Issue 107 June 2025_v1_web by Fairfield City Council

From your MAYOR

Frank Carbone fcarbone@fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au

As we reach the halfway point of the calendar year, it’s a great moment to reflect on all we’ve achieved – and look ahead to many exciting opportunities coming up.

In April we celebrated a successful Bring it On! Youth Festival – the largest youth event in our City, where talent shone through music, dance, and performances. Shortly after, the Easter Fair returned to Fairfield Showground, drawing record crowds with rides, entertainment, and family fun. Meanwhile, the City hosted egg hunts, Easter activities, and a festive visit to Fairfield Hospital, spreading joy to all. We also marked Mother’s Day with roaming activities across our City, honouring all maternal figures who make a difference in our lives.

More recently, we observed National Reconciliation Week with our annual flag-raising ceremony, recognising the

cultures and histories of our First Nations peoples. National Reconciliation Week serves as an important reminder for all Australians to reflect on our shared past and commit to a future built on respect.

Celebrations continue next month at the NAIDOC Week Family Fun Day at Fairfield Showground. This year marks NAIDOC Week’s 50th anniversary and we have a special lineup of children’s activities, Indigenous market stalls, a free BBQ and more.

As we continue to bring our community together through wonderful events, we are also investing in our City to ensure it remains vibrant, liveable and wellequipped for the future. Council has committed almost $60 million towards capital works programs and projects, all while maintaining financial stability and strong long-term planning.

Follow me on @FairfieldMayor @FC.FrankCarbone

While Council is not alone navigating economic challenges, we remain focused on delivering the infrastructure and services our residents deserve.

Several city-shaping projects are already underway. Planning has commenced for the Fairfield Showground Community and Events Centre – a new hub for civic, cultural and community events. And across our suburbs, we are delivering new playgrounds and outdoor fitness parks and continuing to beautify our streets with murals, planter boxes and public art.

Together, we are shaping a City that is proud of its identity and committed to building a better, safer, and more vibrant area for everyone who calls it home.

Frank Carbone Mayor of Fairfield City

Fairfield Showground turns 75

A snapshot of its 75-year history from racing track to vibrant community hub

1950s –1960s

1950 – Fairfield City Council reserved the area 'Bossley Bush' for public recreation

1954 – Harness racing commences

1955 – First ‘Fairfield Show’

1967 – Community nursery established

1970s –1980s

1970 – Oktoberfest became an annual iconic event

1971 – Western District Live Steamers move in

1975 – AC/DC ‘High Voltage’ Australian Tour

1978 – Fairfield City Markets opened

1982 – Parklands Function Centre and Grandstand opened

HOME TO ICONIC EVENTS

Illuminate NYE, Bring It On! Youth Festival, Fairfield Easter Fair, Oktoberfest, Tet Festival, Eid Festival, Philippine Fiesta Kultura, Chilean Festival, Assyrian New Year, and many more!

2000s –2020s 2025 and beyond

2006 – Western Sydney Cycling Network established

2008 – Nalawala Sustainability Hub opened

2017 to 2022 – Underused trotting track transformed to include elite amenities building, festival/cricket arena, synthetic field, and 1,000 seat pavilion

2023 – Deerbush Park allabilities playground and People’s Globe opened

New Community and Events Centre coming in 2027!

Image: Sydney Morning Herald

MAJOR PROJECTS UPDATE

CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY

Endeavour Sports Park

BRENAN PARK, SMITHFIELD DETAILED DESIGN CONCEPT

The vision to transform Endeavour Sports Park into a grassroots sport and recreation precinct continues to take shape as we enter the final stretch of construction –completion of the 2 synthetic fields. The new fields will take game day to the next level with consistent traction and allweather durability for smoother gameplay. The added 200lx lighting will make training into the evening possible. The fields are scheduled for completion in August this year.

