A $200 million aquatic, cultural, community and library complex in Riverstone, a $95 million basketball and volleyball hub in Rooty Hill, a $30 million regional netball and multi-sports centre in Schofields, and a $20 million First Nations Cultural Centre at Mount Druitt – these are just some of the projects Blacktown City Council is hoping to fund from the WestInvest grant program.
Blacktown City Council has been allocated $34.548 million as part of the $400 million WestInvest allocation directly to 15 Western Sydney Councils. Council has now submitted designs and costings for approval for 16 projects to be covered by this funding.
Blacktown City Council is seeking a further $647 million for 12 major infrastructure projects for consideration under WestInvest’s $1.6 billion community grants program.
Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said that WestInvest will fund and deliver transformation projects that will enhance communities and create jobs throughout Western Sydney.
“Blacktown City is the biggest council area by population in NSW – and the fastest growing. We have the greatest community infrastructure needs due to the massive residential development in suburbs such as Marsden Park, Schofields and Riverstone, and the economic and social disadvantage in some areas of our City.
Blacktown City, along with other rapidly growing cities in Western Sydney, is badly in need of funding support for community infrastructure.
“Our Council is now involved in a competitive bidding process for funding the 12 major projects with the 14 other Western Sydney councils.
“Our Council’s 12 major projects have been identified after extensive community consultation, and I sincerely hope that the process for selecting the projects to be funded will be transparent and free from the political favouritism that has been so widely criticised in the past.
“Council will make sure we use these funds wisely to provide the greatest benefit for our residents and the environment,” Mayor Bleasdale said.
Among the projects Council has prioritised for funding from its direct allocation is a $27 million transformation of the Mount Druitt Town Centre.
This project proposes a range of improvements to the heart of Mount Druitt, with a potential expansion of the Mount Druitt Hub, upgrades to Dawson Mall and Kevin Betts Stadium.
Council is seeking $1.3 million from its WestInvest allocation for the construction of a splash pad and heating of the outdoor pool at the Charlie Lowles Leisure Centre in Emerton.
Ashley Brown Reserve in Lalor Park is set to be refurbished, with a new playground, paths and improved seating and access, while Rosenthal Park in Doonside will be allocated $1 million for improvements including multi-purpose court areas, picnic areas, seating, tree planting and new pathways.
Heading Council’s list of the 12 major infrastructure projects for consideration under WestInvest’s $1.6 billion community grants program is the proposed construction of a $232 million community resource hub and aquatic facility at Riverstone.
The proposal includes a state-of-the-art library, aquatic centre, indoor recreation facility, cultural and performance space, community hall, family areas and a cafe.
A $95 million NSW Basketball and Volleyball Hub at May Cowper Reserve, Rooty Hill is also up for funding consideration. This regional sports hub will include 12 indoor courts, including a show court with seating for 3,000 people.
There would also be six outdoor beach volleyball courts and outdoor seating, in addition to facilities for high performance training and the media. The site would also house the Basketball NSW and Volleyball NSW head offices.
Council has joined with community organisations to seek funding for construction of $20 million First Nations Cultural Centre at Mount Druitt.
The Cultural Centre would provide a community hub with dedicated spaces to deliver cultural programs and promote connectedness, wellbeing and support economic self-determination. A team of First Nations experts and knowledge holders would lead the design and purpose of the facility.
Council will provide an update on the projects over the coming months.
A full list of the 16 projects submitted for WestInvest funding is attached as well as the 12 Council-sponsored projects lodged in the competitive funding round.
16 Projects submitted for WestInvest funding from Blacktown City Council’s direct allocation of $34.548 million include:
- Transformation of Mount Druitt Town Centre – $27,000,000
- Provide green screen planting along local roads – $100,000
- Provide disability access to sporting fields – $100,000
- Provide lighting for pedestrian crossing – $500,000
- Construct a path along Robinson Street, Riverstone – $100,000
- Extensive lighting upgrade for Stanhope Gardens Reserve – $40,000
- Replacement of flooring and lights, Quakers Community Centre – $67,000
- Extension of median island, Riverstone Rd, Riverstone – $8,600
- Construction of splash pad at Riverstone Pool – $800,000
- Ashley Brown Reserve playground, paths, seating and access – $1,600,000
- Half basketball court, Chifley Park, Lalor Park – $400,000
- Paths, access, play areas and trees in Tallawong Reserve, Blacktown – $1,000,000
- Picnic areas, courts, seating, tree planting Rosenthal Park, Doonside – $1,000,000
- Splash pad and pool heating Charlie Lowles Leisure Centre, Emerton – $1,300,000
- All weather cricket training area, Whalan Reserve – $300,000
- Community projects throughout Willmot – $400,000
12 Major projects proposed for funding in the competitive bidding round:
- Regional netball and multi-sports centre, Schofields, including 2 full sized sports fields, indoor multi-purpose courts, a Village Green, 2.5km of pedestrian/cycle paths and 8 outdoor courts to cater to netball, hockey, skating, volleyball, badminton – $30,800,000
- NSW State Emergency Service (SES) facility in Oakhurst – $16,000,000
- First Nations Cultural Centre, Mt Druitt. A community hub to deliver cultural programs and promote social and economic development in the community – $20,000,000
- Blacktown City Arts and Cultural Centre, Blacktown. Design, approval and construction of a new, purpose-built, multi-level, Arts and Cultural Centre – $40,000,000
- Riverstone Community Resource Hub and aquatic facility including library, indoor recreation facility, cultural and performance space, child/family space, café/community halls, meeting rooms, offices, aquatic centre – $232,700,000
- NSW Basketball and Volleyball Western Sydney Hub, May Cowpe Reserve, Rooty Hill including; 12 international standard indoor courts, including a show court with seating capacity of approximately 3,000. 6 outdoor beach volleyball courts with seating for 750 people. Media, medical and high-performance training facilities. Basketball NSW and Volley Ball NSW head offices – $95,000,000
- New Police and Community Youth Centres (PCYC) Community Facility in Mount Druitt including 2 multi-purpose courts, gymnasium, meeting rooms and offices – $25,000,000
- Mount Druitt Swimming Centre Renewal. Demolition of existing structures, new indoor aquatic facilities to enclose the 25m pool, new inclusive amenities and changerooms, splashpad/waterplay Kiosk, tiered seating, shade structures – $50,000,000
- Ashley Brown Reserve renewal and expansion, Lalor Park. 2 baseball diamonds, 1 football field, 1 half football field, pedestrian and cycling tracks, new community sport and recreation amenities building, canteen and café – $30,000,000
- Traffic signals installation at Flushcombe Rd and Bungarribee Rd, Blacktown – $17,100,000
- Seven Hills community resource hub. A multi-purpose cultural centre including market, exhibition and outdoor event spaces, library and youth centre – $30,385,000
- Blacktown Aquatic Centre, Boyd Street, Blacktown. Refurbishment of the pool arrival area, new gymnasium and indoor heated pool. New spa and sauna, landscaping and new shade structures playground and water play facility – $60,000,000
Picture: Artists’ impression. A new aquatic centre is part of the proposed Riverstone Community Hub.
