News

Blacktown winning war with tossers

Our city the second highest in NSW for litter reduction

BLACKTOWN residents rank second in the list of suburbs that have reported the largest number of ‘tossers’ as part of the NSW Government’s Report A Tosser! Program.

Report A Tosser! launched in 2015 as part of the NSW Government’s anti-littering program.

Roadside locations are the number one littered sites in NSW, and the program aims to change behaviour and reduce litter by sending a clear message that littering is unacceptable.

According to NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Litter Prevention Manager Rupert Saville more than 58,500 people across NSW have registered with Report to EPA to report tossers littering from vehicles. Over 2,700 of these reside in Blacktown.

“It’s fantastic to be supported by so many community members who feel so passionate about protecting the environment. Currently, the Report A Tosser! community is over three times the size of the NSW Police Force and is growing,” Mr Saville said.

“The program is designed to empower the community to protect the environment and ensure it’s clean and safe for everyone to enjoy.

“It also sends a very strong message that anyone can be watching and, if you’re a Tosser, you will be fi ned,” Mr Saville said.

Around 25,000 tonnes of litter is tossed in NSW each year, costing the State and local governments more than $180M to manage. Cigarette butts and takeaway packaging (including straws, cutlery, and plastics) are consistently the top littered items.

“What many people don’t realise is cigarette butts are made from plastic and they don’t break down, leaching toxins into the environment and causing damage to ecosystems and animals.

“A bag carelessly tossed in rural NSW can end up being mistaken for food by a turtle or a straw can get caught in a turtle’s nose. If a turtle eats just one piece of plastic, it will have a 20% chance of dying. Sadly, only one in 1,000 turtles will reach adulthood,” Mr Saville said.

Report a tosser facts

Report A Tosser! is part of the successful NSW Litter Prevention Strategy that has reduced the volume of litter by 43% since 2013-2014.

To report littering from a vehicle you need to: • Have seen the litter being thrown, or blown, from the vehicle. • Be able to provide the vehicle registration details and the location where the littering took place. • Report the incident within 14 days. • Submit your report online through

Report to EPA

Once a report is made there are 18 steps taken to verify the report before any fi ne is issued.

A penalty for a littering off ence is like any other off ence. That is, a person may choose to have the matter heard in court and the presumption of innocence applies.

Tossers are getting tossed in Blacktown.

To Report ATosser! and protect our environment you can register at www.epa.nsw.gov.au/reporttoepa/

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ISSUE 4 | JULY 2021

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Work starts on next phase

JUST days after the official opening of the Warrick Lane underground carpark and plaza in Blacktown, work has started on the next stage of Blacktown City Council’s development and transformation of the CBD.

Contractors AW Edwards have started initial works on four development sites located in the area bounded by Warrick Lane, the railway line and Sunnyholt Road.

The adjacent lots of approximately 3,000 square metres each, were part of the former carpark that has now been made redundant by the new underground facility.

Blacktown City Mayor, Tony Bleasdale OAM said: “This is Council-owned land that has been slated for future development.

“The work on the four lots will add value to Council’s assets and provide prospective developers and consortiums with ‘ready-tobuild, clean sites’ that won’t have to undergo expensive and time-consuming demolition and remediation work.

“These sites will accommodate key strategic uses that will benefi t our City Centre. One is planned to house a purpose-built campus for Australian Catholic University, Council Administration Centre and the Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre.

“The others are slated for private development that may include commercial offi ce space, a hotel, assisted living accommodation and apartments.”

Work already underway includes removing old fi ll, levelling the sites, installation of a temporary detention basin and upgrading of services. The work is anticipated to be completed by October 2021.

“Council is committed to continuing the transformation of the Blacktown CBD into a modern, vibrant, sustainable city centre.” Mayor Bleasdale said.

The main building in Blacktown City Council’s Warrick Lane precinct redevelopment. The building and plaza sits above a 482-space underground carpark.

The redevelopment sites looking west from Sunnyholt Rd.

The redevelopment sites looking east towards Sunnyholt Rd.

INDEX

News .................................3 City of Opportunities .........7 Blacktown Workers ...........8 Cover story .....................10 BREED ...........................11 Property ..........................14 Michelle Rowland ...........16 Games Crosswords ........17 Trends .............................18 Travel ..............................20 Blacktown Business .......21 Directory .........................22 Fitness ............................24 Film .................................24 Business Awards ............26

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Execs sleep rough to support youth

THE reality is that there are youth in Blacktown’s local government area who are sleeping rough every night.

In a show of support and to raise awareness, management and staff from Blacktown Workers Club, led by Group CEO, Morgan Stewart, will sleep rough with a goal of raising more than $30,000 for youth support.

Blacktown Workers Club Group’s (BWCG) “CEO and CO Winter Sleep Out” took place in June.

The recipient of the fund raising is BYSA (Blacktown Youth Services Association), a youth-led organisation that has been providing resources to empower young people since 1986.

The young people that are welcomed into the BYSA community are often from disadvantaged situations, ranging from domestic and family violence, neglect, and homelessness.

BWCG, Morgan Stewart, who had participated in similar fundraisers in the past, wanted to embrace the cause of the winter sleep out, but keep it local to support the community in which two of the clubs in the Group operate.