Other features include the multipurpose courts and 2 new, all-weather full size synthetic futsal courts available for

5-a-side games or training 7 days a week. The multipurpose courts are a game changer for those looking for more flexibility, allowing for basketball, netball, volleyball, and pickleball. All the facilities are available for booking and/or recreational use.

The park is expected to become a hub for local clubs, schools, and community events, offering a high-quality, eco-friendly facility for all.

Stockdale detention basin

Council continues to upgrade our City's detention basins to help better protect properties in the event of flooding.

Current upgrade works at Stockdale Park in Abbotsbury will be completed by September, with some turfing and landscaping being undertaken to restore the site to its previous condition.

Powhatan Park detention basin upgrade works are also scheduled for completion at the end of the year.

These are critical upgrades to improve measures against property damage in the event of flooding.

Detention basins hold excess stormwater during heavy rain and release it slowly into the creeks, avoiding flash flooding of the creek system.

The works, jointly funded by Council

New equipment and playgrounds

In the next financial year, we will continue embellishing and upgrading our open space and recreational areas across the City with new playground equipment, multipurpose courts, barbecues, lighting and seating.

Some of the works include playground renewals at Prout Park, Mt Pritchard; Nelson Street Park, Fairfield; Heysen Park, Abbotsbury; Lalich Park, Bonnyrigg; Kinghorne Park, Bonnyrigg Heights; Fairfield Adventure Park, Fairfield and Chisholm Park, Canley Heights.

A play piece will also be added at the recently opened Avenel Park, Canley Vale.

Other spaces to get new playgrounds and outdoor fitness equipment include Brenan Park, Smithfield; King Park 2, Wakeley and Wetherill Park Reserve.

Roads and footpaths

We have almost 700km of roads across our City that are some of the busiest in Sydney and we want them to be as safe as possible, which is why we are investing more than $12 million next financial year into our local roads.

Council conducts regular audits of the road network to make sure our roads are maintained and have an ongoing program of maintenance and renewal.

In the next year we will also invest $3.1 million on new and upgraded footpaths in both business and residential areas.

To see this financial year's foothpaths and roads renewal program visit www. fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/operationalplan.

Council has a full-time maintenance team that renews our roads and footpaths, but you can let us know of any problems by visiting www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/YourCouncil/Report-It or by calling us on 9725 0222.

AROUND OUR CITY

Mayor

Frank Carbone, Deputy Mayor Dai Le and Councillors Kevin Lam and Kate Hoang unveiled a banner at Dutton Plaza marking 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, and honouring the Australian troops who fought alongside South Vietnamese forces.

and a visit from everyone's

The Bring It On! Youth Festival showcased the incredible talents of young people across our City.

Fairfield was hopping with joy as families enjoyed farmyard fun, eggciting activities,

favourite bunny.

Mayor Frank Carbone and Deputy Mayor Dai Le celebrated Edensor Park local Francesca Milano’s 100th birthday in May!

We commemorated 110 years of service and sacrifice this ANZAC Day, honouring our heroes both past and present.

Congratulations to our 2025 Women's Day Award winner Sally Hsu for her remarkable achievements.

Mothers across our City were serenaded and gifted flowers to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Seniors had

fantastic time performing at Council's inaugural Seniors Got Talent Show during this year's Seniors Festival Expo.

Mayor Frank Carbone and Councillor Reni Barkho supported local businesses at the opening of BNA Travel in Smithfield.

Seniors hit the road for a fun-filled bus tour exploring various Council sites across our City.

Canley Heights and Canley Vale recognised as night-time destinations

Canley Heights and Canley Vale are on track for a major glow-up since joining the likes of Enmore, Balmain, and Burwood in being designated ‘Special Entertainment Precincts’ or SEPs in March this year.

What does it all mean?

SEPs have the potential to introduce later trading hours, more live music, and enhanced food and entertainment experiences to boost the local nightlife scene, attract more visitors, and support the local economy.

