Issuu

CITY LIFE

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

Frank Carbone

The residents of Fairfield City have had their say at the recent local government elections and I’m proud and honoured to have been re-elected as your Mayor. Thank you for your support and I look forward to working with all the newlyelected and returning councillors to continue to make Fairfield City a great place to live, work and raise a family.

We continue to work on projects like upgrading local roads and footpaths, continuing with major upgrades at Endeavour Park, Avenel Park and 16 neighbourhood parks, as well as designing a new community and events centre at Fairfield Showground.

Christmas is a very special time in our City and I want to share all the activities that Council is hosting right here in Fairfield City. We are excited to bring back Illuminate! to Fairfield Showground. It’s a great celebration with entertainment, food, rides and fireworks. Tickets are just $5 and go on pre-sale to residents this month. Stay up-to-date by following us on Facebook.

Our lighting of the Christmas tree event in Fairfield City Centre is also a highlight. Join us on Thursday, 5th December at Epoch Plaza and Thomas Ware Plaza, for carnival rides, children’s activities, carols and the lighting of the tallest Christmas tree in Fairfield City.

To support those having a tough time this Christmas, please donate new toys and non-perishable food items to the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal. You can drop off donations at our libraries and local Woolworths stores. Check our website for more details.

Don’t forget, we’re also looking for the best-decorated houses for our Light Up Christmas Competition. Nominate your house for a chance to win a $150 hamper. I love driving around seeing all the entries each year.

See this issue of City Life for more fun things you can do with your families over the Christmas holidays including the ultimate day out at Aquatopia. I wish you and your families a very happy and safe Christmas and a happy new year. I look forward to seeing what 2025 holds for us as a City.

Frank Carbone Mayor of Fairfield City @FC.FrankCarbone

fcarbone@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

Mayor Carbone visited Harrington Street Public School for the Civic Education Program where students

61 tonnes of e-waste and chemicals were collected in September at the Chemical CleanOut event.

HOLIDAY FUN FOR EVERYONE!

Mayor’s Summer Holiday Reading Program

For library members 0 to 4 years and 5 to 13 years

2 December 2024 until 31 January 2025.

A literacy program for children to engage with libraries and reading throughout the summer. Practise or improve reading skills over the school holidays, meet new friends, learn more about your community libraries and have fun!

Scan the QR code for more information

Fairfield City Open Libraries is running multiple workshops over the school holidays: Get Creative: Family Mini Plushie 13

Head to fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/Whats-on for times, locations and dates. Limited spaces available.

Learn to Swim Holiday Program

Private lessons and intensive class programs are available from 6-10 January 2025, 13-17 January 2025, and 20-24 January 2025 at Cabravale, Fairfield and Prairiewood leisure centres. Classes are $90 per 5-day week and $40 per private lesson.

For enquiries and enrolments call Cabravale Leisure Centre 9725 0335, Fairfield Leisure Centre 9725 0336 or Prairiewood Leisure Centre 9725 0337.

Christmas IN FAIRFIELD CITY

Big City Lights

Explore all the magic the City has to offer with Christmas lights and decorations at 20 roundabouts and intersections from early December. Visit fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/ ChristmasLightIntersections for a full list of locations!

Christmas in Fairfield City Centre

Get into the spirit and head to Epoch Plaza to admire the tallest Christmas tree in the City during December. Keep your eyes out for special visits from Santa in Fairfield Heights on 18 December 2024 and Fairfield City Centre on 19 December 2024.

Light Up Christmas Competition

We’re on the look out for houses with the best Christmas lights and decorations. Send us a photo of your house for your chance to be in the running to win a Christmas hamper valued at $150. For details head to fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au. Competition opens Thursday 11 November 2024 and closes Thursday 12 December 2024.

Mayor’s Christmas Appeal

Donate unwrapped, new toys and non-perishable food items to support families and individuals in need this Christmas.

Donations are accepted at Bonnyrigg, Fairfield, Wetherill Park and Whitlam Cabramatta libraries. Donations will also be accepted at the following Woolworths store locations: Bonnyrigg, Cabramatta, Cecil Hills, Fairfield, Fairfield Heights, Green Valley, Greystanes, Pemulwuy, Toongabbie, Wentworthville and Wetherill Park.

Donations are accepted until Wednesday 11 December 2024.

Extra Recycling Collection

From 23 December 2024 to 3 January 2025, Council is spreading some festive cheer with an extra recycling bin collection. Got heaps of Christmas wrapping paper, food packaging, and boxes? No worries! Just pop both your yellow and red bins out together on your usual red bin collection day.

