WINNER AR BLUETT MEMORIAL AWARD 2018
‘Most progressive council in NSW’
CITY LIFE Issue 87 | May 2020
WORK CONTINUES
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INFRASTRUCTURE AND JOBS
OPEN LIBRARIES ONLINE FREE BOOKS, MOVIES, MAGAZINES
WOMEN’S DAY AWARD
CONGRATULATIONS PATRICIA!
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DISCOVER FAIRFIELD
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS
HELP STOP THE SPREAD
MAYOR’S MESSAGE Frank Carbone
1.5m
STAY HOME
We are living in difficult times and we all have a responsibility as a community to work together to overcome the challenge we are currently facing. We have been asked to change our daily routines and the way we do business, stay home as much as possible and take extra care when we do go outside in our united effort to curb the spread of Coronavirus. As your Mayor, I’m proud of how you have responded to these challenges.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
Council understands that the last few months have been tough. To help you, we have asked the State Government to consider providing a rate subsidy or stimulus to help residents through this difficult time. Council has also proposed not increasing rates for the 2020/21 financial year.
(1.5M APART)
No more than 2 in gatherings WASH HANDS KEEP ACTIVE
We have created a database of vulnerable people so we can connect people in need with services that can assist them. Our new database of volunteers aims to boost local volunteer numbers that have also suffered due to the Coronavirus. To help local businesses, we have offered rental relief options to our community and commercial tenants. We are also encouraging residents to #SupportLocal by creating a list of local cafes and restaurants that have been impacted by the Coronavirus and how you can support them though purchasing takeaway and home delivery. That list is available at www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/supportlocal. I would like to reassure you that Council is still open for business during this time. We have transformed the way we operate to make sure we are still working for you while keeping you and our staff safe. We have stepped up the cleaning of our public spaces and have temporarily closed some of our facilities. We will continue to collect your rubbish, and maintain our parks, roads and paths. We are also continuing with our program of major projects, including the new Fairfield Library, a wave pool at Aquatopia and so much more. You can still contact us via our website, where you can pay rates, register your pet, lodge and view development applications, make a waste enquiry, and so much more. Our friendly customer service team is also here to help by calling 9725 0222. I assure you that Council is placing the health and wellbeing of all residents first in everything we do while still providing access to the services you need. Please take care of each other – your friends, family and neighbours; practice good hygiene and follow the instructions of health officials. Together we will get through this.
Frank Carbone Mayor of Fairfield City 2
fcarbone@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
@FC.FrankCarbone @FairfieldMayor
Information and events in this publication are current at the time of printing.
ONLINE LIBRARY There is so much on offer for all ages through an Open Libraries’ membership that you’ll have things to do for a lifetime, and it’s all for FREE. You can access ebooks including bestsellers, e-magazines and e-newspapers from nearly every country, stream thousands of movies and documentaries, play games, learn a language, or learn something new with thousands of tutorials in nearly every subject. Free library membership entitles you to a lifetime of free access to our second-to-none digital collections. You can join online and get instant access. The digital collections are available 24/7 and there are no lost book costs or overdue fees to worry about. More than half of Fairfield City’s population are a member of Council’s libraries. Are you in the minority? Join the crowd and get all the freebies our libraries offer! Membership is free! Join now at www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/libraries
Free access to:
Ebooks
E-magazines
E-newspapers
Movies and documentaries
Games
Tutorials
MEMBERSHIP IS FREE!
Join now at www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/libraries 3
WORK CONTINUES
Smithfield and Richards roads intersection
Smithfield Road
New Fairfield Library
New Fairfield Library and business hub
Work on upgrading Smithfield Road to four lanes from Elizabeth Drive to Polding Street is nearing completion.
The new Fairfield Library on Hamilton Road is taking shape, with internal fitting out of the new 1000 sqm library now underway.
The realigned and signalised intersection with Richards Road is now finished and open to traffic, making accessing Fairfield Showground much safer. Road widening between Dunstan and Berry streets at Fairfield West is also complete.
The library will include a café, study spaces, formal and informal meeting rooms, children and community space, and amenities.
