City Life | Issue 80 | Spring 2018

CITY LIFE Spring Edition Issue 80 September 2018

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Aquatopia

New thrill rides this summer

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New recording studio

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Around our City

Indicative design courtesy of Swimplex

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Moon Festival

Mayor’s Message One of our commitments as a Council is to make Fairfield the best City for families to live, work and be active, with fun and affordable activities and events for everyone.

Icetopia was a hit in the school holidays

With spring upon us, we have the opportunity to embrace our cultural diversity and the identity of our City with some upcoming events and activities as the weather gets warmer.

Having just recently completed ‘Icetopia’, where more than 6,200 people enjoyed the ice, we have now turned our attention to preparing for another successful season of Aquatopia. Last year, more than 60,000 people visited, and with five new slides and a Fishpipe ride well underway, there’s even more for families to enjoy this season.

The Cabramatta Moon Festival will be held on 23 September and I am excited to announce that Vietnamese pop singing sensation Minh Tuyet will be a major attraction. Children’s entertainment stars PJ Masks are sure to be popular with the younger members of the family.

With more than 90,000 people attending last year, the Moon Festival is always popular among locals and visitors, and it plays a vital role for tourism into the area, not only showcasing our diversity but also attracting visitors, boosting the local economy and creating jobs.

Multicultural and Sporting Centre of Excellence work well underway

We want to provide some of the best and most affordable fun activities for our families while continuing to keep our rates among the lowest in Sydney.

The heart of every thriving community is opportunities to get outside, get fit and get healthy while having fun with family and friends. That is why we are also continuing our work on transforming Fairfield Showground into a Regional Multicultural and Sporting Centre of Excellence. We will also begin work this spring on a new neighbourhood park for residents in Carramar and Villawood.

There are many more ways Council is investing in the City, no matter where you live. As your Mayor, I will continue to explore exciting ways to support Fairfield City as a great place to live and raise your family.

Frank Carbone Mayor of Fairfield fcarbone@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au Mayor Carbone started the Variety Bash in Bonnyrigg in August

Community Wellbeing

NEW ATTRACTIONS AT AQUATOPIA

When Aquatopia reopens on 22 September, work will be underway on exciting new attractions for summer.

Western Sydney’s best value family water park Aquatopia will get even better this season, with the arrival of two exciting new attractions.

After a blockbuster summer season in 2017/18 that saw 60,000 people come through the gates, Council decided to up the thrill factor by building five new 20-metre tall slides – double the height of the existing slides. The new slide tower will feature a 3-Lane Racing Ride – perfect for challenging your friends, a high-speed free-fall slide, and the Rocket Drop Slide - which will drop brave riders via a trap door on a fast loop through a transparent tube that will circle the free-fall slide on its way down.

Also under construction is the Fishpipe – a huge water-filled ball that will roll swimmers around like a giant washing machine. These new attractions will join the exciting line-up of rides already in operation, including three giant slides, an adventure aqua tower with 79 unique and fun elements, WaveRider surf ride, and toddler play area.

There are also cabanas and BBQ facilities, which can be hired for parties and corporate events.

Aquatopia was built with families in mind to provide a fun, safe and affordable location for local families to get outdoors, have fun and stay cool during the warmer months.

Aquatopia will be open every day of the NSW school holidays and weekends during the summer between 11am and 5.30pm.

Admission: $15 Fairfield City resident - individual $20 non-resident - individual $50 family pass - Fairfield City residents $60 family pass - non-residents 3

Environmental Sustainability

FREE SPRING CLEAN DROP-OFF Sunday 9 September

On Sunday, 9 September from 7am-2pm, residents can drop off furniture, mattresses, appliances, electronic items and garden waste at Council’s Spring Clean Drop Off Day. Last year, more than 2,300 residents took advantage of our free drop off days and this year we hope to see even more.

Fairfield City residents who sort their waste diligently are to be congratulated for doing their bit to help the environment.

