Thursday, 31 October 2019 15:47
President's message: Mayoral elections and Asbestos Awareness Month
The past months have been busy with significant news and events; firstly, Mayoral elections were held in three electorates. WSROC welcomes City of Parramatta’s new Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer and Cr Michelle Garrard appointed as Deputy Lord Mayor; Cr Steve Christou as Mayor of Cumberland and Cr Eddy Sarkis, Deputy…
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Wednesday, 30 October 2019 13:15
Sydney Climathon seeks heatwave resilience
Over 100 cities from around the world participated in a global 24 hour Climathon on 25 October 2019. Climathon is a year-round programme, which focuses on a solutions-hackathon in October each year. The Hackathon seeks to develop solutions to climate challenges and translate these into tangible projects, supporting climate positive…
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Wednesday, 30 October 2019 12:37
Cumberland and Liverpool win Sustainable Cities Awards
Cumberland and Liverpool Councils have “cleaned up” at the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Sustainable Cities Awards 2019, winning six awards between them. The Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Sustainable Cities Awards is a community and environmental awards program for metropolitan Sydney communities. Winning projects are chosen based on their contribution to…
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Wednesday, 28 August 2019 15:45
President's message: Board endorses Western Sydney Energy Program
President’s message The winter months have not been idle, with some positive developments for member councils and WSROC projects. Most recently, at the third Board meeting for the year - kindly hosted by Blue Mountains City on August 22 - the Board endorsed the draft Western Sydney Energy program (WSEP),…
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Tuesday, 30 July 2019 16:07
WSROC meets with Ministers on heat
WSROC’s President and CEO met with the new Ministers for Planning and Public Spaces, Energy and Environment, and Water following their appointment after the NSW Election in March. WSROC sought to brief the Ministers on priorities identified under the Turn Down the Heat Strategy as being urgent points of action,…
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Tuesday, 30 July 2019 15:39
Strategy presented to National Growth Areas Alliance
WSROC in partnership with Blacktown City Council presented the Turn Down the Heat Strategy to the National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA) Symposium on the 4th July. The NGAA’s Symposium Research and Practice from Australia’s Fast-Growing Outer Suburbs sought to explore key issues associated with rapid growth in Australia’s outer suburbs…
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Tuesday, 30 July 2019 15:30
Next Gen. planners trained to tackle heat
The Turn Down the Heat Strategy is set to become required reading for Western Sydney University students studying the Master of Planning degree. A new unit delivered by Dr Sebastian Pfautsch will focus on urban heat and how to mitigate it. The unit will include a number of guest lecturers…
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Tuesday, 30 July 2019 15:08
WSROC secures funding for cool rating tool
WSROC has successfully secured $108,000 in Increasing Resilience to Climate Change Funding (IRCC) to build the region’s resilience extreme heat. The funding will deliver the Cool Suburbs project, which seeks to assist government, developers and the community to identify and implement best practice in urban cooling. Using the latest in…
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Tuesday, 30 July 2019 14:59
Councils collaborate on cool LEPs
WSROC and NSROC have teamed up to provide guidance to councils to integrate urban heat objectives into the current LEP Review process being undertaken by Sydney councils. With the collaboration of staff from seven councils, the ROCs engaged a planning consultant to help develop standard clauses that councils can use…
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Thursday, 27 June 2019 10:15
President's message: NSW Budget 2019
In the wake of both state and federal elections, and last week’s State Budget announcements, WSROC continues to work toward realisation of priorities and entrenching a firm advocacy agenda. Currently, we are meeting with key Ministers to ensure that our priorities are clear. These strategic discussions bring member council priorities…
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Thursday, 27 June 2019 09:57
Integrated planning for better places and environmental outcomes
On Wednesday 26 June, Western Sydney councils’ planning and environment representatives came together with stakeholders from the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and Resilient Sydney, for an Integrated Planning workshop. The event, hosted in collaboration with WSROC, NSROC and SSROC, aimed to inform strategic planning…
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Thursday, 27 June 2019 09:45
Green light for Cool Suburbs
Western Sydney is now one step closer to implementing best practice interventions, for dealing with the growing challenges of extreme heat. WSROC has successfully applied for grant funding to implement the ‘Cool Suburbs’ initiative. Building on theTurn Down the Heat strategy, ‘Cool Suburbs’ will help to build the region’s resilience and…
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Tuesday, 30 April 2019 14:57
Waste, growth and infrastructure forum
The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) hosted a Waste, Growth and Infrastructure Forum in Parramatta on April 11, in partnership with the Macarthur Strategic Waste Alliance. The forum aimed to highlight the region’s impending waste challenges and facilitate long-term planning for councils. Attended by various Sydney metropolitan councils,…
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Tuesday, 30 April 2019 14:33
President’s message: Federal election 2019
Over the last few months, in the lead up to the federal election, our members have identified the following regional issues which they believe could be best addressed by WSROC advocacy. Roads to Recovery Program WSROC welcomes the Federal Budget’s $1.1 billion boost to Roads to Recovery (R2R) Funding over…
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Tuesday, 26 February 2019 11:12
ALGA Women’s Association conferences
In the lead up to International Women’s Day, the Australian Local Government Women’s Association has opened registration for its major conferences, both of which are to be held in Western Sydney. 2019 National ALGA Women’s Association Conference - Blacktown Registrations are open for the 2019 National Australian Local Government Women's Association…
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Tuesday, 26 February 2019 11:00
Citizen Science Urban Microclimate program kicks off
Seven Greater Western Sydney councils have joined a nation-wide citizen science program in partnership with University of New South Wales and RMIT. The hands-on project seeks to educate residents about the factors contributing to urban microclimates including: how urban design, material selection and vegetation cover can create a cooling effect,…
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Tuesday, 26 February 2019 10:43
WSROC wins grant to tackle food and beverage litter
The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) has been awarded a $85,000 NSW EPA grant to target food and drink packaging littered in community parks and carparks across Western Sydney. Awarded under Stage 4 of the NSW EPA Litter Regional Implementation Program (LRIP) Grants, the project seeks to encourage…
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Tuesday, 26 February 2019 10:36
President’s Message: Election advocacy
With both the NSW and federal elections not far off, WSROC is busy advocating on our region’s priority issues. The following issues, as identified by WSROC’s members, will be front and centre of our advocacy for the coming months. Waste and recycling Rapid urban development and population growth are…
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Tuesday, 18 December 2018 15:58
Planning Liveable Cities - Report
A new report released by Infrastructure Australia has called for greater involvement of local governments in strategic planning and better support for the delivery of local infrastructure. The report was launched in Western Sydney, in partnership with the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) on the 12th December. WSROC…
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Tuesday, 18 December 2018 15:29
Western Sydney Citizen Science Forum
Over fifty environmental educators, scientists and community representatives came together to discuss all things citizen science at the Western Sydney Citizen Science Forum on 23 October. Citizen science programs allow the community to assist with collecting data, which can then be assessed and interpreted to inform decision making or research.…
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Tuesday, 18 December 2018 14:48
Message from the President: 2018 year in review
As we come to the end of another year, it is a good opportunity to reflect on what WSROC has accomplished over the last 12 months. 2018 has been a year of strong collaboration. WSROC has worked with a broad range of stakeholders to develop new programs, such as Turn…
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Monday, 17 December 2018 15:35
Councils commended for environmental excellence
Western Sydney councils have once again shown they are leading the way on sustainability. With several winning and highly commended entries at the Local Government NSW Excellence in the Environment Awards. Blacktown City Council All Eyes on Blacktown: reducing takeaway litter through enforcement and fast food outlet partnerships (Highly…
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Monday, 05 November 2018 12:22
Heat strategy commended at Resilience Awards
Western Sydney’s urban heat mitigation program, Turn Down the Heat, received highly commended at the NSW Australian Resilience Awards in October. Heat has an impact on multiple community themes such as population health, animal welfare, energy, infrastructure, transport, emergency response and planning. Turn Down the Heat is a five-year (2018-23)…
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Monday, 05 November 2018 12:02
Message from the President
It is an honour to have been elected by my fellow directors to take on the role of President of WSROC; an organisation with a long and proud history of delivering for the people of Western Sydney. I wish to sincerely thank outgoing President, Mayor Stephen Bali, for his leadership…
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Friday, 05 October 2018 15:55
Walk your 30 this October
5 October 2018 Did you know that rates of preventable chronic disease such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease are two to three times higher in Sydney’s west? There are a whole range of reasons for this, but one key factor is that we aren’t moving enough on…
