Councillor Tony Bleasdale OAM has been re-elected Mayor of Blacktown City and has shared a vision of delivery, growth and transformation of the City.
Councillor Chris Quilkey was elected Deputy Mayor by his colleagues at a meeting of Blacktown City Council on Wednesday night.
Mayor Bleasdale said, “I am honoured to have been invited by my fellow Councillors to continue leading Blacktown City as Mayor. We will continue to represent our diverse community. We will continue the transformation of our City for a bright future full of opportunity for our residents and businesses.
“I have never been more excited about the City’s future, working with a committed team of Councillors as we deliver on the many services that Council provides for our community to be able to take Blacktown City forward.
“As our City’s population grows, my pledge is to continue strong advocacy for Western Sydney, pressing on the governments in Macquarie Street and Canberra to support our community infrastructure needs, including better public transport and equal funding for education, health, research, arts and culture funding.”
Mayor Bleasdale is in his 27th year as a Councillor, having first been elected to Blacktown City Council in 1996. He has served as Mayor of Blacktown City since October of 2019.
At the top of the Mayor’s agenda is the ongoing transformation of Blacktown City, securing vital facilities and public infrastructure for local residents and businesses, and facilitating the growth of local jobs through future investment in the City.
Mayor Bleasdale said, “We are working with strategic partners like the Walker Corporation to build the modern Blacktown City. We are binging a new heart to the city centre. Our residents will benefit from more than 4,500 jobs generated in the CBD. Local businesses will flourish with expanded workforces, and the changes in the CBD will be a catalyst for expansion and development of new economic and business opportunities in the City.
“Council’s Blacktown Animal Rehoming Centre, BARC, is now operating. We understand it is the best animal care facility in the Southern Hemisphere. Soon, the $100 million Blacktown Exercise Sports and Technology hub (BEST) at the Blacktown International Sports park will open, providing state-of-the-art facilities, care and rehabilitation services, alongside leading education and research programs for the whole community.
“With WestInvest funding, Council is focused on delivering major upgrades to swimming pools, a new arts and cultural centre in the Blacktown city centre, a new PCYC in Shalvey, a library in Seven Hills and a First Nations Cultural Centre in Mount Druitt.”
Mayor Bleasdale restated Council’s commitment to the local environment, and driving Council’s investment in renewable energy and sustainable service delivery, which has led to Blacktown City being certified as carbon neutral in its operations.
Councillor Quilkey said it was a great privilege to step into the role of Deputy Mayor
A passionate advocate for the City, Cr Quilkey was first elected to Council in 2016 and has served the Blacktown local community for many years through a range of committees and organisations.
“I am honoured to serve the Blacktown City Community as Deputy Mayor and I look forward to joining Mayor Bleasdale and my fellow Councillors as we get on with the job of transforming our City for our community,” Councillor Quilkey said.
“My pledge is to continue to take a stand for Blacktown City and seek to improve the lives of all residents as we continue to grow our City.”
Picture: Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM has been re-elected Mayor of Blacktown City, with Cr Chris Quilkey elected as Deputy Mayor.
