Canterbury Bankstown

Too young to die!
Hardly a day goes by without flicking
on the news and hearing about an
innocent victim who has lost their life,
or been badly injured, at the hands of a
young driver behind the wheel of a car.
And it comes as no surprise that in
the majority of cases, speeding is the
main contributor.
According to the latest figures,
45 per cent of all young Australian
deaths are due to road traffic crashes.
80 per cent of these victims are male,
with those killed or responsible for
their deaths aged between 17-29.
Over the past few months, there have
been several incidents across the
State but three, closer to home, have
struck a chord with me and left most in
the community numb in disbelief.
The first was the death of two boys,
aged 9 and 10, who were killed when
the car in which they were travelling
crashed into a tree at Monterey.
The second was the heartbreaking
deaths of siblings Alina Kauffman and
Ernesto Salazar at Heckenberg.
And closer to home at Greenacre,
a fiery crash seriously injured four
young people when their car ploughed
into a telegraph pole at high speed.
How many more incidents must occur
before we begin to question whether the
strategies that are in place are working?
That’s why I’m urging the State
Government to urgently review the
policies and strategies to tackle the
alarming deaths, and driving
behaviours, of young people.
I’ll be taking a number of measures
to the Government including tougher
penalties, zero tolerance, introducing
double demerit points permanently
and more education in our schools to
drive down the road toll and decrease
the number of speed-related crashes.
My message to young people is simple:
slow down and don’t become another
road statistic.
Regards
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR

27 September 2023
Dear Residents

The weather has been a scorcher
and you could easily ask the question “what happened to spring?”
Soaring temperatures across the City saw Bankstown record it’s warmest September day in 43 years!
Weather forecasters are warning of
a long, hot summer and spare a thought for our emergency services, who are bracing for horrendous bushfire conditions.
With many residents looking to cool
off in our parks and pools, we must
all be vigilant and follow the advice of the authorities – especially now that school holidays are underway.
For those taking to the water, it’s important to refresh our knowledge
on staying safe.
While our professionally trained lifeguards are an important safety feature at our Leisure and Aquatic Centres, they should not replace
close and active supervision from parents and guardians.
Tragedy can strike in a matter of seconds and we must always stay alert and never leave children unattended.
Teaching children how to swim and play safely in water is also extremely important and our swim instructors
are trained to the highest quality.
To enrol your kids in our CBSwim school and for some useful tips on keeping kids safe at our pools, visit
cb.city/CBSwim
And if you’re looking for other ways to keep the kids entertained these school holidays, we have plenty of activities
on offer.
From craft workshops, cycling skills, chemistry shows and more, there’s something for kids with all interests. Check out the full program at
cb.city/SchoolHolidays
Have fun and stay safe.
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR

Dear Residents
Mayoral Message
@MayorBilalElHayek
@ClrBilalElHayek
@Bilal.ElHayek
Contact me at:
P 9707 9522 E [email protected]
The NSW Government has just
handed down its first Budget since being elected in March this year.
It’s a responsible budget that
balances social outcomes, while at
the same time addressing a massive black hole left by the previous
Liberal Government.
More for our teachers and frontline workers, with a strong focus on investing in infrastructure, and loosening the purse strings to build more schools and hospitals.
The budget earmarks a massive
$3 billion commitment towards
building and upgrading hospitals
across Western Sydney, and a large proportion of that money will be spent here in our City.
In the next couple of years, Canterbury Hospital will see its first major redevelopment since 1998. A $350,000 investment will see an additional 120 beds, more operating theatres and birthing rooms and an expansion of the emergency department.
A $1.3 billion Bankstown-Lidcombe hospital will be built on a new site, the first major investment since the two hospitals merged in 1997. The new hospital will be a state-of-the-art facility designed to deliver the
highest quality healthcare services
to our residents.
The funding announcement by the Treasurer is music to the ears of residents who have been in limbo
since the new hospital was first announced in March 2019. Residents have had to endure spin and politics
by the former coalition government
for more than four-and-a-half years, with not a sod of soil turned.
The new Bankstown-Lidcombe hospital will be a shot in the arm for our City and would be ideally placed in the Bankstown CBD, next to the Western Sydney University campus and close to the new rail metro.
It will be the jewel in the crown
and the centre of an education
and health precinct.
On behalf of all residents, I thank the Minns Labor Government for their commitment to our City.
Clr Bilal El-Hayek
MAYOR