Work is continuing to widen Smithfield Road at Elizabeth Drive and providing an additional designated right turn lane onto Elizabeth Drive from Smithfield Road. Widening is also taking place near Scotchey Street, including the removal of the lane divider and pedestrian refuge. The pedestrian refuges at both ends of Fitzgerald Avenue are also being removed to allow widening south of Edensor Road. The upgrade is a joint project with Fairfield City Council and the Federal and NSW Governments. Work is expected to be complete by mid-2020. 4
The new library will also have the capacity to extend to a second storey when demand requires. The current 660 sqm library at Kenyon Street will also be transformed into a business hub. The new business hub will provide work desks, internet and wi-fi access; as well as spaces for meetings and seminars, to support the needs of Fairfield’s growing start-up business community. It will also offer additional flexible spaces to provide for the community’s needs. The new Fairfield Library is due for completion in late 2020, with work to commence on the business hub shortly after.
lab.LX virtual reality
Library upgrades Council invested $125,000 to upgrade Bonnyrigg Library with a lab.LX so that we can better deliver educational programs to help residents prepare for the jobs of the future. lab.LX is a place to experience and create virtual reality and use the latest tech gadgets to code, game and 3D print. There will also be 360° cameras, robots and bots. It is an experimental media space for inventors, entrepreneurs, and the curious who want to play with and understand the technology or create digital content and products. The facility will support skills in areas such as innovation manufacturing, robotics and science technology – the career growth opportunities now and into the future. Also soon to be completed is a revamped children’s area at Whitlam Library, Cabramatta. The new contemporary state-of-the art area will have an interactive projection floor, Lego, tactile and magnetic walls, a giant chess board carpet tiles, portable bookshelves, computers and iPads to make it a more interactive space for children aged 0-12 years.
‘Koonoona’ Park visualisation
Fairfield Showground
Fairfield Showground
Hughes Street car park visualisation
Hughes Street car park
Two new additions to Fairfield Showground are due for completion in the next few months.
Work has begun on constructing a new multilevel car park at the corner of Hughes Street and Dutton Lane in Cabramatta.
Work will soon be completed on the $5.1 million multipurpose amenities building. The building was jointly funded by the local, state and federal governments as part of the Western Sydney City Deal’s Western Parkland City Liveability Program.
The new 220-space car park will connect to the existing multi-storey car park with access to a new lift and pedestrian connection to the existing Dutton Plaza lifts.
It will feature a community space, kitchen/ canteen, two large change rooms that can be divided into four, doctors’ rooms, restrooms, match official change rooms and bathrooms, gym/training room, office space, first aid and storage. The playing surface on the international turf field is almost ready to host matches and training. Work is also underway on a new allabilities playground at Deerbush Park and a monument to our City’s diversity at the entrance to the Showground.
It will include bicycle and motorcycle parking in addition to the car parking, bringing the total number of parking spaces in the Dutton Lane precinct to 992. The car park will feature rainwater harvesting and solar energy collection, motorcycle and bicycle parking, and electric car charging bays. The new car park and adjoining car parks will receive an eye-pleasing façade, with tasteful coloured panels and bamboo planters adding to the vibrancy of the Cabramatta town centre. Work is scheduled for completion in early 2021.
New park for Villawood and Carramar Work is well underway on the construction of a new neighbourhood park for the families of Villawood and Carramar. The $1 million, 3200 sqm park is located at the corner of Karella and Koonoona avenues. The central feature of the park – a ground level ropes course that will allow children to climb onto a rope net structure via a number of different climbing paths – has been installed. Play items include a multiple seated swing set with a boat seat, and toddler play items with shade. Other active spaces include a permanent outdoor table tennis table, half basketball court, and dynamic and static exercise equipment. A shelter with picnic seating will be installed, as well as a circuit path, passive turf areas and multiple seating opportunities. Work is scheduled for completion in June.
