Bankstown

Dear Residents
It’s beginning to look a lot like
Christmas!
Everywhere you go, our City is
decorated with Christmas joy. You
would have noticed Christmas trees
set up in town centres, retailers
fitting out store windows and your
neighbours lighting up their houses
to herald in the festive season.
Council too is embracing the
Christmas spirit this year with a range
of different events and activities that
are sure to keep the kids entertained.
Our Christmas trees are lit up across
our LGA and you can tick some gifts off
your list at Campsie Christmas Village
Market on Thursday 12 December.
Or if you’re feeling ready to rock
around the Christmas tree, Christmas
Carols in the Park will return to Wiley
Park on Saturday 7 December where
you can belt out a tune, indulge in
some festive treats and meet Santa at
his sleigh stopping firework show.
And if you’re someone who takes
pride in decorating your home during
Christmas, our Christmas Lights
Competition is well under way.
It was truly heartwarming to hear of
residents like a local family at
Roselands who are committed to
putting up 250,000 lights to raise
funds for the Children’s Hospitals at
both Westmead and Randwick.
I encourage everybody to get involved
and show their support by either
lighting up your own houses or by
visiting lit up homes this Christmas.
Celebrating Christmas is also a time
to remember those less fortunate.
That’s why I am encouraging
everybody to get involved in my
Mayoral Toy Drive and drop off an item
or two to our libraries and customer
service centres to put a smile on a
local child’s face
this Christmas.
As the year ends, let’s be thankful for
living in a peaceful country where we
can come together in harmony,
celebrate Christmas, and spread joy.
Regards,
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR

There is no greater privilege than
becoming an Australian citizen!
The freedoms we enjoy, the
opportunities to thrive and excel,
and the peace of mind knowing we
can raise a family in a country that is
peaceful and embraces cultures
from across the globe.
When I reflect on my own journey to
Australia, I remember being scared to
leave my old life behind. I was only 12
years old and couldn’t speak a word
of English, but my late father always
reminded me that with hard work and
dedication, I could achieve whatever
I put my mind to.
As the Mayor of a City that has more
than 150 different nationalities, I take
pride in sharing my story and my
dad’s message to the more than
2,000 new citizens sworn in during
Citizenship Ceremonies this year.
In the past 12 months, we have
welcomed people from more than
50 countries and no matter what age,
race, gender or religion, the one thing
they all have in common is their
decision to call Australia home.
One new citizen who really stood out
for me was 94-year-old Ghazala
Al-Hannoodiee. A grandmother who
left her homeland to travel thousands
of kilometres and begin a new life in
our City.
Leaving one’s place of birth is
difficult enough but to do it after
spending a lifetime is unimaginable.
Canterbury-Bankstown is one of the
most multicultural, multifaith and
multilingual places in the world and I
am proud to live in a City that
celebrates its diversity and
welcomes everybody to live
harmoniously.
It has been a great year, and I know
they will all be proud of their decision
to settle in our great City.
I encourage everyone to use this
privilege to make a positive impact in
our community and I look forward to
hearing about your wonderful
contributions to our City in the future.
Regards
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR

Potholes and bumpy roads are the bane of motorists and councils across the country, a feeling I know some of you share even in our City.
Our Council, like every other around
the country, grapples with dealing
with potholes.
Limited budgets and the never-ending cycle to repair them, where no sooner do you fill one in, another develops, is a major strain not only on our finances, but on our Roads Operations Unit’s ability to keep up.
This year, we have had unprecedented wet weather, with nearly 50% of
days affected by rain and the damage
to our roads is a constant drain on
our resources.
However, I am proud to inform you that of the 3,350 pothole reports to Council’s Roads Team in the past 12 months, there are fewer than 37 requests outstanding.
An unbelievable statistic and a great achievement by our road crews.
You might also be interested to learn that our City received a $10.2 million grant from Transport for NSW for heavy patching of our roads last financial year, and Council has spent every cent of that funding, plus much more, across each ward in our City to patch around 77,000 square metres of roadways.
There is no doubt our Council leads the way in monitoring and recording damage to our road network through AI technology on our street sweepers, maintenance inspectors and community reporting. We also have in place a strict timeframe to complete the repairs.
I have written to the NSW Premier Chris Minns to highlight the need for more funding and to come up with solutions on how to assist Councils to deal with these costly weather-related events.
In the meantime, if you notice a pothole on our local roads, please continue to report this to us at cb.city/ReportIt
Regards,
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek

