Success for Council’s budget forums

Published on 24 May 2019

More than 200 people have taken the opportunity to receive a detailed firsthand briefing on Blacktown City Council’s record $736 million 2019 Budget.

Council held two 2019 Budget Insight Forums - a business breakfast and an evening community forum.

The forums gave the City’s residents and businesses an opportunity to hear Council’s plans for the coming year and also to raise questions about Council’s income and expenditure.

Blacktown City Mayor Stephen Bali MP said: “We announced Blacktown City Council’s largest budget to date and gave an overview of our plans for a modern city where people can live, work, play and study.

“Despite restrictions on income, Council has delivered a balanced budget featuring major transformational projects including redeveloping Warwick Lane in the Blacktown CBD, establishing a university campus in Blacktown and developing an International Centre for Training Excellence.

“At the same time, Council has maintained a very high standard of service delivery and increased spending on roads, drains, footpaths, parks and bridges.”

The guest speaker at the business event was, David Mumford, Sales and Marketing Director of RBK Nutraceuticals based in Seven Hills.

RBK Nutraceuticals has grown from a business with three employees 20-years ago into a company with almost 50 staff which exports to 14 countries.

“Blacktown City is now home to many large manufacturing, export and professional services businesses. It’s great to be part of this City which leads Western Sydney in employment and economic growth and development.”

The Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Australian Catholic University (ACU), Paul Campbell, was the guest speaker at the Community Budget Forum.

He outlined the plans for ACU’s Blacktown campus including confirmation that a University information centre will open in Blacktown CBD later this year.

Mr Campbell said: “We identified Blacktown as a perfect location in Western Sydney for a campus. Once the campus is fully operational it will have the potential to accommodate up to 5,000 students across 4 faculties.”

Mayor Bali said: “Engaging with our community and giving them the opportunity to hear about the plans we have for this City is important. These are the very people who need to not only see what Council is planning, but also have the opportunity to comment on how they want to see this City grow and develop.

Blacktown City Council’s draft budget is on public exhibition until Tuesday, 4 June. Budget Feedback Submission details: Contact: Ross Kingsley, Manager Corporate Strategy and Economic Development Email: [email protected] Phone: 9839 6000