“Homelessness is an issue currently aff ecting the Blacktown area and when the Workers team decide to make a diff erence, we want to see the impact in our local community. There are no more deserving recipients than BYSA–an organisation on the frontlines of youth in crisis and experiencing homelessness,” said Mr Stewart.

The Board of Directors of the Blacktown Workers Club Group donated $10,000 to the fundraiser, part of their ongoing support towards BYSA.

Long-serving President Kay Kelly showing her support to the cause and the team, by spending the night sleeping rough during the CEO and CO Winter Sleep Out.

Support for community

Major support for the fundraiser also came from the Payce Foundation, part of Paynter Dixon, the organisation currently undertaking the redevelopment of the club at 55 Campbell Street.

They followed their $20,000 sponsorship of the BYSA Outdoor Cinema with another $10,000 to support the CEO and CO Winter Sleep Out.

Paynter Dixon Executive Chairman and PAYCE Foundation Director James Boyd congratulated Blacktown Workers Club Group on another successful fundraiser.

From left: Mark Robson – Paynter Dixon, Colin Ipsen – Paynter Dixon, George Vella – Blacktown Workers Club Group, Terry O’Loughlin – Blacktown Workers Club Group, Grant Heanes – Gold Security Management, Jack Miller – Blacktown Workers Club Group, Kay Kelly – Blacktown Workers Club Group, Mayor Tony Bleasdale, Blacktown City Council, Stephen Bali, MP, Member for Blacktown, Morgan Stewart – Blacktown Workers Club Group.

Alison Becroft from BYSA.

For more information on BYSAv isit their website www.bysa.org.au; or find them on socials: www.facebook.com/bysa2 and instragram.com/ blacktownbysa.

Mr Boyd said: “Homelessness is a signifi cant issue right across Sydney and we were pleased to assist Blacktown Workers, who are great supporters of their local community. Paynter Dixon and the PAYCE Foundation look forward partnering with the Blacktown Workers Club on future social justice community initiatives.”

Also showing their support, the team received visits from Mayor of Blacktown City Council, Tony Bleasdale and Member for Blacktown, Stephen Bali MP, who both opened the night with heartfelt speeches and expressions of congratulations and warm wishes to the team.

Since introduced to BYSA by Stephen Bali MP in 2020, BWCG has been on a journey of support for the local not-forprofi t organisation, with donations and fundraising prior to the sleep out already exceeding $100,000. Unfortunately, BYSA is still in desperate need of fi nancial support due to a lack of government funding.

The CEO and CO Winter Sleep Out generated an extra $33,385 in funding for BYSA, meaning that the support from the BWCG has now exceeded $136,000.

BWCG and BYSA thank the wonderful supporters who made the fundraiser such a huge success.

Mithila's upholding family traditions

 DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

BLACKTOWN Hospital junior doctor Mithila Zaheen is passionate about her work, but she also has challenges far beyond the busy days caring for her patients.

Mithila has a passion for health equality, with a particular interest in improving access for rural, Indigenous and refugee communities.

She volunteers extensively including for a refugee tutoring service for the Sudanese communities, the homework club at Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation and with The Water Well and Share the Dignity programs.

Mithila is eager to give back to her profession in many ways. She has been appointed a Conjoint Associate Lecturer at Western Sydney University School of Medicine and is currently studying a postgraduate Master of Medicine in Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Sydney.

So, Mithila is certainly not afraid of a challenge and her hard work was recognised recently with an International Women’s Day honor.

Mithila was named a ‘Blacktown City Woman of the Year’ fi nalist at the council’s annual International Women’s Day breakfast.

Humbled and honored

She said she was “humbled and honored” to be recognised alongside 21 other women who have made signifi cant contributions to the local community.

Despite her challenging work and study load, Mithila makes time for her many volunteer commitments.

“I make it a priority to give back. It helps me feel fulfi lled when I make a difference for the wider community,” Mithila said.

“I grew up in western Sydney and my parents are migrants from Bangladesh so I’m passionate about helping underserved populations, especially Indigenous and migrant communities.

“I’m especially passionate about health literacy. It’s one thing to help people in hospital but it’s even more fulfi lling when you can educate people to advocate for themselves and their health. Especially with COVID-19, there’s so much fear and misinformation that I feel a responsibility to help educate the community.”

She’s just started her basic physician training at Blacktown Hospital, and is considering specialising in cardiology or respiratory disease down the track – while staying focused on helping western Sydney.

It’s no surprise Mithila comes from a medical background. Her parents are both doctors, her older brother, Dr Fardin Ferdous, is a fellow junior doctor at Blacktown Hospital and her younger sister is also studying medicine. “My brother and I did our whole internship together, which was really nice. It’s great to have support and someone to debrief with,” Mithila said.

Mithila and her siblings with their mother, who has worked as a GP in Merrylands for 20 years. Dr Fardin Ferdous and Dr Mithila Zaheen are siblings and fellow junior doctors at Blacktown Hospital, pictured on night shift together.

Blacktown Hospital junior doctor Dr Mithila Zaheen.

Sources: Western Health The Pulse, Blacktown City Council

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