ISSUE #13 MAY 2021
FAIRFIELD CITY CENTRE - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
IN THIS ISSUE: 02 / Grand Designs Heart of the City 03 / True Blue Hero 54 Not Out! 04 / Culinary Carnival
BACK IN BUSINESS I’m pleased to bring the Fairfield Flyer back to businesses after a year-long break. 2020 was a difficult year, but our community proved to be very resilient and I want to congratulate you for dealing with the challenges of COVID-19 so successfully. Last year, Council introduced measures to support the business community, while continuing to deliver essential services and forge ahead with our annual program of City maintenance and improvements. Fairfield City Centre recently welcomed back activities that were put on hold in 2020. Wonderful Wednesday returned in March and the Easter Bunny delighted families in April. In May, we will celebrate Mother’s Day as well as the return of Culinary Carnival. This event will bring thousands of visitors to the centre in a COVID-Safe environment, offering excellent publicity for businesses. Council continues to invest strongly in the Fairfield City Centre. In March we opened the new Fairfield Library at
1-3 Hamilton Road, and soon we will open the Community Business Hub at the old Fairfield Library site in Kenyon Street. These projects will support businesses, students and families in the city centre. We will also restore significant monuments and upgrade lighting and wayfinding signage. The State Government’s Dine & Discover program has launched to encourage the community to get out and about and support dining, arts and tourism businesses. Is your business registered? Visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/dineand-discover-nsw/dine-discover-nswbusiness-registration to check eligibility and register. I wish you and your business continued success as we work towards growing and strengthening our local economy together.
Frank Carbone Mayor of Fairfield City
GRAND DESIGNS World renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright famously said “The mother art is architecture. Without an architecture of our own we have no soul of our own civilisation.”
Mario Fedele, Building Designer
Since 1992, architect Mario Fedele of Fedele Design has put his heart and soul into his work. For that, Mr Fedele has been bestowed with the Lifetime Business Award.
I’ve been told in heaven there are no architects because Jesus was a carpenter. Over the decades his Station Street office has been a production line of cutting edge blueprints. “I’m thrilled with this wonderful award. It’s a great recognition for my entire team. “A noble life on this earth demands noble architecture. I’ve been told in heaven there are no architects because Jesus was a carpenter,” Mr Fedele joked. The Lifetime Business Award honours businesses that have operated in the City for 25 years or more.
HEART OF THE CITY The City’s Easter and Mother’s Day celebrations exemplify Fairfield’s community spirit and beating heart. Each year crowds continue to grow to mark both occasions. On Thursday 1 April the Easter Bunny made a welcome comeback hopping around the city centre in the lead up to the Holy Season of Easter.
It’s a time when we give thanks for our blessings. “Easter is a time of hope and peace, when our spirits are filled and lifted. “It’s a time when we give thanks for our blessings of freedom, peace and the promise of eternal life,” said Alex Younan from Alex’s Dry Cleaning. Every year Mother’s Day is a special time in the centre for the mothers of Fairfield. Happy Easter
02 • THE FAIRFIELD FLYER
Renowned musical duo of Ross Maio and Jim Zappia will serenade the mums on Thursday 7 May; proving music is life and why our hearts have beats.
TRUE BLUE HERO The much loved Fairfield local Tom Murphy has been named the 2021 ‘Citizen of the Year’ by Mayor Frank Carbone for his tireless charitable work for the community. Fairfield City’s 2021 Australia Day Ambassador Maria Venuti presented Mr Murphy with the accolade at the Fairfield City Australia Day Community Awards ceremony. Mr Murphy has been the key driver of the City’s Christmas Food Trolley Drive initiative for the Fairfield Uniting Church Diner. He has also dedicated his time to help others for decades across numerous events and fundraisers. “Charity is an outward expression of faith and hope. “The people of Fairfield willingly give from the heart to help those in need,” Mr Murphy said. “I’m humbled by this prestigious award. The people of Fairfield show us the best of Australia every day.”
Charity is an outward expression of faith and hope. Fairfield Place Coordinator Helen Pijaca said that Tom Murphy is an example of a great Australian. “You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love to serve, and Tom Murphy has both in abundance,” Ms Pijaca said.
Fairfield City ‘Citizen of the Year’ – Tom Murphy
“He’s a great man that lives by Aussie values, especially helping a mate.”
54 NOT OUT When Noel Brown opened his law office in the city centre way back in 1967 his motto was all about providing quality service to his clients.