Next steps

Council will soon launch a 12-month SEPs trial, with community consultation key to its success. Planning for the trial is already underway, and is supported by a $180,000 NSW Government Kickstart Grant. Watch this space.

Proudly funded by

NAIDOC Week began as a movement for recognition and rights growing into a powerful national celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. July 2025 marks 50 years of NAIDOC Week - honouring resilience, culture, and the next generation of Indigenous leaders. This year's theme: "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy" celebrates past achievements and a future shaped by the strength of our young leaders, the vision of communities and the legacy of ancestors.

This year's popular NAIDOC Family Fun Day returns to Fairfield Showground on 8 July 11am - 3pm. Organised in partnership with Fairfield Engaging Families of Aboriginal Heritage and Council, the festival will feature live performances by Aboriginal artists, over 60 cultural stalls, kids' activities, lucky door prizes, a free BBQ and food vendors.

An Elders Tent will encourage intergenerational connection through dialogue and NAIDOC Week poster displays.

All are welcome to come together to celebrate, reflect and connect.

NEWS IN FOCUS

Preserving our Heritage

In April, we unveiled a new purpose-built art and heritage collection storage facility in the basement of Council’s Administration Centre, to help preserve our City’s history for future generations. The climate-controlled facility, made possible by a $250,000 grant from Create NSW and help from Council, currently houses 2700 items from our diverse collections, including historical manuscripts, significant objects and art spanning from the late 1800s to the 1990s.

The facility not only provides a space for care and preservation but also supports the continued sharing of our history and creativity with the community. Since this is a preservation facility, public access is limited, though Council may conduct special tours during Heritage Week and History week.

Public access to these important items is also possible through the Fairfield City Heritage Collection website — an existing online resource featuring objects, images, and archives from both Fairfield City Open Libraries and Fairfield City Museum & Gallery. The site invites both local history enthusiasts and professional researchers to explore Fairfield City's past. Residents can even contribute their own content, helping to enrich and expand our shared story.

Take a virtual stroll through our City’s history

WHAT'S ON

June

World Film Club

Friday 6 June - Friday 1 August

Fairfield Library | 1:30-4:30pm

Enjoy a free program of world movies (translated in English) and popcorn. Seating is comfortable but limited on a first-come basis. Films in Arabic, Korean, and Chinese are suitable for ages 15+

Scan QR code below for more information.

Storytime at the Museum

Wednesday 11 June, 9 July, 13 August

Fairfield City Museum & Gallery (FCMG) 10:30-11:30am

Come along to FCMG for storytime sessions followed by creative activities. Explore the Vintage Village and enjoy engaging stories in a fun environment.

For ages 3+. Registration required. Register at: www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/ storytimemuseum

Poetry open mic nights

Thursday 12 June & 21 August Whitlam Library Cabramatta 5:30-7:30pm

Whether you're a seasoned poet or a beginner, our open mics offer a stage to share your work and hear local voices. Connect with local artists, discover new perspectives, and fuel your creative fire!

For ages 13+. Registration required. Contact 9725 0333

Capture Fairfield

Closes Sunday 22 June

Show us your talent in the Capture Fairfield Visual Arts & Photography Competition. With $6,000 in prizes get your work seen and celebrated.

Fairfield City Open Libraries turns 75 this year – stay tuned for a chapter worth celebrating!

July

NAIDOC Family Fun Day

Tuesday 8 July

Fairfield Showground | 11am-3pm

Celebrate 50 years of NAIDOC Week at this free family fun day. Enjoy Aboriginal performances, cultural stalls, a free BBQ lunch, kids activities and door prizes.

No registration required. Walk ins welcome.

Adults' Acrylic Painting

Every Thursday, 24 July - 11 December Wetherill Park Library | 11am-2pm

Join our Acrylic Painting for Beginners class, and explore your creativity. Learn brush techniques, colour mixing and more with an expert instructor. Bring your ideas to life on canvas.

Scan QR code below for more information.