About 12,000 tonnes, or 1,000 truckloads, were recycled last year.

Sorting waste both helps save the environment and keeps waste charges down, as less waste goes to landfill and more is recycled.

Council’s waste charges are priced at cost recovery only, so any money saved will go towards providing better services for the community.

Fairfield City Council collected a total of 80,000 tonnes from residents’ red and yellow lidded bins last financial year, or approximately half a tonne per person.

Environmental Sustainability

FREE WASTE VOUCHER Don’t forget, all Fairfield City ratepayers should have received their free waste voucher with their rates notice in August.

Your free waste voucher entitles all ratepayers to one free garden waste drop off until 30 June 2019 at the Recycling Drop Off Centre, corner of Davis and Widemere roads, Wetherill Park.

The centre is open on Saturdays from 8am to 4pm, excluding public holidays. Items accepted include grass clippings, small branches, leaves and palm fronds. No dirt, rocks or tree stumps. Limit of one box trailer load per voucher.

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ONE FREE DROP OFF GARDEN WASTE VOUCHER Val

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Places & Infrastucture

NEW PRESCHOOL FOR BOSSLEY PARK

Fairfield City Council has started work on its newest preschool in Bossley Park. The 40-place preschool will be built on the site of Bossley Park Public School, on Bossley Road.

It will replace the 20-place mobile preschool currently operating out of a room at Bossley Park Public School, offering an extra 4,000 sessions of preschool per year to the community.

The project will cost almost $1.4 million and is funded with grant money from the NSW Government.

Council aims to complete work in time for students to commence at the end of January 2019.

Council is committed to providing affordable preschool education, with prices starting from as little as $10 a day for eligible families.

Providing high quality, low cost services means parents can spend time at work or study knowing their children are receiving the best care and early education in their lead up to school.

Quality early childhood education is one of the most important investments parents can make, which is why it is critical we provide an affordable, quality service for Fairfield City families.

Council provides quality programs catering for the needs, interests and abilities of all children. Council has close to 3,000 places at our Children’s Services, including Early Learning Centres for 0-6 year olds, supported playgroups, home based Family Day Care scheme and Fairstart Early Intervention under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Visit www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/cfs for information on enrolment at Bossley Park Preschool and Council’s other early learning centres.

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Places and Infrastructure

FREE SOUND AND VIDEO STUDIO

Fairfield City residents and library members will soon have access to a free digital studio to bring their creative imaginations to life with quality audio and video.

Council is building an audio and video recording studio at Whitlam Library Cabramatta.

Fairfield City Council has a proud history of supporting the creative arts and our City is renowned for extraordinary creative talent.

The studio will give residents the opportunity to collaborate and bring their imaginations to life, learn new skills and realise their creative dreams.

Studio-2166 is a sound-proof facility for recording both voice and instruments with software for producing quality audio and videos. The studio will also have a ‘green wall’ for digitally inserting any background into videos.

Studio-2166 will put Fairfield City at the forefront of supporting the creative aspirations of our residents by providing the tools that they need.

The studio is funded by a Library Council of NSW grant and reflects the evolving role of libraries from being storehouses of knowledge to becoming centres for creative activity.

PROUT PARK OFF-LEASH AREA Dog owners have a new off-leash dog park so their pooches can exercise, socialise, run free and frolic.

Fairfield City Council invested $28,000 to establish the new off-leash dog park at Prout Park, Mt Pritchard, to bring the City’s number of off-leash dog parks to four.

The newest addition is a fully fenced off-leash area located off Oliphant Street, near the current car park.

The off-leash dog park features two separate areas for smaller and larger dogs, water bowls and seating.

Off-leash parks are especially important for dog owners who live in small units or have backyards that don’t allow dogs to roam free. The dog parks are also another way Council is supporting healthy living in our City.

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Places & Infrastucture

NEW PARK FOR VILLAWOOD/ CARRAMAR

Work will begin within the month to make way for a new 3200 sq m park for the families of Villawood and Carramar.

