First Response Councillor Stephen Bali, Blacktown City Council, Ward 4 - 0n Behalf Of Labor Candidates Ward 4 & 5 - Achievements & Future Vision Provided!

Here is the first response from Blacktown City Councillor,

Stephen Bali, Labor Party  for Ward 4, on behalf of Councillors 

and Candidates of Labor Party  in Ward 4 and 5, for the 8th

 September 2012 Council Elections.

It is good to get to get Labor's Local Government of the day' feedback on important public transport  improvement done in the past and what is visioned for the future. Support  for the Mount Druitt Free Bus Shuttle is encouraging, as this means all major parties support it.

The 'support  to work with us (on behalf of Commuters of Mount Druitt Commuters)', is encouraging and we look forward to any Labor party candidates/Councillors to hold further communication with us for future public transport improvements.

Here is the e-mail received:

 Stephen Bali BCC Councillor

To John Svoboda

From:	Stephen Bali (bali4bcc@gmail.com)
Sent:	Thursday, 30 August 2012 1:35:26 AM
To:	John Svoboda (president.mountdruitt_cig@hotmail.com)

John, 

Thanks for the opportunity to respond to your request as to our vision and policies for transport. 

During our term of Council, together with Cr Atalla, Lowles & Bleasdale we have worked hard to deliver better services for our local commuters.  We have achieved:

• Increased footpath paving in streets close to Mt Druitt station, so as every street has at least one side with a footpath;
• Increased substantially free carparking spaces at Mt Druitt, Rooty Hill & Doonside Station;
• Lobbied successfully the previous NSW Labor Government to have commuter carparking stations built in Mt Druitt and Blacktown;
• Spent over $2 million for shopping centre improvements and renewal at Mt Druitt village, Rooty Hill and Doonside;
• Increased disability parking bays near the railway station;
• Continually lobbying the State Rail to clean their property around Mt Druitt station;
• Successfully lobbied the former State Labor Government to have a free shuttle bus service in Blacktown and they were working out a route in Mt Druitt when they lost office.
• Successfully lobbied & supported residents gathering petitions for lifts at Doonside railway station.  The planning and design work for lifts were completed but the incoming State Liberal Government did not fund the building of lifts at Doonside;
• Support the residents petition for the installation of lifts at Rooty Hill Station;
• Labor Councillors rearranged the budget to build a 4 lane road at Knox Rd with traffic lights and expanding the overhead bridge to 4 lanes at a cost of $10million.  The State Liberal Government refuse to upgrade Duke Street & the rail bridge after extensive lobbying.
• We conducted a Job summit involving education providers, major corporarations, small businesses and government agencies with a major outcome being to continue to lobby Government, business and bus companies to provide proper bus services from our residential areas to the numerous business and commerical parks around the City of Blacktown.

As it can be seen from the above (and we could add much more), we the Labor Councillors of Ward 4 and Ward 5, have been working hard and as an effective team to deliver outcomes for our local community.

Our Vision is to support local residents in their ability to use public transport for work, pleasure and shopping.  A truly integrated public transport system not only saves the environment but enhances community living and security through interaction.

But, we do not stand for the introduction of parking meters (with the proposal of charging upto $10 per day) so as to subsidise the bus shuttle in Mt Druitt as stated by a Liberal councillor.  Labor has delivered a free bus shuttle service and we expect the current NSW Liberal Government to honour the Labor plan of the Mt Druitt bus shuttle as well as lifts at our local stations.

We do not just mouth of at election time, Labor Councillors deliver during the whole term of Council.

We look forward to working with you in delivering real outcomes for our local resident.

Regards,

Stephen Bali

Labor Candidate for Ward 4

Click Here for Original copy e-mail sent to Blacktown City Councillors ( with e-mails)

Click Here - Original Launch of MDCIG Public Transport Commitment Statement