Canterbury Bankstown

Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek
@ClrBilalElHayek
@Bilal.ElHayek
Contact me at:
P 9707 9522 E [email protected]
7 February 2024
The latest acts of vandalism carried out at our beautiful parks are nothing short of reprehensible.
The damage done to Gosling Park at Greenacre, Parry Park at Lakemba and East Hills Park, East Hills have left residents fuming and searching for answers. Answers which won’t come easy, as the wanton acts are carried out by people with little regard for public property or the broader community.
In the latest incident, hoons ripped up the turf at Gosling Park after removing bollards and tampering with locked gates. The damage bill will run into the thousands of dollars and inconvenience many users.
Sporting associations like our Oz Tag groups and soccer teams have been forced to relocate after inspections found the playing surface to be unsafe and unfit for use. And it is still unclear whether Council will be able to have
the grounds ready in time for the football pre-season trials which
begin later this month.
The irony of the situation is that these sporting groups shifted their games and training to Parry Park, Lakemba, another park which had also been vandalised
a few weeks earlier. Council and the police are investigating both incidents.
Another act of vandalism which
has raised the ire of residents is the deliberate poisoning of six beautiful
trees along the Georges River
foreshore at East Hills.
The three Eucalyptus and three Casuarina trees have been pruned by Council for the safety of the community and the area where these beautiful trees once thrived is now looking
barren and desolate.
I am proud to be from a City where we look after each other and play our part
in keeping our places of recreation and leisure beautiful. And for those who carry out these acts, I urge you to think twice about how your actions affect so many others.
I encourage anyone who witnesses any sort of vandalism to report it as soon as you see it.
Council’s Customer Service Centre is available 24 hours a day to receive your reports and can be contacted on
9707 9000.
Regards
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR