Mayor Brad Bunting elected to guide promising future.
Blacktown City Mayor Brad Bunting has been elected to lead a new era for NSW's largest council, following an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday night.
A lifelong Mount Druitt resident and father of three, Mayor Bunting was excited to guide Blacktown City Council.
"I am proud to represent a big, ambitious and culturally diverse area that so many people choose to call home," he said.
"This is such an exciting time for Blacktown City. Council will continue with a program of transformational projects that will provide cultural, social, health and economic benefits across the city.
"And we eagerly await the Blacktown Quarter project that will reinvigorate the city centre and bring investment and jobs."
Councillors voted for Mayor Bunting, ahead of second candidate Cr Jess Diaz.
Cr Bob Fitzgerald was elected Deputy Mayor.
Mayor-Brad-Bunting-and-Deputy-Mayor-Bob-Fitzgerald.jpeg(JPEG, 2MB)
Mayor Bunting was first elected to the top role in May 2024, following the passing of long-term Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM.
The re-elected Mayor is looking forward to 7 infrastructure projects, funded by the NSW Government's $2 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program.
The projects are:
- revitalisation of the Mount Druitt Hub
- ·new Seven Hills Portal Community Hub
- ·new Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre
- ·new First Nations Cultural Hub at Mount Druitt
- renewed Blacktown Aquatic Centre
- renewed Mount Druitt Swimming Centre
- ·new, expanded PCYC in Mount Druitt.
The community can give its thoughts via the Have Your Say page on Council's website: Have your say (nsw.gov.au).
Mayor Bunting was also excited about the next steps of the Blacktown Quarter development.
Blacktown Quarter will generate 1,000 construction jobs and add 4,500 jobs to the city centre. Property group Walker Corporation will deliver the project.
"The more I have learned about this project, the more enthusiastic I have become," Mayor Bunting said.
"Redeveloping a sizeable part of the Blacktown city centre will provide more job opportunities so people in Western Sydney can enjoy the benefit of working close to home."
There are challenges for the region due to rapid growth.
Mayor Bunting was keen to continue advocating and working with the NSW Government to deliver more infrastructure and services.
One challenge is transport. The Mayor will step up the campaign to provide the missing link of the Sydney Metro – a direct connection between Tallawong and St Marys.
This transport link would serve people in Sydney's north west by prioritising better access to work and education.
Mayor Bunting leads a Council that includes experience and new perspectives. The Councillors are:
Ward 1: Moninder Singh, Jess Diaz, Allan Green
Ward 2: Mohit Kumar, Julie Griffiths AM, Damien Atkins
Ward 3: Susai Benjamin OAM, Pradeep Kumar Pathi, Carol Israel
Ward 4: Bob Fitzgerald OAM, Peter Camilleri, Dorothy Del Villar
Ward 5: Brad Bunting, Jugandeep Singh, Talia Amituanai.
About Mayor Brad Bunting
- Elected a Blacktown City Councillor in 2016
- Attended Tregear Public School and Dunheved High School
- Past president of Tallawong Park Little Athletics and life member
- Active volunteer and former secretary of the Blacktown City and District Cricket Association and Town Rangers FC
- Worked for more than 20 years in professional funeral services
About Blacktown City
Blacktown City is the largest council area by population in NSW and has about 435,000 residents.
Its population has people from more than 180 countries and who speak more than 185 languages.
The area stretches from Eastern Creek and Prospect in the south, to Richards and Vineyard in the north. The region includes rapidly growing suburbs such as Marsden Park and Shanes Park.