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Monday, 27 August 2018 15:49
2019 Youth Advisory Council: Applications now open
Recruitment for the 2019 NSW Youth Advisory Council is now open. The NSW Youth Advisory Council (YAC) plays an important role in guiding NSW Government youth affairs and providing a direct avenue of communication between young people and the NSW Government. The YAC meets regularly throughout the year to provide…
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Monday, 27 August 2018 11:49
Message from the President: An affordable, liveable and sustainable region
It has been a busy start to the new financial year as WSROC pushes ahead with projects which seek to improve affordability, liveability and sustainability in Greater Western Sydney. In July, WSROC launched Western Sydney’s second Regional Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Strategy; a coordinated approach to sustainable waste management…
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Monday, 27 August 2018 11:37
Western Sydney presents at Litter Congress 2018
Western Sydney councils showed they are leading the way on litter management presenting four case studies at 2018 NSW Litter Congress in July. Facilitated by Keep Australia Beautiful, the Litter Congress is an opportunity for organisations involved in litter prevention and management to share best practice and discuss common challenges.…
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Monday, 27 August 2018 11:22
WSROC recognised in Resilient Sydney Strategy
The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils’ (WSROC) Turn Down the Heat Strategy has been identified as a flagship action under Sydney’s first resilience strategy. Launched in July, Resilient Sydney is a blue-print for building Sydney’s resilience to challenges such as extreme weather events, cyber and terror attacks, housing affordability,…
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Wednesday, 27 June 2018 13:14
Phillip Street Parramatta's new 'Smart Street'
Phillip Street in Parramatta’s CBD will be transformed into a Smart Street and ‘urban forest’, enhancing one of the City’s main gateways to the river and cultural precinct. Wider footpaths lined with mature trees along the southern side of Phillip Street, with space for expanded outdoor dining areas, will form…
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Wednesday, 27 June 2018 13:12
Fairfield City Council calls on residents to bin the butt
Fairfield City Council is calling on residents to help keep the City clean by properly disposing of cigarette butts. The Bin the Butt campaign is part of a region-wide program with the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) to reduce cigarette butt litter in shopping areas in Western Sydney.…
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Wednesday, 27 June 2018 13:07
Flower festival and youth strategy winners for Cumberland
A ground breaking initiative that flipped the script by putting young people in charge of Council’s youth strategy and NSW’s largest flower festival are the two big winners for Cumberland Council at the Local Government Excellence Awards held on 7 June 2018. Council’s Youth Participation and Programs Team won the…
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Wednesday, 27 June 2018 13:05
$740 million transformation of Liverpool Hospital
Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller has welcomed the NSW Government’s $740 million commitment to transform Liverpool Hospital into the largest standalone facility in Australia by 2026. “This will make Liverpool Hospital a world-leading health and academic precinct and a truly great hospital for a growing population,” Mayor Waller said of the announcement…
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Wednesday, 27 June 2018 11:48
Training staff to deliver better buildings
WSROC has been working with Western Sydney councils to deliver a better quality of higher density residential buildings; maintaining safe and clean collection of waste from homes across the region. As Western Sydney moves to higher density living, councils are working hard to ensure new buildings contain the most appropriate…
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Tuesday, 26 June 2018 11:56
President’s message: Half yearly review
As we reach the mid-way point for 2018, it’s an opportune time to reflect on some of the highlights from the last six months. The second round of WSROC’s award-winning Light Years Ahead energy efficiency program is well under way with around 60 percent of Parramatta’s LED lighting replacement project…
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Tuesday, 26 June 2018 11:48
Western Sydney Sustainability Industry-Research Hub
Western Sydney University is seeking to work with government and industry representatives on the co-development of a Sustainable and Resilient Cities Collaborative Hub for Western Sydney. Government and industry representatives from across Western Sydney, came together on the 5th of June to share ideas around the co-development of a hub…
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Wednesday, 02 May 2018 10:47
Message from the President: Cooling with trees
With summer weather lingering into the latter half of autumn, the NSW Government’s plan to plant 5 million trees across Sydney could not be timelier. WSROC strongly supports this initiative, but is acutely aware that tree planting programs are rarely straight forward, and just one part of a wider approach…
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Wednesday, 02 May 2018 10:43
What does the City Deal mean for the West?
The long awaited Western City Deal was finally announced in March, following months of negotiation between participating councils, the state and federal governments. Signed by eight councils including: Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Liverpool, Penrith and Wollondilly, the deal focuses on the development on the Greater Sydney Commission’s third…
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Friday, 20 April 2018 13:34
Program targets litter bugs
Western Sydney councils are calling on residents to help keep Western Sydney clean by properly disposing of cigarette butts. The plea is part of a region-wide program to reduce cigarette butt litter in shopping strips. President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC), Cr Stephen Bali, said “Cigarette…
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Friday, 20 April 2018 13:26
Visit Sydney’s West campaign launched
Visiting Western Sydney just got a lot easier with the launch of a one-stop shop website and app – SydneysWest.com Designed for locals and visitors alike, the platforms are part of the first ever collective marketing campaign for Sydney’s West encompassing 9,000 km2 and eight local government areas. The campaign…
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Friday, 20 April 2018 11:47
Penrith bus shelter beats the heat
A new bus shelter has been installed on Derby Street, Kingswood - a Climate Adapted People Shelter (CAPS). The CAPS project addressed the complex challenges of public exposure to urban heat and the need for smarter public transport infrastructure to improve liveability of cities. Over the past 100 years, heatwaves…
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Friday, 20 April 2018 11:33
Hawkesbury calls for responsible cafes
To help to reduce the use of disposable cups, Hawkesbury City Council has entered into an exciting new partnership with Hawkesbury Environmental Network (HEN) and the nationally recognised Responsible Cafes, which was featured on ABC TV’s ‘War on Waste’ series. Over three billion takeaway cups are used in Australia every…
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Friday, 20 April 2018 11:18
People before pokies in Fairfield
Fairfield Mayor and WSROC Senior Vice President, Frank Carbone The NSW Government recently introduced new poker machine legislation, which places a cap on the number of machines in the Fairfield City area. Venues in our City cannot apply to have more poker machines, however the new laws will introduce leasing…
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Friday, 02 March 2018 11:54
Message from the President: WSROC hits the ground running in 2018
As we reach the end of February, it is clear that 2018 is shaping up to be as action-packed as 2017. WSROC has been busy finalising Western Sydney's urban heat strategy, Turn Down the Heat, which is due to be released in the coming weeks. Turn Down the Heat is…
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Friday, 02 March 2018 10:24
Councils briefed on Western Sydney Visitor Economy Strategy
Western Sydney councils gathered on March 1st for a briefing on the Destination NSW Western Sydney Visitor Economy Strategy. The Strategy which takes in WSROC, Macarthur Region and Hills Shire councils outlines nine strategic directions for Greater Western Sydney’s visitor economy to 2021. These include: Building a cohesive approach to…
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Monday, 26 February 2018 17:23
Cumberland launches community reading boxes
Cumberland Council Cumberland Council is launching a Community Reading Box Project, which involves the installation of easily accessible community reading boxes throughout Cumberland, designed and built by Granville Men’s Shed. The project, which is an initiative of Council’s Paint Cumberland REaD program, supported by a Clubs Grant, will go live…
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Monday, 26 February 2018 17:20
Penrith launches artist mentoring program
Penrith City Council Penrith City Council’s exciting new arts Initiative - the DiG (Digital) Maker Space Program was launched on Monday at its project office in the Penrith CBD. The program is the first of its kind providing a 16-week residency for selected creative professionals to work with a professional…
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Monday, 26 February 2018 17:16
Incinerator forum fires up Minchinbury
Blacktown City Council Hundreds of Western Sydney residents flocked to a Blacktown City Council forum over the weekend to protest against plans to build an Energy from Waste Incinerator (EfWI) at Eastern Creek. Garbage disposal company Dial a Dump wants to build a EfWI that will eventually burn more than…
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Monday, 26 February 2018 16:54
Zest of the West
A number of WSROC councils picked up top gongs at Western Sydney's premier community sector awards in January. An initiative of the Western Sydney Community Forum, the ZEST Awards are an annual celebration of the innovation and creativity of those who work to strengthen Western Sydney communities. Council-run projects recognised at…
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Monday, 26 February 2018 16:17
Event: Fit NSW 2018
Placemakers and cityshapers: The pathway to active and healthy communities Active Living NSW invites you to attend our free FitNSW 2018 event, Placemakers and Cityshapers: the pathway to active and healthy communities. FitNSW is an annual conference to showcase international and NSW best practice built environment and planning initiatives to…
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Monday, 26 February 2018 15:15
Liverpool slams Moorebank plant approval