The new park will be at the corner of Karella and Koonoona avenues, Villawood.

Council purchased residential blocks after identifying a need for more open space to serve families in the area.

Council consulted with the community to hear what they would like to see in the park and received 67 responses. Local school students also provided colourful and imaginative drawings of their suggestions (see right).

The suggestions will now be carefully considered before a concept plan is developed.

Visit www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/major_projects for more details.

SHOWGROUND WORKS UNDERWAY Council is hard at work transforming the underused Fairfield Showground into a Regional Multicultural and Sporting Centre of Excellence, accessible to the Fairfield City and wider Western Sydney communities.

In late May, approval was given to construct a new 1980 sq m, eight metre tall awning, creating a sheltered area for community events.

When completed, the showground will feature an international size football field and an all-weather synthetic field; festival and events area and AFL/cricket field; high-standard lighting for all playing fields; open-sided stage with roof for concerts, festivals, field games and outdoor cinema; and a new amenities facility, with restrooms, change rooms and kiosk.

Mayor Carbone with councillors Azzo, Wong, Khoshaba, Le, Grippaudo and Saliba

Existing activity at the showground, including the markets, will not be affected by the works.

Visit www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/major_projects for more details.

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Good Governance and Leadership

AROUND OUR CITY

A lot has been happening around our great City.

Here are some of the highlights.

New airconditioning was installed at Whitlam Library, Cabramatta

The Mayor, councillors and staff held Mobile Offices for Local Government Week 8

More than 6,200 locals and visitors took to the ice at Icetopia for school holiday fun

Council continued to fix dangerous intersections with roundabouts

Town centre beautification works at Fairfield, Bonnyrigg and Canley Vale

Council sponsored the Cancer Council’s Stars of Sydney Dance. Over $120,000 was raised

Good Governance and Leadership

AROUND OUR CITY

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

New exhibitions unveiled at Fairfield City Museum & Gallery

Refurbished amenities block and long jump pit opened at Makepeace Oval

Eight community groups received $5,000 from our Social Change Through Creativity program

9,500 trees were planted around the City by 130 volunteers for National Tree Day

Sixteen new banners installed at Wakeley, Old Guildford, Cabramatta West and Yennora

Students from William Stimson Public School took part in our Civic Schools Program 9

Local Economy & Employment

CABRAMATTA MOON FESTIVAL Sunday 23 September

You won’t want to miss the food and family friendly fun at this year’s Cabramatta Moon Festival on Sunday 23 September.

This year, Vietnamese pop princess Minh Tuyet will headline the event, expecting to once again draw 90,000 people to the Cabramatta CBD from all over Sydney and beyond. Minh Tuyet is one of the best-selling artists in Vietnamese communities across the world.

For the children, cartoon sensations PJ Masks will be making a special appearance. Join Catboy, Owlette and Gekko as they teach local children

what it takes to be a hero and a member of the PJ Masks team with a live interactive singing and dancing training session. Entertainment runs from 11am to 8pm.

The crowd favourites will be returning, including the prawn peeling competition, children’s chopstick challenge, and noodle and moon cake eating competitions. The food market will be open from 9am to 8pm.

There will also be the traditional lion dance, community performances, market stalls, and the lantern parade led by the Moon Goddess. The celebrations will conclude with a colourful fireworks display. Visit www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/moonfestival for the full program.

Good Governance and Leadership

AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS Nominations are now open for Fairfield City’s 2019 Australia Day Awards. You can nominate a family member, friend, workmate or colleague.

Residents can nominate someone they believe deserves recognition for their community service or achievements. Nominations close on Friday 2 November 2018. Award winners will be announced at a special Australia Day ceremony at Fairfield City Council Chambers in January 2019.

Visit www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/australiaday for details and nomination forms. Guidelines and forms are also available from Council’s Administration Building, libraries, leisure centres and early learning centres.