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FAIRFIELD CITY WOMEN’S DAY AWARD Patricia Carnovale was overjoyed to learn she’d won the 2020 Fairfield City Women’s Day Award. “I feel honoured to be a recipient of such an award, I’ve been a local Fairfield girl all my life so it means a lot to be recognised,” she said. Now in its second year, the award recognises the professional innovation and talents of local women who inspire others and remind us that we can all play a part in our City’s success. Ms Carnovale diligently worked her way to attaining a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree, and worked in several veterinary hospitals in south west Sydney before establishing the Abbotsbury Veterinary Clinic in 2002, and hasn’t looked back since. In between her demanding schedule, she has also managed to fit in mentoring others - working with rescue organisations such as the Cat Protection Society and The Mini Kitty Commune to develop desexing programs for stray cats. She also set up the Tani Award scholarship at Cecil Hills High School. Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone commended Ms Carnovale for her contribution to our City at the March Council Meeting, stating that her success is testament to her unwavering commitment and passion for animals and the community. The 2021 Fairfield City Women’s Day Award nominations open in November 2020. Visit www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/ womensdayaward to apply.
2020 WINNER – PATRICIA CARNOVALE Patricia immigrated to Australia as a child in 1975 and had to teach herself how to speak English, now she runs a successful veterinary practice in Abbotsbury overseeing four veterinarians and five nurses. Patricia Carnovale is the 2020 Fairfield City Women’s Day Award winner.
2019 WINNER – LE HO 2019 Fairfield City Women’s Day Award winner Le Ho was a guest speaker at the Workary’s Business Networking AFTER 5 event in March, celebrating International Women’s Day. Ms Ho used the evening’s theme of ‘women in business’ to reflect on her own entrepreneurial journey, and encourage more women to consider a business startup as a viable career option.
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inner – Le H
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She spoke of how the Fairfield City Women’s Day Award provided a platform for the accomplished women of Fairfield City to tell their stories and inspire others in their pursuit of success.
FAIRFIELD CITY MUSEUM & GALLERY The Fairfield City Museum & Gallery hosted its first-ever wine festival in February to coincide with the launch of Fairfield’s Finest Drop, an exhibition celebrating local winemakers past and present. Festival goers were treated to Robert Stein wines, delicious local drops, wood fire pizzas, gourmet sausage paninis, grazing cheese boards, and live music in the sun soaked grounds of the museum. Highlights of the day included a dolmades demonstration, trivia and grape stomping which was a hit with all ages. A special thank you to our local business sponsors without which the event would not be possible: Dom’s Pizza Bar, Joe Papandrea Wholesale Quality Meats, Monte Fresco, Goliath Coffee Roasters, Buzzing Honey and Cello Liqueurs. Visit bit.ly/FCMGWineFestival for photos from Fairfield’s Finest Drop Launch and Festival in February.
Photos courtesy of Silversalt Photography
fairfieldcitymuseumgallery @fairfieldcitymuseumgallery
#SUPPORTLOCAL It’s no secret that Fairfield City is home to an eclectic melting pot of flavours and cultures. The beauty of this means you don’t need to wander too far to experience the dynamic food scene on offer. From street food to fine dining, we’re spoilt for choice with a selection of global cuisines across Bonnyrigg, Cabramatta, Canley Heights, Canley Vale, Fairfield, Fairfield Heights, Smithfield and Wetherill Park. With the current restrictions to dining in at restaurants and cafes, there are some ways that we can help our favourite businesses stay afloat through these challenging times. By eating local, we play an important part in supporting the local economy and employment, which strengthens our community and ensures our town centres remain vibrant places for us all.
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LOCAL BUSINESS NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT TO KEEP IN BUSINESS, AND KEEP PEOPLE IN JOBS. GET TAKEAWAY, HOME DELIVERY OR BUY A DINING VOUCHER Most restaurants and cafes are still open but have had to rethink ways to keep operating. Contact-free takeaway and home delivery services are available with the option of phoning in and placing an order for pick up/delivery, or dropping in and picking up a pre-packed meal. Most offer dining vouchers, which is a great way of putting cash into a business to keep them going.
OTHER HOME DELIVERY SERVICES UberEats, Deliveroo and Menulog have also introduced contactless delivery. Contactless delivery involves a door drop-off service avoiding social contact. With this service, the customer can select this option, the driver will place the order on the doorstep, notify the customer they have arrived, and keep their distance until the customer has collected their food.