Liverpool City Council The green light has been given to a noisy, dirty concrete crushing plant within 300 metres of homes in Moorebank after the NSW Supreme Court rejected a last-ditch appeal by Liverpool City Council. Council has been fighting for years against the concrete recycling facility, which was approved…
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Thursday, 21 December 2017 15:01
Stop the waste bin overflowing this Christmas
Christmas can be a hard time on the environment. End-of-year festivities often mean mountains of discarded packaging, left-over food, as well as out-dated toys and electrical goods. President of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils Cr Stephen Bali, is calling on Western Sydney residents to be mindful of waste…
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Thursday, 14 December 2017 14:17
Turn Down the Heat workshop
Over 70 stakeholders gathered to fine tune the Western Sydney Urban Heat Strategy during November. Participants gathered from across all industries and sectors to contribute to a document which will guide the future liveability and resilience of Western Sydney. WSROC President Cr Stephen Bali said “Urban heat isn’t just about…
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Monday, 11 December 2017 10:20
Events: What's on next month
From sustainability to automated vehicels learn more about the society we live in with these free events. Transport for NSW: Regional automated vehicle trials RFEOI Industry Briefing – 13 December, 2017 Transport for NSW is seeking to provide seed funding and partner with industry, researchers, local councils and businesses…
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Friday, 08 December 2017 15:56
Council study finds airport noise on natural areas overlooked
The findings of a study commissioned by Blue Mountains City Council reveal the impact of Western Sydney Airport flight paths on the Great Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, and the lack of standards regarding aircraft noise management in natural areas. Council commissioned the study after the Australian Government’s Environmental Impact…
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Friday, 08 December 2017 15:50
Hawkesbury protests new rail timetable
Hawkesbury Councillors and the Federal Member for Maquarie, Susan Templeman, hosted a ‘Listening Station’ at Richmond Park last month in response to community backlash about the new Sydney Trains timetable. Dissatisfaction with the new timetable arises from longer travel times, as well as a fifteen minute shift in scheduling which…
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Friday, 08 December 2017 15:39
Surf's up in Fairfield
Fairfield City will launch into summer with the opening of the exciting new Wave Rider attraction at Aquatopia on 2 December at 12pm. Mayor of Fairfield City Frank Carbone said families can now ride the surf in Fairfield City, without the need to travel long distances to the beach. “We’re…
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Friday, 08 December 2017 15:16
West to target cigarette butts
WSROC has received a $148,155 NSW Government grant to reduce cigarette butt litter in shopping strips. WSROC President Cr Stephen Bali said “This will be the second Western Sydney-wide project to tackle littering thanks to funding from the NSW Government. “Each year Western Sydney councils spend a collective $14…
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Friday, 08 December 2017 14:30
WSROC welcomes four new Directors
City of Parramatta and Cumberland Councils have appointed their first councillors to the WSROC Board, following local government elections in September. WSROC President Cr Stephen Bali said “It is exciting to welcome councillors from Parramatta and Cumberland back to the WSROC Board after 18 months of administration. "The local…
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Friday, 08 December 2017 10:54
Message from the President: A year in review
It is an honour to be re-elected as WSROC President for a second term. Western Sydney is such an exciting place to be right now – it is full of change, opportunities and challenges. I would like to congratulate my fellow Executive members on their election: Cr Frank Carbone as…
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Tuesday, 31 October 2017 10:53
Events: What's on in November
From the NDIS to sustainable housing and urban agriculture learn more about the society we live in with these events. Local Government Multicultural Network: Inclusive and cohesive communities in NSW conference – 2-3 November, 2017 The Conference brought to you by the Local Government Multicultural Network, in partnership with…
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Monday, 30 October 2017 14:04
Cumberland launches mobile immunisation clinics
Cumberland Council is making it easier for parents to keep their kids safe from vaccine-preventable diseases with free Immunisation Clinics offered at Merrylands, Wentworthville and Pemulwuy. The immunisation clinics are held four times each month and are staffed by friendly nurses accredited by NSW Health. Both day and evening…
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Monday, 30 October 2017 13:57
Gyms in Parks returns for another lap
Fairfield City Council’s popular ‘Gyms in Parks’ outdoor exercise program will return this month at St Johns Park oval where outdoor gym equipment was installed in August. The ‘Gyms in Parks’ program will run for six weeks from 24 October 2017, between 9.30am and 10.30am each Tuesday and Thursday.…
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Monday, 30 October 2017 13:30
Liverpool furious with new train times