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Award Categories: • • • •

Citizen of the Year – 25 years and over Young Citizen of the Year – 12 to 24 years Volunteer of the Year – 12 years and over Sports Achiever of the Year – 12 years and over

Places & Infrastucture

UPDATING OUR PARKS

Fairfield City Council is investing in local parks, playgrounds and sporting fields to support happy, healthy and active families.

roof, new showers, fittings, disabled toilet, extra storage and energy saving lighting. Weekend sportspeople, spectators and school students will also be better protected from the elements with Rosford Park grandstand in Smithfield now sporting a new cover.

Falklands Park in Bossley Park was upgraded to feature a bird’s nest swing, voice tubes for sensory play, a carousel spinner, a recycled zigzag brick ‘bridge’, a stepping stone nature play area and new seats. The mini field at Chisolm Park, Canley Heights has had lighting installed.

Up to 800 people can now take cover from the sun or rain when watching their team or children participating in their sporting event, whether it is football, soccer, athletics or cricket.

The amenities block at Fairfield’s Makepeace Oval was refurbished for local sporting groups to use. Council invested $290,000 to install a new

The recent works were part of Council’s ongoing $3.2 million worth of playground and sporting field maintenance across the City.

IMPROVING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE This financial year Council will invest $2.6 million in new and upgraded footpaths across the City to ensure easier and safer access for people of all abilities. Pedestrians, joggers, parents with prams and families are encouraged to get out and about and healthy.

Some of the major new paths include 850 metres of linking footpath in and around our town centres. These include Prairie Vale Road, Bossley Park, Queen and Wyong streets, Canley Heights and Solo Crescent, Fairfield as well as streets in Bonnyrigg, Cabramatta, Edensor Park, Smithfield and St Johns Park.

Footpaths to be upgraded include along Canley Vale Road, Canley Heights; Railway Parade, Cabramatta; Hamilton Road and Barbara Street, Fairfield; as well as streets in Carramar, Fairfield Heights, Lansvale, Mt Pritchard, Villawood and Yennora.

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Good Governance and Leadership

#CAPTUREFAIRFIELD WINNERS

To celebrate Local Government Week 2018, and champion the amazing diversity and natural beauty of Fairfield City, Council again held the #CaptureFairfield photography competition.

This is the second year Council has held this competition, which is open to primary and secondary students, amateurs and professionals. It encourages locals to not only express their love for their City and their creative flair, but also to get outside and experience what Fairfield City has to offer.

Council received 234 entries, almost double last year’s competition. The winners were announced at July’s Council meeting. Check out the Digital Photobook at www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/capturefairfield or visit the exhibition at Whitlam Library.

Ayah Chaker Primary School Student

Peter Ly Amateur Photographer

Erin Foster Amateur Photographer

Dimitri Lavroff Secondary School Student

Milad Elisha Secondary School Student

Jimmy Tran Amateur Photographer

Jack Bown Secondary School Student

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Community Wellbeing

MUSEUM & GALLERY EXHIBITIONS Three exciting new art and history exhibitions have opened at Fairfield City Museum & Gallery.

Sister + Sister + Sister + Sister (+Brother) + Sister - until 27 October Fairfield City Museum & Gallery will showcase the work of respected Western Sydney artist Marian Abboud in an exhibition that challenges identity, land and culture.

Sister + Sister + Sister + Sister (+Brother) + Sister

Her art practice incorporates photography, video and performance, and draws upon her experience of living across two cultural identities – Arab and Australian.

Foundation - until 17 November Foundation is a collection of artworks that use found materials connecting to place and origin.

Featuring Daniele Hromek, Kent Morris, Megan Cope and Robert Fielding, Foundation acknowledges the histories of First Peoples and their relationship to country.

Foundation

Word Evolution - until 23 March 2019 Word Evolution presents a brief visual history of local schools in Fairfield from the opening of the first school in Smithfield in the late 1800s, and traces the dramatic changes since then.

Discover how children communicate and use language, how we send messages and create meaning through visual and spoken language in this rapidly-changing world.