Roving Christmas Musical Trio in Fairfield City Centre

Wednesday 4 December, 10am - 2pm

Wednesday 11 December, 10.30am - 1.30pm

Christmas Flash Mob in Fairfield City Centre

Thursday 5 December, 10.30am - 1.30pm

Canley Heights Children’s Christmas Party

Thursday 12 December, 4 - 8pm

Santa visits Canley Vale Town Centre

Friday 13 December, 3 - 5pm

Carols and Santa visits

Cabramatta Town Centre

Saturday 14 December, 10am - 1pm

Santa visits Fairfield Heights

Wednesday 18 December, 1.30 - 3.30pm

Santa visits Fairfield City Centre

Thursday 19 December, 10.30am - 1.30pm

Christmas workshops at Fairfield City Open Libraries:

Christmas craft for adults 3 - 10 December

Christmas preschool storytime 4 - 11 December

Christmas craft for kids 9 - 11 December

Handmade Christmas cards 11 December

Head to www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/events for times and locations. Limited spaces available.

CHRISTMAS in Fairfield City Centre

THURSDAY 5 DECEMBER 2024 | 5.30 – 8.30PM

EPOCH PLAZA & THOMAS WARE PLAZA, FAIRFIELD

CITY CENTRE

Official lighting of the tallest Christmas tree in Fairfield City

Santa Claus visits with sleigh and reindeer

Christmas mascots and roving entertainers | DJ |

Acapella choir and Christmas carols | Face painting | Children’s craft | Amusement rides | Giveaways

Warmer weather is here!

With the warmer weather, now is the best time of year to explore all that’s on offer in our City.

Sports, Parks & Recreation

We have parks for the young and parks, such as Fairfield Adventure Park, for teens. There is our acclaimed all abilities Deerbush Park at the Showground and synthetic outdoor futsal courts.

Our everyday neighbourhood playgrounds ensure play opportunities within a short walk or drive of every household. Your dog can keep fit and have fun too with 5 off-leash, fullyfenced dog parks available around Fairfield City.

Scan the QR code to find a park near you and what it has to offer.

Outdoor Fitness Equipment

Outdoor fitness equipment is available at some parks, offering a fun opportunity to improve your fitness and strength for free. Council runs free 7-week exercise programs using the equipment and walking tracks during the school terms. Search ‘Gyms in Parks’ on our website for more.

The games are on!

Council has tennis courts to hire at 3 locations; Canley Vale, Fairfield and St Johns Park.

The multipurpose courts at Endeavour Sports Park cater for a variety of sports including badminton; basketball; netball; pickleball; and volleyball, and are fitted with lighting so you can stay and play for longer, plus they’re free to use!

You can also book synthetic, outdoor futsal courts at Emerson and Endeavour Sports parks. The courts include lighting making night-time play or training possible! You can conveniently book one of these courts online via the booking app or by scanning the QR code at the courts.

Scan the QR code for more information

RESOURCES AT YOUR FINGERTIPS WITH THE NEW COMMUNITY DIRECTORY!

Connect with community groups and find essential services that make life easier. The Community Directory is easy to navigate, user-friendly and accessible to everyone in our community.

Scan the QR code and start exploring!

How to FOGO like a pro

Don't forget you can pick up FREE caddy liners at Council's Administration Centre, Leisure Centres and Libraries.

Sorting your waste couldn’t be easier with our new 3-bin waste service!

If you’re not sure what goes in what bin, scan the QR code to check out our short explainer videos in English, Assyrian, Vietnamese, Arabic and Chinese.

For more tips on how to FOGO like a pro, visit www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/FOGO

✨ Here are some tips to keep your green bin in good order ��

✅ Alternate food scraps with layers of leaves or lawn clippings

✅ Add citronella or tea tree oil to deter insects

✅ Keep your bin out of direct sunlight

✅ Sprinkle in some bi-carb soda to suppress odours

✅ Keep meat and seafood scraps in the freezer until closer to bin collection day.

And don't forget to occasionally give the bin a rinse-out after collection.

Remember to only use Councilsupplied certified compostable liners in your kitchen caddy, and that plastic is a no-go in FOGO.

Plastic bags have NO PLACE in the green bin. Only use Council-supplied certified compostable liners to dispose of food scraps.

Be a good sort and place your soft plastics –including plastic bags, cling wrap, bubble wrap, lolly wrappers, chip packets and cereal bags in your red bin.

MAJOR PROJECTS UPDATE

Endeavour Sports Park

Works continue to transform Endeavour Sports Park into a grassroots sport and recreational precinct thanks to a $16 million investment from the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants program.