The NSW Government has badly let down Liverpool commuters in a new train timetable which starts in November, Liverpool City Council Chief Executive Officer Kiersten Fishburn said today. Currently, the fastest service to Central takes 49 minutes from Liverpool. When the new timetable takes effect in November, the quickest trip…
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Monday, 30 October 2017 13:28
Parramatta welcomes second stage of light rail
City of Parramatta Council says the second stage of the Parramatta Light Rail will provide a much needed public transport link for existing and future communities in the Parramatta Local Government area and beyond. The NSW Government has announced the nine kilometre preferred route will extend from Carter Street,…
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Monday, 30 October 2017 13:25
West best in the environment
Western Sydney has again shown its strong environmental credentials at the Local Government NSW Excellence in the Environment Awards this month. WSROC President Cr Stephen Bali said “I would like to congratulate Blue Mountains, Blacktown, Cumberland, Liverpool and Parramatta councils on their award-winning projects. “I would particularly like to…
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Monday, 30 October 2017 12:51
Heat strategy a step closer
A solution to Western Sydney’s urban heat problem is a step closer with a second Turn Down the Heat workshop scheduled for November. WSROC President Cr Stephen Bali said “Urban heat is a complex issue with severe and far-reaching consequences for Western Sydney’s people, infrastructure and environment. “Following Turn Down…
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Monday, 30 October 2017 12:42
Network-wide cap recommended following Inquiry
After two years of campaigning, WSROC and its member councils have successfully pushed for a more transparent and equitable road network for Western Sydney residents. Following a formal Parliamentary Inquiry, the NSW Government released its report into road tolling on 20th October, 2017. Recommendations from the report include: That the…
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Monday, 30 October 2017 12:26
Message from the President: Greater Sydney Commission
Just a few days ago the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC) released its eagerly-awaited draft Sydney Region Plan (SR Plan); a vision to 2056. WSROC will be conducting a formal review of the Plan in due course, but I commend the GSC in its efforts to engage with local government and…
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Friday, 29 September 2017 10:46
Step up this Walktober
Did you know that Western Sydney has higher rates of preventable chronic disease such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease? There are a whole range of reasons for this, but one key factor is that we aren’t moving enough on a daily basis. This month is Walktober, the…
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Friday, 29 September 2017 09:18
Message from the President: a new chapter in local government
We have finally seen an end to the local government amalgamation process with elections for newly formed councils held on 9th September. I would like to congratulate the newly elected councillors for Cumberland and Parramatta, and in particular, Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Cr Andrew Wilson, and Mayor of Cumberland Cr…
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Friday, 29 September 2017 09:02
Events: sustainability, health, migration and governance
From new governance to emerging energy markets, learn more about the society we live in with these free events. WSROC, SCCG and UNSW: Engaging communities and facilitating change Engaging communities and facilitating change, will explore the latest research on sustainable design, energy efficiency, community engagement and transitioning to a…
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Thursday, 28 September 2017 17:22
Blue Mountains to trail water refill stations
Blue Mountains City Council will enter into a partnership with Sydney Water to install eight water bubbler and refill stations to make tap water more accessible in popular public places. Mayor, Cr Mark Greenhill, said, “The water refill stations will help reduce the environmental impact of drinking bottled water by…
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Thursday, 28 September 2017 17:20
Plans for world-class animal re-homing centre in Blacktown
Blacktown City Council has launched a far-sighted plan to build a state-of-the-art Animal Re-homing Centre (ARC); planned to be the most advanced in Australia. When complete it could accept lost, stray and abandoned animals from up to 15 neighbouring council areas, representing about 1.5 million Sydney residents. Mayor Stephen Bali…
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Thursday, 28 September 2017 17:17
Liverpool housing is booming but infrastructure is lacking
Liverpool’s housing market is booming, with new figures showing 17,750 new homes in the pipeline. “Anyone can see the change happening in Liverpool, with 100 new residents in the council area every week,” said Mayor of Liverpool Cr Wendy Waller. “Many parts of Sydney have basically shut up shop and…
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Thursday, 28 September 2017 17:07
Getting the balance right: IHAPS
As I watched the local council elections unfold across the weekend, I found myself considering the new and interesting test we all face as local councillors – the impending Independent Hearing and Assessment Panels (IHAP) legislation. It raises serious questions around how we can continue to balance our communities’ needs…