Is your business still operating? We want to know about it! Head to www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/ supportlocal to register your business and we’ll promote your product or service through our online platforms. 9
AROUND OUR CITY NEWS AND EVENTS SOME OF THESE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN BEFORE SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES
Fairfield City Museum & Gallery held Fairfield’s Finest Drop exhibition in February, celebrating local winemakers past and present
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Abbotsbury vet Patricia Carnovale won the 2020 Fairfield City Women’s day award
r Nabil Matti met with Fairfield City Mayor Frank Carbone to announce that he had donated 1,000 masks to workers and patients at Fairfield Hospital.
Here are some of the services and events delivered around our City 10 10
In April, the traffic signal for the Smithfield and Richards roads intersection was turned on
SOLASTALGIA: Mawa Ngurra launched at Fairfield City Museum & Gallery representing First Nations artists’ response to climate change
In February, almost 500 people attended the popular annual Seniors Wellness Day for fun activities, demonstrations and information stalls
The City’s first batch of 30 oaks propagated from Carramar’s iconic Bland Oak were grown by Community Nursery volunteers
In February, the final citizenship ceremonies were held for the foreseeable future due to social distancing requirements
Almost 50 groups of volunteers joined Clean Up Australia Day to help make our City sparkle. Thank you!
Council asked residents to help name the new park located on 11 the corner of Koonoona Ave and Karella Ave in Villawood.
It’s important to stay fit, healthy and active. Although our parks, leisure centres and gyms have been temporarily closed because of COVID-19, there are many things families can still do, while following social distancing measures.
Do a home workout
Check out our off leash dog parks
Do a home workout following our trained fitness instructors showing you all the tips, tricks and routines to keep your body strong. Go to Facebook and search for Fairfield City Leisure Centres.
It’s not only humans that need to stay fit and healthy. Our four-legged friends need the fresh air and sunshine too! Check out our off leash dog parks at www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/offleash
Go for a cycle or walk
Get to know your neighbours
Council maintains a 90km network of bike paths, and many more walking paths and trails. Discover our City’s bike paths at www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/cycleways.
Get to know your neighbours a bit better. Say hello over the fence and find out a little about them. It can make a difference and you may make a new friend.
Don’t forget to exercise your creativity as well as your body and take your camera out with you to enter Council’s Capture Fairfield Visual Arts and Photography competition. See the back page for details. 12
RECYCLING TIPS
We all want to recycle correctly, but with some items and materials it’s difficult to tell which bin to put it in. Some of the less well known items that can or can’t be recycled include clothes, foam packaging, tissues, napkins and paper towels.
TIP 1
TIP 2
TIP 3
Did you know that clothing and textiles can’t go in our yellow lidded recycle bins?
Foam packaging such as styrofoam and polystyrene need to go in the red bin. This packaging can be foam takeaway boxes, disposable cups, meat trays and foam cooler boxes.
Tissues, napkins and paper towels need to go in the red bin.
But before you throw them in the red lidded bin, where it will go to landfill, consider: • Can you turn them into cleaning rags to use around the house? • Find a textiles recycler using www.recyclingnearyou.com.au • Donate them to places that take second hand clothing
When this waste is put into the yellow bin they break into small pieces and contaminate other recyclables meaning they often have to go to landfill. If you have the large amount of polystyrene, you can take it to Liverpool Community Recycling Centre at 99 Rose St, Liverpool NSW 2170 for free environmental-friendly disposal.
Although they are paper, there are many reasons they cannot be recycled including: • Hygiene – they may be contaminated with food • Many are made of recycled paper already and are near the end of their recyclable life While going through each recycling cycle, the fibres in paper get shorter. By the time the paper turns into napkin or tissue, the fibres are too short to be used again.
We know residents want to do the right thing to protect our environment. Your sorting of waste is greatly appreciated. Good job!
