City Life | Issue 82 | Autumn 2019

WINNER AR BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD 2018

‘Most progressive council in NSW’

CITY LIFE Autumn Edition Issue 82 March 2019

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FUN NEW SLIDES AT AQUATOPIA

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Bring It On!

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Bossley Park Preschool

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Deerbush Park plans

Mayor’s Message Welcome to the first City Life of 2019. What a great year it is shaping up to be as we continue to work towards improving and expanding on services for our City.

New high speed thrill slides opened at Aquatopia.

Fairfield Showground’s transformation is happening before our eyes, with the cricket, AFL and festivals area finished and already being used. The Showground is being opened for community use like never before, but there is still much more to do, with the design of an indoor sporting complex, parks, walking and bike paths, off leash dog areas and outdoor gyms. The Showground will become a ‘mini Centennial Park’ for our City and I can’t wait for these further works to be ready for the community to use.

There is no doubt that Aquatopia is Western Sydney’s best value family water park and once again we’ve seen record numbers of families enjoying the facility. In January we opened the new 20-metre tall slide tower – the tallest slide tower in Sydney. I have tested all five of the new slides and they are definitely not for the faint-hearted!

Thousands celebrated the New Year at Illuminate.

These large Council projects are putting Fairfield City on the map but we recognise that everyday infrastructure is essential to our community too. That’s why we are about to invest $28 million into areas such as community facilities, a new library, parks, public buildings, local roads, footpaths and drainage. We also unveiled the new safer Bradbury Wharf at Chipping Norton Lakes in Lansvale, replacing the ageing timber structure.

About 3,000 residents enjoyed Illuminate, our New Year’s Eve event at Calmsley Hill City Farm. Lunar New Year celebrations in February were also a hit with event goers, and Culinary Carnival will return to Fairfield City Centre in June.

In January we acknowledged the recipients of the 2019 Australia Day Community Awards. Congratulations to those recognised for their commitment to our community. See more about the deserving winners on page 3.

2 Turf laid at Fairfield Showground as part of its transformation for the community.

Frank Carbone Mayor of Fairfield fcarbone@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

Good Governance and Leadership

AUSTRALIA DAY COMMUNITY AWARDS Australia Day Awards Above, left to right: Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone, Citizen of the Year Grigory Rogojkin, Australia Day Ambassador Arash Bordbar and McMahon Federal MP Chris Bowen.

Fairfield City Council recognised its outstanding citizens at the 2019 Fairfield City Australia Day Community Awards.

Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone recognised four residents for their exceptional work within the Fairfield City community. Congratulations to all nominees on their achievements and thank you to Mr Arash Bordbar, for being our Fairfield City 2019 Australia Day Ambassador.

2019 CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

2019 YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

GRIGORY ROGOJKIN Grigory has volunteered for the State Emergency Service throughout Fairfield City for more than 10 years. Grigory has also assisted with the Queensland floods, helped locate missing people and assisted the NSW Fire Brigade. He also gives his time to supporting Buddhist and Chinese New Year events, Fairfield Trolley Drive and Carols in Horsley Park.

ANGELIQUE CAVANAUGH Angelique was a member of the Fairfield Youth Advisory Committee and is a current member of the Fairfield Art Advisory Committee. She has volunteered for events such as the Cabramatta Moon Festival and Bring it On! Festival and has led and organised charity events for causes such as Relay for Life, Red Shield Appeal, Jeans for Genes Day and 40 Hour Famine.

2019 VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

2019 SPORTS ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR

JOE FARRUGIA Joe is a founding member and President of Western Sydney Cycling Network. The network is a group of volunteers that reconditions bicycles for the community, putting them back into the community rather than being placed in landfill. He also spends many hours teaching school children within Fairfield City how to ride and organises charity rides.

DANIEL HARRISON In 2017-2018 Daniel was selected in the U19 NSW Men’s Softball Team, who were runners up, and in the U23 NSW Men’s Team to compete at the National Championships where he was named in the All-Tournament Team. He has been named as a reserve for the Australian Junior Men’s Team. Daniel also helps coach younger players.

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Community Wellbeing

Grab your friends and get ready to be immersed in colour at this year’s Bring It On! Festival - NSW’s biggest and best Youth Week event.

Held at Fairfield Showground, the award-winning Festival is a massive showcase of youth talent and culture for young people and their families.

This year, Bring It On! will deliver an extra burst of colour, with Rainbow Run, where participants will run a fun and exciting obstacle course while being splashed with brightly-coloured powder.

There will be an array of competitions and activities, including DJs, food stalls, rides, sports, yard games, photo booth, air-brush tattooing, giveaways and loads more.

This year the Festival will focus on mental health, with youth service stalls offering information to individuals and their families throughout the day.

Free transport will be provided between the Festival and Fairfield, Cabramatta and Canley Vale train stations. The event is drug and alcohol free.