I’m very grateful for this award. That has been the winning formula for Noel Brown & Associates for 54 years, which has also earned him the Lifetime Business Award. “It’s 54 years since I opened for business and many of my first clients have gone on to be generational clients, which is incredible,” Mr Brown said. “I try not to confuse longevity with a job well done. It’s all about quality. I believe in work, hard work and long hours, I’m very grateful for this award and to my staff. “Lawyers are the butt of many jokes, but the reality is you cannot live without lawyers, and certainly you cannot die without us!” Noel Brown still going strong
If you wish to nominate someone for the Lifetime Business Award, please call Helen Pijaca on 0409 151 371. ISSUE 13 MAY 2021 • 03
City Council’s eld irfi a F
Culinary Carnival returns in May! Saturday 29 May, 2021 from 11am to 3pm Celebrate food, community and culture in the heart of Fairfield City Centre! The festival will be spread across the city centre and will offer family fun and exciting pop-ups to connect locals and businesses during this festive celebration. Restaurants and businesses from the Fairfield City Centre are invited to participate and contribute to the 'food sampling’ which will be held as part of one of the pop-ups. To register, contact eventinfo@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au or 9725 0220.
#CULINARYCARNIVAL21 @fairfieldcity discoverfairfield Culinary Carnival is a COVID Safe Event 04 • THE FAIRFIELD FLYER
FAIRFIELD CITY CENTRE
Business and Council Working Together A CENTRE FOR EVERYONE Council is focused on presenting the Fairfield City Centre as a place for everyone to enjoy living, working and shopping. Council employs a City Centre Caretaker to monitor the public spaces during business hours; to clean up spillages on footpaths, ensure street waste bins are kept clean, and remove litter. Businesses also support this effort by ensuring the area around their shopfront is kept visually attractive. The Fairfield Place Team would like to share some ‘tips’ on how each business can contribute to the centre’s attractiveness and comfort for all users. Tip 1: Manage your waste correctly by ensuring all business waste is placed inside your commercial garbage containers and not left on the ground around the bin, and don’t forget to close the lid! Tip 2: Ensure your shop windows are clean and uncluttered and your shopfront display is interesting so potential shoppers can see and be attracted to your business’ offer. Tip 3: Don’t place A-frames on footpaths. Did you know they are a ‘trip risk’ to people with a disability as well as older residents who may be unsteady on their feet? Tip 4: Should you wish to display goods on the public footpath in front of your business please lodge an application to obtain a licence agreement. Application forms can be found on Council’s website.
Tip 5: Report any potential footpath trip hazards to Council to keep our centre safe for pedestrians. Tip 6: If you are a coffee shop or restaurant owner and would like your patrons to enjoy an outdoor dining experience please apply to Council using the ‘Outdoor Dining’ application found on the website. Tip 7: Report any street lights that are not working to Endeavour Energy. Community safety is paramount – see ‘Help keep the city centre’s street lights on’ below. If you would like to discuss how to contribute to maintaining the city centre as a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone, please contact Fairfield Place Manager Tony Walker on 0409 121 187 or the Fairfield Place Co-ordinator Helen Pijaca on 0409 151 371.
HELP KEEP THE CITY CENTRE’S STREET LIGHTS ON! Occasionally individual street lights within the city centre can stop working which can create some discomfort for shoppers, businesses and commuters returning to their homes at the end of the day, and impact on the level of evening business activity. While Council monitors the performance of street lights, occasionally some street lights can be missed. If you see a street light not working please report it through the Endeavour Energy website provided below and help keep the city centre’s street lights on! www.endeavourenergy.com.au
FAIRFIELD CITY CENTRE AND FAIRFIELD HEIGHTS TOWN CENTRE
Capital Works 2021 THE BOULEVARDE, FAIRFIELD HEIGHTS TOWN CENTRE The final phase of the Fairfield Heights streetscape upgrade program is now complete presenting an entirely new refreshed and attractive public domain experience for shoppers, workers, residents and business’ ‘front door’ offers. This capital works program began when Woolworths completed the construction of their new store and continued through a Council funded streetscape improvement program. As well as upgrading the public footpath pavement, Council also installed new street furniture and refreshed fencing and signage where necessary. The total investment in this upgrade was $650,000.
HAMILTON ROAD, FAIRFIELD CITY CENTRE As a key gateway entry to the Fairfield City Centre and the front door to the new Fairfield Library, Hamilton Road has been given a ‘face lift’ to improve the overall visual quality and level of pedestrian comfort of this precinct. Hume Housing has also recently completed their high quality residential tower complex, which contributes substantially to the streetscape experience, along with the Green Peppercorn restaurant, considered a Sydney wide foodie hot spot destination. The capital works project included an upgrade to the public footpath pavement, installation of large areas of landscaping and street trees, placement of decorative sandstone seating with smart phone charge pads directly in front of the library for those caught short of power and wanting to use the available public Wi-Fi. The total investment in this upgrade was $950,000.
For more information on these projects, please call Tony Walker on 0409 121 187