BLAND OAK Volunteers at Council’s Community Nursery are reproducing the amazing and iconic Bland Oak at Carramar to provide new oaks for planting across our City. Dr William Bland, former convict and later politician, planted the original Bland Oak 170 years ago. The oak is listed on the National Register of Significant Trees. About seven months ago, Council collected acorns from the Bland Oak and after a significantly hot summer for growing, nursery volunteers were able to grow 30 seedlings, which are now about 50cm tall. They grow to be very large trees so will be planted in suitable locations across the City, where they can look majestic but not impact on people’s homes. The Bland Oak is a well- known landmark in our City, which was planted at a time when our City began to grow. Council wants to make sure that as the City continues to grow that future generations can enjoy and see the oaks.
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FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS PROGRAM - SEPTEMBER ROUND
Did you know that Council provides funds to community organisations?
The grants are open to all art forms, including film, visual art, music, literature, dance, theatre, digital media, augmented reality, virtual reality, and multi-disciplinary arts with a focus on assisting emerging and professional artists and art organisations in the development and production of work relevant to Fairfield.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANTS PROGRAM
ARTS AND CULTURE
COMMUNITY CAPACITY BUILDING
The Community Development Grants Program provides funding to not-forprofit community organisations that are based and/or operating within the Fairfield Local Government Area and/or principally servicing Fairfield residents. There are two rounds (March and September) each year.
Community Capacity Building grants support emerging needs within our community and projects that facilitate and build community connections and capacity. It’s a good source of funding to try a pilot or develop an innovative solution.
The September round of 2020 Community Grants Program applications open on Wednesday 26 August.
HARMONY WEEK
For more information email grants@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au.
YOUTH WEEK
DISABILITY People living with disability can be supported in several ways.
Held in March, Harmony Week is a time to celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity and address racial discrimination.
Held in April, Youth Week is a national celebration of young people, organised by young people for young people. Youth Week activities aim to provide fun and free activities for young people, and opportunities for young people to be involved in the planning of the event. For more information and to see if your organisation qualifies visit www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-opportunities
COUNCIL DONATION FUNDS Did you know that Council provides funds to community organisations? Do you run a local community group or a not-for-profit organisation? Are you an individual that is excelling at your chosen sports or studies?
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Fairfield City Council offers a number of funding opportunities for individuals, community groups and not-for-profit
organisations throughout the year to support community achievement in a number of social, sporting, cultural and environmental initiatives. Donations are made at the discretion of Council and are subject to available funding. Email governance@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au or call 9725 0222 for details.
YOUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES CABRAVALE WARD
Frank Carbone Mayor of Fairfield City Peter Grippaudo Deputy Mayor 0436 299 612
Dai Le 0410 899 787
dle@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
Kien Ly 0412 564 388
kly@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
Adrian Wong 0416 535 617
awong@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
pgrippaudo@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
fcarbone@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
9725 0203 @FC.FrankCarbone @FairfieldMayor
FAIRFIELD WARD CONTACT US Phone TTY TIS
Paul Azzo 0414 303 175
pazzo@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
Del Bennett 0409 665 101
dbennett@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
Anita Kazi 0412 147 755
akazi@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
Charbel Saliba 0417 708 582
csaliba@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
9725 0222 9725 1906 (Hearing Impaired) 131 450 (Interpreter Service)
Administration Centre 86 Avoca Road, Wakeley Monday to Friday 8.30am-4.30pm PO Box 21 Fairfield NSW 1860 mail@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
PARKS WARD
@FairfieldCity
Ninos Khoshaba 0447 112 210
Joe Molluso 0418 440 971
nkhoshaba@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au jmolluso@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
Andrew Rohan 0431 264 990
arohan@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
Sera Yilmaz
0436 434 141 syilmaz@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au
Fairfield City Council acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land in which the Fairfield Local Government Area is situated - the Cabrogal of the Darug Nation.
Ann-Maree Ager, Honey Bees 2019
Capture Fairfield is back for its 4th year. Spread some local love and win! Fairfield City is home to unique landscapes, experiences and attractions just waiting to be explored. We want you to rediscover what’s in your own backyard and share your discovery journey! Show us your artistic interpretation of the 2020 ‘Discover Fairfield’ theme for your chance to share in a prize pool of $6,000! Submissions open to Fairfield City residents on Monday 6 April and close on Sunday 28 June 2020. Apply online www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/capturefairfield