Council halts all outdoor activity

Published on 03 January 2020

Blacktown City Council will close its outdoor swimming pools and sporting fields and cancel all Council outdoor events this Saturday due to the extreme weather conditions and bushfire threat.

Council has already closed Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside in the Western Sydney Parklands from today until Tuesday.

Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale said; “The declaration of the state of emergency in NSW coupled with the forecast of high temperatures, ‘catastrophic’ bushfire conditions and the return of smoke into the Sydney basin has created a situation where we must take appropriate action.

“The weather conditions on Saturday and the level of bushfire activity is expected to result in a ‘hazardous’ air quality rating in Western Sydney.

“Blacktown City Council has a legal and moral obligation to protect the health of our workers, visitors and customers.”

Council has closed Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside from today until Tuesday. However, pre-booked weddings in the Bicentennial Garden area of the reserve will be permitted to go ahead under the supervision of council staff.

Council’s indoor pools will remain open, however conditions will be monitored closely to ensure there is no danger to customers from bushfire smoke entering the facilities.

Residents involved in sporting activities scheduled for Council fields on Saturday should contact their sport’s organisers.