A statement from the Mayor of Blacktown City, Brad Bunting.
Blacktown City Council welcomes the range of actions in the new Federal Budget which have a direct positive benefit for the residents of Blacktown City.
The Budget recognises the significant issues for Western Sydney residents.
The Budget provides our community with good news for housing, and access to affordable healthcare.
Infrastructure is an issue we talk about a lot and the $580 million investment in the North West Growth Area in the new Budget is a direct response to years of advocacy by Blacktown City Council and our community.
These projects will reduce congestion.
The $580 million investment in key local roads will support the delivery of new homes, new jobs, and will provide safe, flood-resilient connections for families in suburbs like Marsden Park, Riverstone and Schofields.
It's a clear recognition that Blacktown City is at the heart of Sydney's future growth.
Council also acknowledges progress on other major road projects in the North West Growth Area, including the ongoing upgrade of Garfield Road East between Riverstone and Box Hill.
On behalf of Western Sydney residents, we welcome key reforms in the Budget, particularly: cheaper medicine for Seniors with the extension of a $7.70 cap per prescription for pensioners and Seniors Card holders.
- Price caps on prescriptions, including extra caps for our Seniors
- Funding to reinforce Medicare, including bulk billing, and access to GPs
- Increased child care access
- Expanded home purchase support
- Increased university debt relief for our young people
There is clear progress, but also much further to go.
Councils like Blacktown continue to deliver more services, to more people, with increasingly complex needs, yet on a funding model that has not kept pace with growth or responsibility.
The people of Blacktown City need support backed by infrastructure funding that keeps pace with demand and systems that deliver fairness and flexibility for growing councils.
Blacktown is not on the edge of Sydney. We are at the centre of its future.
We will keep working hard, looking for solutions, and pushing for the recognition and investment our residents deserve.