For more information, visit www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/BringItOn or follow the #BringItOnfest crew on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Stay tuned for further announcements.

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Sunday, 14 April Fairfield Showground

Community Wellbeing

CULINARY CARNIVAL

Culinary Carnival returns in 2019, bigger and better than ever!

The streets of Fairfield City Centre will be the place to be on Saturday 1 June. Experience a world of sights, sounds and flavours as we celebrate our colourful and diverse community.

Saturday, 1 June Fairfield City Centre

Gather your friends and family and spend the day enjoying great music and entertainment while tantalising your tastebuds with tasty, authentic and traditional cuisines from around the world.

The festival will run from 11am to 4pm in Spencer and Ware streets, Fairfield.

Follow ‘Fairfield City Council’ on Facebook, or follow @FairfieldCity on Instagram to stay up to date.

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Community Wellbeing

NEW BOSSLEY PARK PRESCHOOL

The new Bossley Park Preschool opens its doors this month, offering an extra 100 sessions of preschool per week to the community - Enrol Now.

Enrol now for 2019!

Visit www. fairfieldcity.nsw. gov.au/cfs

The 40-place preschool replaces the 20-place mobile preschool that has been operating from a room at Bossley Park Public School.

The preschool features an open-plan layout to encourage children to engage in multiple play-based learning stations across the entire centre rather than traditional classroom-based learning.

Enrolment for this new preschool is being prioritised for children who turn 4 on or before 31 July 2019, and children who turn 3 on or before 31 July whose parents have a current health care card or concession card.

Fairfield City Council is the area’s largest not-for-profit provider of preschool and day care services and is proud to offer preschool fees as low as $10 per day for eligible families.

NEW PRESCHOOL PLAY SPACES Children at Bonnyrigg Heights Early Learning Centre have received a new year treat with the opening of an exciting play area.

Natural elements are a key feature of the design, creating more opportunities for children to explore the natural environment, and also to allow children greater opportunities to freely explore and play creatively.

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Work to improve the play area at Wakeley Early Learning Centre is also now complete. The centre received a similar space to that constructed at Bonnyrigg Heights.

Places and Infrastructure

NEW SLIDES OPEN AT AQUATOPIA

The hotly-anticipated high-speed thrill waterslides are now open at Aquatopia.

The new 20-metre tall slide tower is the tallest in Sydney and boasts five new slides. It was officially opened on Australia Day.

The Mayor’s size 10 feet make a splash!

The tower features a 3-Lane Racing Ride - perfect for challenging your friends, a high-speed free-fall slide, and the Rocket Drop Slide - which drops brave riders via a trap door to a fast loop through a transparent tube.

Aquatopia is the perfect way to stay cool with friends and family during the hotter months.

Aquatopia will be open every weekend throughout March and April, and the April school holidays. Visitors can now buy tickets online. This means families can avoid queues and ensure entry on their chosen day.

Tickets can be purchased from www.fairfieldcityleisurecentres.com.au/aquatopia.

LONGEST BANH MI AT LUNAR NEW YEAR We love setting records in Fairfield City, and Lunar New Year celebrations at Cabramatta provided the perfect opportunity for another.

A 3.9 metre banh mi, or pork roll, took centre stage inside Dutton Plaza on Sunday 17 February, with Mayor Frank Carbone and councillors Dai Le and Adrian Wong lending a hand on the production line. Thank you to Vinata’s Hot Bread who supplied the mammoth amount of bread needed for the record.

Visitors to the Lunar New Year celebrations showed their appreciation by taking up the offer of free banh mi, with the roll quickly disappearing once the record was set.

Close to 10,000 people gathered at Cabramatta’s Freedom Plaza to ring in the Lunar New Year and welcome the Year of the Pig across Saturday and Sunday, 16-17 February.

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Good Governance and Leadership

EVENTS AROUND OUR CITY

A lot has been happening around our great City.

Here are some of the highlights.

3000 locals enjoyed family entertainment at Illuminate, plus City-wide fireworks.

20 residents became citizens at Council’s Australia Day celebrations.

Locals celebrated Australia Day at our leisure centres, youth centre and parks.

Council is spending $3 million this financial year to upgrade parks and sporting facilities.

New Bradbury Wharf at Chipping Norton Lakes now open.

Thousands celebrated the Year of the Pig at Cabramatta and Canley Vale.

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Good Governance and Leadership

EVENTS AROUND OUR CITY

It’s been a busy few months. Here are some of the projects, services and events delivered in our City.

17,000 new trees and shrubs planted to beautify our City last year.

Hundreds of locals gathered to celebrate Christmas across Fairfield city centres.

The new 20-metre slide tower at Aquatopia was officially opened on Australia Day.

The popular Christmas lights at local roundabouts thrilled commuters and families.