Fairfield City Museum & Gallery’s full program of events is now available from the museum’s front desk or online at www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/FCMG.

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

KIEN LY CABRAVALE WARD

Word Evolution

First job? Industrial Engineer Favourite colour? Light green Favourite food? Pho (beef noodle soup) Favourite movie? Any James Bond movie will do Favourite TV show? The World Around Us or similar to that Favourite sport? Table tennis (ping pong) Favourite sports team? The Australian Olympic team Favourite pastime? Spending time with my grandchildren Favourite place in Fairfield City? Cabramatta Town Centre

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What’s On

Upcoming Council Events SEPTEMBER Thursday 6 September

Sunday 9 September

Saturday 22 September

Saturday 8 September

Monday 17 September to Friday 28 September

Sunday 23 September

Tuesday 2 October

Tuesday, 30 October

School holiday program begins All Council libraries until 12 Oct fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/libraries

School holiday program begins Fairfield City Museum & Gallery 634 The Horsley Drive, Smithfield fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/FCMG

Tuesday 2 October

Sunday 28 October

Wednesday 31 October

Thursday 15 November

Saturday 17 November

Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 November

Monday 26 November

One Night at the Museum Fairfield City Museum & Gallery 634 The Horsley Drive, Smithfield 6.30pm-9pm Guided Walk and Photography workshop Shearer Park, Lansvale, 9am-12pm www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/events

OCTOBER Monday 1 October

Learn To Swim holiday and Active Kids programs begin Council leisure centres fairfieldcityleisurecentres.com.au

Vintage Village Markets Fairfield City Museum & Gallery 634 The Horsley Drive, Smithfield 6.30pm-9pm

Operation Cat - discounted desexing Fairfield City Council, Administration Centre. Call 9725 0190 to book.

Grandparents Day 2018 St Johns Park Reserve Edensor Rd, St Johns Park 10am-2.30pm. Cost: free www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/events

NOVEMBER Friday 2 November

Frogs in Fairfield walk and talk Location and time TBA www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/events

Sunday, 4 November

Free Open Day Fairfield Youth & Community Centre Vine St, Fairfield 11am-4pm 14

Seniors Concert Marconi Club 10am-3pm

Relay For Life Prairiewood High School, 203-215 Restwell Road 9.30am for 24 hours

Aquatopia water park reopens Prairiewood Leisure Centre Prairie Vale Rd, Prairiewood fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/aquatopia

Cabramatta Moon Festival Cabramatta Town Centre 9am-8pm

Halloween Storytime Bonnyrigg Library 100 Bonnyrigg Ave, Bonnyrigg 6.30pm-7.30pm Halloween at the Museum Fairfield City Museum & Gallery 634 The Horsley Drive, Smithfield 5pm-7pm. Cost: free fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/FCMG

Timber furniture repair workshop Nalawala Sustainability Hub cnr Greenfield and Moonlight roads, Prairiewood, 9am-12pm

Mayor’s Summer Holiday Program commences Whitlam Library, Cabramatta Registration and details: 9725 0333

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

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

Kien Ly 0412 564 388 kly@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

Adrian Wong Deputy Mayor 0416 535 617 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

Del Bennett 0409 665 101

Anita Kazi 0428 639 642

Charbel Saliba 0417 708 582

pazzo@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

dbennett@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

akazi@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

csaliba@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

Joe Molluso 0418 440 971

Andrew Rohan 0431 264 990

Sera Yilmaz 0436 434 141

arohan@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

syilmaz@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

Fairfield City

Council’s

A CABRAMATT

11AM-8PM SUNDAY CABRAMATTA TO W N

C E N T R E

SEPTEMBER

Minh Tuyet DIRECT FROM THE USA

ENTERTAINMENT KIDS ACTIVITIES S T R E E T F O O D

& RIDES FIREWORKS TWILIGHT PARADE LION DANCE &

www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/moonfestival

Cabramatta - A Taste of Asia

@FairfieldCity #CabraMoonFest