17 new multipurpose courts with lighting are now open and can be used by the community while the rest of Endeavour Sports Park is upgraded.

The refurbishment of 3 amenities buildings and construction of the 2 synthetic grass fields is now underway. The new durable synthetic surface will allow for a greater range of sports and year-round play to meet the needs of our growing community. In addition to the all-weather synthetic grass fields, we are installing 200lx lighting on the fields, making night-time training and games at local competition level possible.

The redevelopment also includes an upgrade to the grassed football and cricket pitches.

Fairfield Showground Community and Events Centre

Council has developed concept plans for a new Community and Events Centre at Fairfield Showground.

The complex will cater for both large and intimate sized events such as conferences and weddings, as well as indoor sports like futsal, basketball, volleyball and gymnastics.

Proposed plans include:

• Exhibition hall and large stage suitable for music performances

• Multipurpose indoor sport courts

• Large foyer

• Open-air courtyard and covered forecourt for smaller events.

Part-funded by a $28 million contribution from the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program.

Neighbourhood playgrounds

We are investing $3.6 million in new and upgraded neighbourhood playgrounds so families can get out and be active together in a playground near their home.

We have a rolling program and will get to all the neighbourhood playgrounds across the City in time. Recently we have opened, or are about to open 10 new playgrounds at:

• Rosford Park playground, Smithfield.

• Welcome Park, Wakeley

• Springfield Park, Guildford

• Macarthur Park, Fairfield East

• Garran Park, Fairfield West

• Adams Park, Canley Vale

• Cawarra Park, Fairfield

• Bold Park, Cabramatta West

• Busby Park, Edensor Park

• Young children’s playground at Fairfield Park.

Also, this financial year a further 6 more playgrounds will be upgraded.

• Fiona Park, Mount Pritchard

• Bowden Park, Cabramatta

• Stella Park, Fairfield Heights

• Shakespeare Park, Wetherill Park

• Nelson Park, Fairfield

• Prout Park, Mt Pritchard.

Avenel Fitness Park

We are transforming Avenel Park, Canley Vale into a sport and exerciseorientated open space, enabling a range of physical activities and inclusive play.

The facility is a vast upgrade and expansion on the existing standard outdoor exercise stations, introducing a new skatepark, ninja obstacle course, multi-sports court and walking circuit to provide a range of activities for local residents. The park offers a greater range of informal recreational opportunities including:

• Skatepark

• Inclusive fitness equipment with a 25-metre sprint track

• Multi-sports court

• Walking circuit path

• Cooling stations and bubblers

• Turf mound seating area

• Kickabout space.

AROUND OUR CITY NEWS AND EVENTS

Thisyear's Cabramatta Moon Festival brought a crowd of more than 80,000 people, vibrancy, authenticity and the strength of the community to the forefront, making it one of the most memorable events in the festival’s history.

Busby Park in Edensor Park is one of the 16 new neighbourhood playgrounds being installed this financial year.

Fairfield City's newly elected Council was declared for the 2024-2028 term. See their details on the back cover.

247 mattresses and 104 tonnes of waste were collected at Council’s annual Spring Clean Drop-Off Day event in August.

Council

Stage 4 of the community pavers for the Fairfield Memory Walk at Fairfield Showground was unveiled in July.

celebrated Local Government Week with stalls at shopping centres and Fairfield markets promoting Council services.

Members of the community came together for an experimental art making session as part of the Creatives in the Neighbourhood program.

Bonnyrigg Early Learning Centre received a Woolworths Junior Landcare Grant to assist with learning sustainable practices and a vegetable garden.

Our Capture Fairfield winners were presented with their awards by Mayor Frank Carbone and Councillors in July.

Our Community Nursery held an open day in September allowing residents to pick up free native plants and gardening advice.

FAIRFIELD CITY MUSEUM & GALLERY

TENDER

16 November 2024 to 25 January 2025

Four interconnected films revealing the nuances and tender sides of Western Sydney communites.

This work was produced by CuriousWorks under the creative and technical direction of Elias Nohra. It was commissioned by Sydney Opera House and supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

WHAT’S ON @

NOVEMBER 2024 – MAY 2025

MEHWISH IQBAL: SUBMERGENCE

A project that explores the relationships between survival and coping strategies for those who experience a new culture.

2 November 2024 to 1 March 2025

SUMMER STORYTIME

Join FCMG for special summer storytime sessions for kids followed by art and craft activities.

11 December 2024, 8 January and 12 February 2025

FESTIVALS!

Discover how our cultural celebrations have changed over time in this exhibition highlighting Fairfield City's best and biggest festivals.