3000 graduating Year 6 students presented with Junior Schoolies passes to Aquatopia.

Fabulous Fairfield winners of the year honoured for their beautiful gardens.

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Places and Infrastructure Community Wellbeing

EXCITING PLANS FOR DEERBUSH PARK

Learn to ride track

A fun new playground for children of all abilities is coming to Deerbush Park at Fairfield Showground.

The proposed park could feature a wheelchair accessible carousel and ground level trampolines to enable children of all levels of mobility to enjoy, as well as an exciting water play space with squirters, splash buckets and more.

Elements being considered include an accessible river bed crossing, water pump, sand digger, picnic tables and bench seating, a climbing net fort and slide, sandpit, nest swing, flying fox and voice tubes. Natural and earthy colours will blend the facility into the local environment. A two-metre wide, double-lane learn to ride track will weave through and around the play area for younger residents to safely learn new skills.

Playground

Swings and sand play

Have your say on the proposal at www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/ deerbushpark. The survey will run until 14 March 2019.

BUILDING BETTER SPORTS FACILITIES Here are our latest works from the Council’s $10m sportsground improvement program.

Council invested $265,000 at Smithfield Park, including: • New roof for the amenities building and toilet block • New windows, doors and showers • Bathroom upgrades.

Council invested $250,000 at Lalich Park, including: • New roof and insulation for the amenities building • New showers and toilet fittings 10

• New external doors, windows and roller shutter • Canteen and change room upgrade • New electrical wiring, and ceramic tiling on walls and floors.

Council invested $315,000 at Bosnjak Oval, including: • New amenities building roof and insulation • New doors, cupboards, tiles and other fittings • New electrical wiring and energy saving lighting • A referee change room, toilet and an accessible toilet • Permanent and secure storeroom • Upgraded irrigation system.

Environmental Sustainability

BLAND OAK TREE A NATIONAL TREASURE

Carramar’s historic Bland Oak tree has been listed on the National Register of Significant Trees.

Council applied to the National Trust of Australia last April to have the iconic tree, which grows in Oakdene Park, placed on the Register.

The application has been approved by the Board of the National Trust of Australia (NSW), which gives the tree national status.

The Bland Oak represents a significant part of our local heritage and is an historic symbol of our City, standing as a reminder of our past and the journey our City has taken.

The Bland Oak Tree was planted around 1850 by prominent colonial identity, doctor and politician Dr William Bland (1789 - 1868).

Today it stands 13 metres tall with a 30 metre wide canopy.

KERBSIDE PICK UP Council is investigating opportunities for additional kerbside pick-ups including a resident ‘call-up’ service for bulky household waste.

Council wants to provide an additional service for residents to arrange a pick-up service when you need it.

This provides an alternative to illegal waste dumping and a better service for our residents, providing kerbside collection at a convenient time.

WORKSHOPS AND TOURS Fairfield City Council holds a wide range of workshops and tours.

Guided walk – Green Valley Creek, Saturday 9 March, 9am – 11am Discover the natural biodiversity along the river and learn about management practices.

Garden to table preserving workshop, Saturday 23 March, 9am-12pm Learn how to make preserves, pickles and jams.

Spotlighting – Fairfield’s hidden nightlife, Friday 29 March, approx. 7pm (TBC) Come for a night walk along one of Fairfield’s creeks.

Become energy and water wise around your home, Saturday 6 April, 9am-12pm Discover how making a few small changes can save money and help the environment.

Bookings are essential for all activities at www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/events

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Community Wellbeing

FAIRFIELD CITY MUSEUM & GALLERY

Justine Youssef and Duha Ali, Kohl, 2018 Image courtesy Kai Wasikowski

STOMPINGROUND EXHIBITION AT FAIRFIELD CITY MUSEUM & GALLERY

1 March - 29 June

ROSELL FLATLEY, JUSTINE YOUSSEF AND LINDA BRESCIA

What’s On @ FCMG MARCH – MAY 2019

Stomping Ground features works that draw inspiration from Sydney’s West, exploring community, and the struggle to find a place of one’s own.

The exhibition will feature artists from the region including Rosell Flatley, Justine Youssef and Linda Brescia.

STOMPING GROUND:

Visit www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/FCMG for more information about What’s On at the Fairfield City Museum & Gallery.

APPI GHOST HUNTS:

fairfieldcitymuseumgallery @fairfieldcitymuseumgallery

Western Sydney Artists Explore Place Exhibition 1 March - 29 June 2019

A Taste of Ghost Hunting Friday, 22 March 2019 Session one: 7pm - 8.30pm | Session two: 9.30pm - 11pm

LIVING CULTURES FESTIVAL Saturday, 23 March 2019 | 11am - 3pm

THE GATHERER Kim Siew 12

6 April - 10 August 2019

Good Governance and Leadership

CAPTURE FAIRFIELD

Fairfield City Council is again running its popular photography competition.