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Thursday, 28 September 2017 16:57
Forum: engaging communities and facilitating change
WSROC in partnership with Sydney Coastal Councils Group (SCCG) and UNSW’s Low Carbon CRC are hosting forum for local government professionals working in the energy efficiency and sustainability sectors. Engaging communities and facilitating change will explore the latest research on sustainable design, energy efficiency and community engagement. The forum will also…
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Thursday, 28 September 2017 16:53
West chronicles nightmare commute
Commuters from across Sydney’s outer western suburbs have shared the difficulties of their daily commute during National Nightmare Commute Day on 14th September. The annual campaign is an initiative of the National Growth Areas Alliance (NGAA) to highlight the difficulty experienced by commuters living in rapidly growing suburbs on the…
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Thursday, 28 September 2017 16:47
Western Sydney Visitor Economy Strategy released
Destination NSW released its first Western Sydney Visitor Economy Strategy this month, in response to the region’s growing tourism sector. WSROC President Cr Stephen Bali said “It is great to see the NSW Government focus on Western Sydney as a tourism region. We have amazing destinations, natural assets and cultural…
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Thursday, 28 September 2017 16:38
Endeavour, councils consult on public lighting
Endeavour Energy and a number of Western Sydney councils came together during September to discuss the maintenance and management of public lighting. Hosted by WSROC, the forum aimed to increase collaboration between Endeavour Energy on a range of issues, including public lighting, main road lighting, new technologies and vegetation management. …
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Thursday, 28 September 2017 16:35
Light Years Ahead finalist in Green Globe Awards
WSROC’s energy-saving Light Years Ahead program has been nominated for another award*, being named as a finalist in the Green Globe Awards for environmental sustainability. Managed by WSROC on behalf of nine participating councils, Light Years Ahead was one of Sydney’s largest energy reduction projects. The project replaced nearly 15,000…
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Thursday, 28 September 2017 16:26
Cumberland, Parramatta councils elected
After 16 months of administration, the new councils for Cumberland and City of Parramatta have been elected. WSROC President Cr Stephen Bali said “I welcome the newly elected councillors for Cumberland and Parramatta, and look forward to working with their elected representatives to the WSROC Board over the coming year.…
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Friday, 01 September 2017 09:48
Sydney's West needs north-south rail
An integrated rail and road plan is needed immediately to support projected growth of one million people says the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC). “Greater Western Sydney is set to absorb two-thirds of Sydney’s population growth by 2036, half of which will occur in the north-south corridor between…
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Friday, 01 September 2017 09:42
Message from the President: Airport must focus on outcomes
This month delivered the announcement that Western Sydney Airport Co. will be based in the Liverpool CBD. This is fantastic news for the City of Liverpool and the Western Sydney region. It is critical that the company responsible for planning Western Sydney Airport is based in Western Sydney. The move…
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WSROC news stories
Thursday, 31 August 2017 13:36
Events: transport, energy and city shaping
Transport, renewable energy and city shaping are on the agenda at these upcoming free events. UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures – How new technology can match business energy demand to renewable generation, 19 September 2017 A groundswell of business interest in renewable energy supply is growing, particularly on-site solar…
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Thursday, 31 August 2017 12:54
Waste program secures ongoing funding
Western Sydney’s award-winning regional waste program has secured a further four years of funding under the NSW EPA’s Waste Less Recycle More initiative. WSROC President Cr Stephen Bali said “The Western Sydney Regional Waste Strategy has been one of WSROC’s most successful programs, setting the groundwork for a more collaborative,…
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Thursday, 31 August 2017 12:49
Fifth community recycling centre for the West
Construction has commenced on Western Sydney’s fifth community recycling centre (CRC), due to open in early 2018. Once open, the Hawkesbury Community Recycling Centre will be managed by Hawkesbury City Council through its existing waste management facility at South Windsor. Mayor of Hawkesbury, Mary Lyons-Buckett said “Hawkesbury CRC will provide…
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Thursday, 31 August 2017 12:45
Mayors join forces to protect local decision making
Mayors of five councils in Sydney's West have expressed deep concern at the NSW Government's disappointing reaction to planning future development. This comes shortly after council amalgamation changes and a lack of clarity on the role of local communities in determining future development outcomes in Western Sydney. The Mayors -…
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Thursday, 31 August 2017 12:40
Liverpool to be home of Western Sydney Airport Co.