8 February to 10 May 2025

Visit fcmg.nsw.gov.au for more information about what’s on at Fairfield City Museum & Gallery.

FAIRFIELD CITY HERITAGE COLLECTION

History enthusiasts can now explore the Fairfield City Heritage Collection online; an exciting way to view and visit some of Fairfield City’s archives and object collections.

The Heritage Collection website allows users to listen to oral histories from influential local people, view historical photographs dating back to the late 1800s, and learn about significant and rare objects from the Fairfield City Museum & Gallery collection.

It’s ready for you to explore right here.

fairfieldcitymuseumgallery

@fairfieldcitymuseumgallery

Image credit: Diamond Tat, Marrow (2024).

EXTRA 2

KERBSIDE CLEAN-UP

BOOK ONLINE N OW

Residents in single unit dwellings like houses, townhouses and duplexes can now book FOUR free kerbside pick-ups per year!

Every household will get four free collections in the financial year at no charge, saving you having to pay tip fees as part of a 12-month trial.

You can place things out for collection like electronic and household items, white goods and metal appliances and bagged, tied or bundled garden waste. Our Kerbside Clean-Up service is ideal for disposing of bulky items that don’t fit in your weekly red waste bin. So if you haven’t used yours, now is the time to book to clear that clutter from your home.

For more information and to book, scan the QR code

Council’s Waste Enforcement Group regularly monitors and patrols the City to address illegal dumping and provide education. It’s essential for both residents and businesses to dispose of their excess, bulky or problem waste responsibly.

In the past three months, 10 penalty infringements have been issued for illegal dumping and littering offences. Local businesses must arrange for their own waste collection services and are not permitted to use the town centre bins. Fines apply.

Residents can book in for a Kerbside Clean-Up or drop off selected waste to the Recycling Drop Off Centre. It’s important to work together to help keep our city clean.

Find out how to dispose of your problem waste responsibly by visiting www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/waste

EXTRA RECYCLING COLLECTION

DISCOVER THE WONDERS OF NATURE WITH COUNCIL!

Dive into the beauty of your natural surroundings with our exciting line-up of environmental workshops, community days, and family-friendly events. Whether you’re an avid nature lover or just looking for a fun day out, we’ve got something for everyone.

We have interesting guided walks and fascinating kids' workshops as well as environmental volunteering opportunities and tree planting events. Scan the QR code to find out more

COUNCIL CLOSURES

Some of Council’s services will be closed over the Christmas/New Year period. For urgent enquiries during these closure periods, please call 9725 0222.

Council Administration Centre

Closed 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025

Fairfield City Leisure Centres

Prairiewood Leisure Centre

Closed 25 December 2024

Cabravale Leisure Centre

Closed 25, 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025

Fairfield Leisure Centre

Closed 25 December 2024

Fairfield Youth & Community Centre

Closed 22 December 2024 – 5 January 2025

Fairfield City Museum & Gallery

Closed 21 December 2024 – 6 January 2025

Fairfield City Open Libraries

Fairfield and Whitlam

Closed 21 December 2024 – 1 January 2025

Bonnyrigg, Smithfield and Wetherill Park

Closed 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025

Fairfield Showground

Closed 25, 26 December 2024 and 1 January 2025

Long Day Care and Multipurpose Centres

Closed 21 December 2024 – 6 January 2025

Preschools

Closed 21 December 2024 – 28 January 2025

Fairfield City HQ

Closed 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025

Recycling Drop Off Centre

Closed 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025

Sustainable Resource Centre

Closed 22 December 2024 – 10 January 2025

Kerbside Clean-Up Book-in Service

No book in services from 21 December 2024 – 5 January 2025

There are many exceptional women in Fairfield City that deserve to be recognised for their professional achievements.

Nominations close 21 February 2025.

www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/womensdayaward

WHAT’S ON

JANUARY

Sunday 26 January

Australia Day Celebrations

Fairfield and Prairiewood Leisure Centres, Fairfield Youth and Community Centre

Australia Day fireworks Adams Park, Canley Vale 9pm

Every Saturday

Fairfield City Markets

Up to 600 undercover stalls

Fairfield Showground Smithfield Road, Prairiewood 9am-4pm

FEBRUARY

Saturday 8 February

Canley Heights Lunar New Year celebrations

Canley Heights Town Centre 7-8pm

Saturday 15 February

LOOK OUT FOR YOUR FREE 2025 CALENDAR!

The 2025 calendar is your guide to our annual program of events and services delivered across the City. Each household will receive a 2025 calendar in the mail in early January.