restoring pensioner rates discounts
• Bringing the Western Sydney Wanderers to Blacktown
A Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) with post graduate qualifications in finance from the University of Western Sydney and is a Fellow (F Fin) of the Finance and Securities Institute of Australia (FINSIA).
Mayor Bali is a former trade union official (National Vice President and NSW President of the AWU), and he was formerly a tertiary educator teaching company directors how to read balance sheets.
Patron of organisations including: Blacktown & Districts Soccer Football Association (BDSFA), Doonside Hawks Football Club, Doonside Junior Rugby League, Doonside Little Athletics, and Prospect Historical Association.
Cr Bali believes Councils must strive to improve the quality of life for residents through quality services and delivering a framework for business and community interaction for the betterment of all. Community consultation must be open and transparent to ensure that the goals set are achieved.
Deputy Mayor of Blacktown City, Councillor Tony Bleasdale, OAM
Councillor Tony Bleasdale has served a number of terms as Councillor. He was first elected in November 1996 until September 1999 and has served continuously since his re-election in March 2004 to Ward 5 in the Blacktown Local Government Area.
Councillor Bleasdale is a large contributor to charitable organisations and was recognised for this in 2010 when he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the Queen's 2010 honours list for his service to the community as a supporter of charitable organisations, and to local government in the Blacktown City area.
Councillor Bleasdale's charitable contributions are extensive and diverse and include (but are not limited to):
Financial Supporter, Gynaecological Cancer Research Fund, Westmead Hospital; Supporter, Blacktown Relay for Life, Cancer Council NSW; Financial Contributor and Fundraiser, Schizophrenia Research Institute; Sponsor, Construction Industry Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, since 2005; Financial Supporter, Mount Druitt Town Rangers Soccer Club, since 2007; Financial Sponsor, Matt McFadyen, Antarctic Explorer, 2003.
Councillor Bleasdale is also the Treasurer of West Tradies Club at Mount Druitt and was Director several times as well as being a Foundation Member since 1977. He was also Group Industrial Relations Manager with the W McNamara Group, 1985 - 1993; Assistant Secretary, Building Workers Industrial Union, 1979 - 1984.
He is Managing Director of the major construction industry labour hire firm Bleasdales National Contractors, a position he has held since 1999.
Councillor Bleasdale arrived in Australia from Liverpool, England in 1963 and is married with 4 children and 8 grandchildren.
Media contact: Communications Unit, Blacktown City Council Steve Adams – (02) 9839 6409 Martha Azzi – (02) 9839 5926 (phones divert to mobiles after hours) email: [email protected]