Visit www. fairfieldcity.nsw.gov. au/capturefairfield to find out more and enter!

#CaptureFairfield aims to uncover and promote Fairfield City’s diversity, which goes beyond its multicultural makeup and extends to historic buildings, picturesque parks and bushland, incredible flora and fauna, our tantalising cuisines and the myriad of recreational pursuits for young and old.

We encourage you to start to think what you can shoot with your camera or phone and #CaptureFairfield! Stay tuned on Facebook and Instagram for themes. The competition opens in April until June and is free and open to all residents and visitors of Fairfield City.

COUNCILLOR PROFILE Each edition of City Life profiles a Councillor elected in September 2016.

First job? General Hand at Tetra Pak printing , Yennora Favourite colour? Navy blue Favourite food? Pizza Favourite movie? Godfather trilogy and Saving Private Ryan Favourite TV show? Seinfeld Favourite sport? Football aka soccer

CHARBEL SALIBA FAIRFIELD WARD

Favourite sports team? Liverpool in the EPL Favourite pastime? Watching documentaries and reading Favourite place in Fairfield City? My home in Bossley Park 13

What’s On

Upcoming Council Events MARCH 9 March

Green Valley Creek guided walk North Liverpool Road 9-11am fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/events

13 March

Paws for story time Whitlam Library, Cabramatta 10.30-11.30am fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/library

19 March

23 March

23 March

29 March

Story time with police Whitlam Library, Cabramatta 6.15-7.15pm Register: fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/library

Garden to table preserving workshop Nalawala Sustainability Hub Fairfield Showground fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/events

Living Cultures Festival Fairfield City Museum & Gallery 11-2pm See page 12

Neighbour Day Brenan Park Community Centre Bourke Street, Smithfield 10-3pm

APRIL 6 April

14 April

17-18 April

11 April

15 April

28 April

8-10 May

20-24 May

Energy and water-wise workshop Nalawala Sustainability Hub Fairfield Showground fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/events Cabramatta East Community Fun Day

Cabravale Leisure Centre 30 Broomfield Street, Cabramatta 3-6pm

MAY

2 - 23 May

Code Club - HTML and CSS Wetherill Park Library 4-5pm Register: fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/library

4 May

Worm farming for beginners Nalawala Sustainability Hub Fairfield Showground fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/events 14

Bring It On! Festival Free music, sporting and arts festival for young people.

Fairfield Showground. See page 4

School holidays begin Visit fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/ schoolholiday for a full list of Council’s holiday activities.

Easter bunny visits Canley Vale and Canley Heights town centres, 17 April Cabramatta and Fairfield, 18 April

Last day of Aquatopia season Prairiewood Leisure Centre Prairie Vale Rd, Prairiewood 11-4pm

Mother’s Day Fairfield City Centre, 8 May Canley Vale and Canley Heights town centres, 9 May Cabramatta town centre, 10 May

National Simultaneous Story Time Fairfield City libraries 10-11.30am

14 May-20 June

Code Club - Digital Music Coding Bonnyrigg Library 4-5pm

Gyms in Parks Location and times TBC fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/events

Details: fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/library

27 May - 24 June

Register: fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/library

YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES MAYOR

Frank Carbone Mayor of Fairfield City 9725 0203 fcarbone@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

CABRAVALE WARD

Peter Grippaudo 0436 299 612

Dai Le 0410 899 787

Kien Ly 0412 564 388

Adrian Wong 0416 535 617

Del Bennett 0409 665 101

Anita Kazi 0428 639 642

Charbel Saliba 0417 708 582

Joe Molluso 0418 440 971

Andrew Rohan 0431 264 990

Sera Yilmaz Deputy Mayor

pgrippaudo@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au dle@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

kly@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

awong@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

FAIRFIELD WARD

@FC.FrankCarbone @FairfieldMayor

CONTACT US Wakeley Administration Centre 86 Avoca Road, Wakeley Monday to Friday, 8.30am-4.30pm Phone TTY TIS

9725 0222 9725 1906 (Hearing Impaired) 131 450 (Interpreter Service)

Paul Azzo 0414 303 175

pazzo@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

dbennett@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

akazi@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

csaliba@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

PARKS WARD

Mailing Address PO Box 21 Fairfield NSW 1860 mail@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS

Follow us @FairfieldCity

Ninos Khoshaba 0447 112 210

nkhoshaba@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au jmolluso@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

arohan@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

0436 434 141 syilmaz@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

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SUNDAY 14 APRIL

F REENET EV

FAIRFIELD SHOWGROUND

12pm - 7pm DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE EVENT

#BRINGITONFEST Featuring

fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/bringiton

CONQUER OBSTACLES WITH FLYING COLOURS