Imagine a place we could gather and
enjoy a meal from countries near and far,
where every dish told a story.
Bankstown Bites offers just that – a
smorgasbord of dishes with aromas
and flavours mixed with the rich culture,
history and anecdotes of the people
who prepared the meals. A universal
language that transcends time by
connecting us to our heritage while
bringing us together with people from
all walks of life to try, share and compare
what is so unique to us.
Food really is a powerful symbol of unity,
and when I think of all the amazing new
and original restaurants and cafes
around our City, I’m proud of our rich
multicultural community.
We have access to hundreds of delicious
cuisines from all over the globe, and
whether you feel like warm pho on a
cold, rainy day, or a hearty kebab after a
hard day at work, we have it all right here
in our own backyard!
And there’s no better place to start
experiencing what we have to offer in our
City than to come along and be the
ultimate taste tester at our upcoming
food festival, Bankstown Bites.
I encourage everyone to join us on
Saturday 27 July, from 10am-4pm as we
taste the world at the tantalising food
festival that truly has it all.
With cooking demonstrations,
live music, dancing, and food tours,
plus an open day at Bankstown Arts
Centre, I’m sure there is something for
everyone to discover.
Plus, I’ll be on the job working my way
through the more than 30 mouthwatering
food stalls and sampling the
different flavours from around the world.
For more information about the food
festival, visit wih.city/BankstownBites
Regards,
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR

We are set to unveil an exciting
new play space in the heart of Bankstown.
Local parents and children will
love how we have transformed Paul Keating Park into an inspiring space designed to spark curiosity, encourage exploration and bring joy.
With an epic hero play tower, a splash pad to cool off on hot days, nature play elements to connect with the outdoors, comfy hammocks to relax in, and plenty of hangout areas to catch up with friends, it’s the perfect place to have a blast
or unwind.
More than just a playground, the Paul Keating Park creates a green space in a corridor linking the new Bankstown Metro, Western Sydney University campus, and the soon-
to-built $1.3 billion Bankstown-Lidcombe hospital.
And, if that’s not enough, you’ll
also be excited to learn that the
play area upgrade is just the first step in our 20-year vision for the
Paul Keating Park precinct.
I have no doubt our local kids are going to love the new play equipment and we’ll see the whole area come to life with activity.
This multi-million dollar project, built in partnership with the NSW Government’s Public Spaces Legacy Program, will officially open on Thursday 25 July, and I expect to
see residents both young and young at heart come out to experience the fun for themselves.
To learn more about the exciting plans for Paul Keating Park’s
future, view the Master Plan at
cb.city/PKPMasterPlan
Regards,
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek

When I look back on my childhood, I think
fondly of the hundreds of happy
memories I shared with friends and
family, and like many of you, I sometimes
wish I could rewind the clock and relive
the good days.
From getting ready for Saturday sports
with my late father, to riding my bike with
my siblings after school, there was
always something to look forward to.
And whether it was Sunday barbecue
with the family or simply coming home
after a long day to the smell of my
mother’s cooking, I always knew the next
meal was on the way.
But as each new day goes by, the sad
reality strikes me that these childhood
memories we often take for granted are
not a reality for the children of Palestine.
Children whose school day routines have
been replaced with running from war or
starving from the lack of food and water
available to them. And for many, no
home or warm bed to sleep in but rather
an overcrowded refugee camp.
Since October 2023, more than 14,000
innocent children have been killed and a
generation scarred with memories that
will last a lifetime.
There are many world organisations on
the ground in Gaza providing food,
bottled water, tents, blankets, hygiene
kits, fuel and offering mental health and
psychological support.
One of those organisations, UNICEF, is
leading the humanitarian aid and support
as this crisis continues.
That’s why I am calling on like-minded
community members and organisations
to support my Children of Palestine
dinner, in partnership with UNICEF, to
raise funds for the children in Gaza.
With proceeds going directly to its
Children of Gaza Crisis Appeal, I urge you
to donate and help give these innocent
kids their childhood back.
You can support the cause by visiting
UNICEF or cb.city/UNICEF
Regards,
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR
Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek @Bilal.ElHayek @ClrBilalElHayek
Contact me at: P 9707 9522 E [email protected]
10 July 2024