Blacktown City Councils Budget for Public Transport

Announcement at Blacktown City Council Meeting of 2nd May 2012 by Councillor Edmond Atalla, Council has approved $80,000 extra funding for bus stop improvements additional to current funding, provided for bus stop infrastsructure - this is the second  time I have seen funding figures for this. I remember former Mayor Charlie Lowles, in his term announced $600,000 for bus top improvements around Blacktown LGA.


With my figures provided to me before on bus stops approximately 1600 in Blacktown LGA with spent on them* $600,000 (Announced by former Mayor as mentioned above) that means $375.00 per stop - that will pay for the bus stop sign on each bus stop. with addition $80,000 that represents $50 per bus stop - that might provide a small concrete step when you leave the bus!


Another interesting quote from Councillor  Allan Bleasedale is that 60 percent of Community  members do not have easy access to Public Transport within Blacktown LGA - I would like to know where he got these figures from, I could believe up to 40 percent  yet I am unsure where these figures are from.


* I need clarification from Council if this is right or night!


Editors comments: We believe from a BCC spokesperson, that the $80,000 is  to be added for current 'Work In Progress' otherwise known as 'WIPS' not new bus stops - response dated 22/5/2012

It Was A Dog-Gone Day For Myself & Then Blacktown City Council Meeting!

Not Whalan - how it may have looked like as the bus approached

Well, well, well, 2 days ago I caught the Busways 755 bus service at 6.15am on Bulolo Drive, Whalan. As it was heading towards the next bus top on Bulolo Drive, it has to head upwards to reach over a slight hill. I had suddenly heard a great big loud, 'thud/hit' and the bus swerved a little to the right of the road.


Then a lady commuter said there was a dog sitting in the middle of the road> As I stood up near the front of the bud the small  stray dog could be seen running away from the bus and doing a disappearing act. It must have been hit, yet it did not appear injured.


It was so lucky as it was just getting light, dawn was creeping up and it may have been killed if the bus driver didn't notice it within seconds to spare. I told the driver not to worry it wasn't his fault he couldn't do much.


So later that day I went to attend the Blacktown City Council and passing myself  (without myself realising) there was prominent  veterinarian Dr. Robert Zammit ( pictured below), who I later met before the Council meeting. In Australia, Blacktown City Council has the highest population of 313,100 as per Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012 has an animal holding facility which caters for stray animals for 7 other local councils as well.

Dr Robert Zammit

In the gallery was so many 'people power' animal activists or animal lovers as I call them. They were here for a vital & special reason: That is, an important item on the Policy Committee of BCC meeting which was a recommendation  by Councillor Nick Tyrell and George Bilic (Opposition members in Blacktown Local Government) of 'Options for Desexing and Pricing structure for animals that are rehomed from Council's Animal Holding Centre.'


I was overwhelmed how the people I met had spoken with so much passion for the animals, it made sense what they were on about - Dr Zammit advised  myself (and later on the gallery and Council), there are 6,000 dogs nationally per week euthanised instead of using desexing methods which when properly rehomed will prevent the population of these animals. This would then decrease the breeding potential as they will not be able to reproduce and they will also be tamer animals. The cost of doing this will be reduced to $130 Dr Zammit explained. This cost doesn't provide any profit to veterinary doctors. 


I even heard of an animal lover's kitten purring during the meeting - she was holding in her little hand. I don't think the Mayor heard it! In fact I wonder what would have happened if the mayor did notice it?


I was informed University of Western Sydeny also provide desexing of these animals free of charges - they may use it as training process for their students. One of the main things that would make the community better is eventually less animals running around stray around the area. For example: Pitt bulls Terriors or animals that may become aggressive towards community members. This would also be positive for community members having les judicial cases of this nature - maybe lawyers will not be happy!


On a political point, I didn't realised that the Labor held local Government of Blacktown City Council, they were not supporting this recommendation wholeheartedly, until it was unanimously carried that night. The reason why was they all received hundreds of e-mails expressing there concerns and I am pretty sure having a prominent and respected veterinary doctor present, presenting the case 'For', that the 'Aye's' would have it!


I was told 'on the quite' the opposition had no clue the recommendation was going to be passed until that night - they heard there was at least 2 members of the local government that would not support it that night and yet the tables were turned. Once the announcement/decision was made 'unanimous' ,compulsory 2 year trial effective straight away.The cheers from the gallery, made me proud of being Australian, so proud there were many other proud Australians around as well.  From a public transport aspect less animals may then be injured or die from road accident by buses/taxis.


Besides that, I had my three minute public speech on public transport hit on mainly on the NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan and submission - I had too much to say and discovered that witing out your speech is not important in full for Council - point form is better. There was more to discuss on public transport - and may go to Council to publicise it at more meetings.


                      THIS WAS A WIN FOR THE 
                       PEOPLE AND ANIMALS!

Lady From Doonside Needs Improved Busways 725 Bus Service!

A middle aged lady who ran to catch the train from Parramatta to Penrith, yet lives in Doonside is a happy person as she was catching her breath for meeting the train that was running on time with a minute or two to spare.


She has found that the Busways 725 bus service is lacking to be a good service while according to her it is well patronised. She claims  it is a 20- 30 minute service with 60 minute services on important weekends - This service covers commuters living at Huntingwood, Doonside and Blacktown.  Also the  Busways 726 doesn't have frequent service as well, no services at a certain times: early in the night, hourly weekend services.


She would like to see well improved bus services and better timetabled services on better frequency and especially punctuality for both Bus services 725 and 726!

Overseas Tourist Claims From Thailand We Have Great Trains!

A lady called Thai, from Chiang Mai Thailand,  recently moved from Liverpool Sydney to Doonside while visiting friends has advised that our City Rail trains was great and had good services except she said in Liverpool they have dirty and slow trains - Trains on our Western Line are cleaner to Penrith!

Westbus Driver Saves Paper - He Is a 'Greenie'!

This morning I caught a Westbus 780 to Mount Druitt - missed the Westbus 674 by 2 minutes - my own fault (Can't blame public transport all the time!).

Any way, I used the Mymulti 3 ticket (which is a combined bus/rail ferry ticket). In the City you drop your ticket in an electrodynamic ticketing device which makes a unique noise, scans it and then pops it back up to you to pick up.


Out west, we are behind the times,  no scanning, showing the ticket and the bus driver punches for a white ticket pick up and you take.


Generally, bus drives provide a  printed ticket and I know the reason why. It has always been in my mind as it startled myself and you read you'll understand why. I was told by a previous Westbus driver that they have to print the ticket for insurance purposes!  That meant to me, that if involved in an accident or anti-social behaviour and I was dead from that the ticket. it was proof  that I was on the bus/ Then my family maybe can make an insurance claim! I don't know the real answer but this always sounded good!


So today's Westbus driver show myself that he can press button ( on his electronic ticket machine), and request not to print ticket. This he is proud of saving paper for the company and Transport for NSW! I said you're a good "Greenie'! He laughed and enjoyed that comment!

Safety Of Commuter For Whalan Man!

I have spoken to an inspirational Phil from Whalan, who has his own concerns of Public Transport Safety for commuters in Mount Druitt and also New South Wales. Phil is very strong with his thoughts and I feel there are other people around the community feeling the same as him.

Young hoodlums hanging around and throwing rocks at buses he feels there should be more police patrols and a strong NSW Government policy change to State laws, giving magistrates powerful decisions for more sentencing for juveniles and also making parents/guardians more liable for the outcome.


There has to be a strong determination of whether parents and guardians are responsible and if found guilty $1,000 fines plus damages. Children should be taken away placed into detention centres, where they are taught to read and write or if they are literate, then taught a trade to give them complete life confidence. This will make them face a better life instead of causing hardship and harm tom people and or any property. It is like pure democracy, living life for a few days out in the bush far away by yourself,  away from any city distractions!

Tregear Gets Park Paving & Construction Of Concrete Slabs On Bus Stops

Please find a letter from Councillor Jacqueline Donaldson, who has worked tirelessly in our and for our group for bus stop infrastructure changes in Tregear - this is a win for the community - Well done Jacqueline and to  all the Councillors of Blacktown City Councillors in supporting this improvement - We will welcome more to come!

Tip For Commuters Purchasing Electronic Tickets - Less Breakdowns!

Robert from Blacktown. works in maintaining electronic ticketing machine. He is completely satisfied with public transport infrastructure and services except for one thing: he would like to provide advise and a warning from his to commuters who are placing coins notes in ticketing machines that 'Do not be afraid to place you money quickly in the machine. They are set up to cope with this!" - most of the breakdowns are due to commuters taking a long time to place their money in the machines.


He further advised that, 'The best to  pay for your fares via the electronic ticketing machines is to think your train is arriving to your train station platform within a minute or two'. He suggested commuters would not take their time if they want to catch that train!

Western Sydney Commuter Requires More Bus Services in South East of Sydney

Yes, another listening and public transport passionate commuter I met yesterday, seems to have same and different ideas and suggestions to improve public transport in from East to West of Sydney.

309 Bus

What we don't realise in Western Sydney, Mount Druitt there are thousands of commuters that take hours to commute to and from their destination and waiting times add to it when transferring to any other public transport service.


Ronald from Mount Druitt walks to Mount Druitt train station and  catches western line trains around 7am to get to Rosebery. He most of the time gets off at Redfern, and then transfers to catch a 309/310 bus service to East Gardens/Botany. Recently the service has been reduced from a 5 minute service to a 10 minute service and this can create delays for him to reach his occupation. He suggests the services should go back to 5 minute services as per previous time tables.


In his return trip to Mount Druitt when he catches the 3.45pm train service from Redfern, generally there are no seats left and he is left standing for the long journey home. Yet, if he catches the 3.57pm service from Redfern there is room to sit. He states we need more frequent train services to allow more comfort to more commuters.

Extended Bus Services Required in South St Marys!

Karen from South St Marys has issues with Westbus 771 from St Marys to Mount Druitt via Colyton, which is an hourly service that has been reduced recently, affecting the elderly around Colyton area. Before it was a half-hourly service, which accommodated  for all commuters and provided a much better efficient service, then now.


Apparently Westbus 771 buses does not arrive to time table times and a lot of times arrive and leave early. Karen has a bus stop outside her property and she has to arrive at the bus stop 10-15 minutes earlier. and other times later. If services are missed, then then is a long hourly wait.


Her daughter has to reach her work at Mount Druitt one hour early and 'hang around' Mount Druitt until she starts work in K-Mart. This is because if the misses the one that gets to work on time she will arrive to work one hour later!


Karen would like to request for more trains to stop at St Marys train station as this morning around 9.50am - 10.20am - three express  trains passed St Marys until her train arrived.