The company responsible for the delivery of Western Sydney Airport will set up shop in Liverpool CBD before the end of the year. “This is the best possible news for Liverpool,” said a delighted Liverpool City Council Mayor Wendy Waller, after the announcement by Paul Fletcher, Federal Minister for Urban…
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Thursday, 31 August 2017 12:33
Airport engagement misses the mark
A independent assessment of the community engagement process for Western Sydney Airport has found a significant level of dissatisfaction amongst Western Sydney residents. The findings were released in a joint report from the Western Sydney Community Forum and the University of New South Wales' Centre for Health Equity Training Research…
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Thursday, 31 August 2017 12:28
M4 Toll sees 25 percent usage drop
Western Sydney motorists have flocked to Parramatta Road following the introduction of a $4.56 toll on the widened M4. M4 usage was down 25 percent on August 15 as drivers sought alternatives to the $45 a week charge. WSROC President Cr Stephen Bali said “WSROC has been collecting feedback from…
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Tuesday, 08 August 2017 09:53
Survey: Tell us what you think about the M4 toll
The new M4 is now open between Parramatta and Homebush. Are the upgrades saving you time? Are you happy to pay the $4.56 toll? Western Sydney councils want to hear from you. Simply complete this short survey to help us understand how the M4 upgrade impacts…
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Thursday, 27 July 2017 10:11
Message from the President: Financial year wrap up
And so we begin a new financial year. Reflecting on the last 12 months, it is astounding what WSROC and its councils have achieved together. From urban heat mitigation to waste infrastructure planning, economic development, and fighting for a more transparent energy market, there are many areas in which Western…
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Monday, 24 July 2017 14:03
Events: housing, energy and urban living
From new Census data to urban planning and emerging energy markets, learn more about the society we live in at these free events. Western Sydney University: 2016 Census data seminar 1 August, 2017 Find out what the 2016 Census of Population and Housing tells us about ourselves, our communities…
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Monday, 24 July 2017 12:18
Focus on: Fairfield waste education for multi-unit dwellings
Background As Western Sydney becomes more urbanised, higher density multi-unit dwellings (MUDs) are becoming more commonplace. MUDs present a number of challenges for the provision of local waste services, not least because they produce large amounts of waste in a small footprint. As a more affordable form of housing, MUDs…
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Monday, 24 July 2017 12:15
41 tonnes of asbestos collected
The Western Sydney Regional Asbestos Disposal Scheme (WSRADS) has safely disposed of 41 tonnes of asbestos waste from homes across Western Sydney. The NSW EPA-funded program, which ran between January and May 2017, offered Western Sydney homeowners free collection of small amounts of loose asbestos sheeting. WSROC President Cr Stephen…
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Monday, 24 July 2017 12:05
WSROC continues fight for fairer tolls
Following its campaign for toll reform in Sydney, the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) has continued its fight for a fairer transport system as part of the Australian Government’s Parliamentary Inquiry into road use charging. WSROC President Cr Stephen Bali said “Around 70 per cent of Greater Western…
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Monday, 24 July 2017 11:57
Pet project for Western Sydney
The registration, collection and rehoming of pets is a significant function of many local councils. Western Sydney’s projected population growth combined with increasing pet ownership means that demand for animal holding facilities and related services is expected to increase in future – greatly exceeding the region’s current infrastructure capacity. To…
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Tuesday, 04 July 2017 10:06
NSW Budget 2017: What's in it for Western Sydney
Western Sydney received a lot of attention in this year’s NSW Budget. Whether for our city, or Western Sydney specifically, here is a summary of budget items that will impact the region over the next 12 months. Transport $658.1 million (2017-18) for increased and improved rail services including…
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Tuesday, 04 July 2017 09:57
Message from the President: NSW Budget 2017
The 2017-18 NSW Budget offered few surprises for infrastructure investment, however there were some great wins for health services and young people. There were few surprises with regards to Western Sydney’s infrastructure program. Roads supporting Western Sydney Airport and the region’s North West, scoping for Western Sydney rail, and planning…
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Tuesday, 04 July 2017 09:39
Building liveable cities
Want to learn more about how we can build liveable cities of the future? These free events explore the latest research on urban heat, air quality, urban biodiversity and city living. University of Sydney: Festival of Urbanism (31 July - 12 August, 2017) Cities are more than their physical and spatial…
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Monday, 03 July 2017 15:04
Beyond stereotypes: Western Sydney's next generation
A recent survey conducted by NFP Youth Action has asked 18 – 25 year olds across Greater Western Sydney what makes them smile about living in the region. The results are in and the final report shows that Western Sydney is more than just its stereotypes, it is a region…
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Monday, 03 July 2017 14:34
Focus on: Parramatta R3 program
Introduction The City of Parramatta R3 program sought to prevent waste and maximise resource recovery and reuse during the relocation of Council’s administration building and library in late 2015. Background In 2015 City of Parramatta Council announced it would be relocating its main office building and library to make…
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Monday, 03 July 2017 14:25
Energy from waste part of bigger issue
Energy from waste technology is currently taking centre stage on the political agenda however, from a regional perspective, it is just a small part of a much bigger issue. With a growing population, Western Sydney’s waste and recycling infrastructure is quickly reaching capacity. Despite being one of society’s most basic…
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Monday, 03 July 2017 14:20
Driving down roadside litter in the West
The results are in. Western Sydney’s roadside litter campaign has successfully driven down litter across the region’s main roads. Working in partnership with Roads and Maritime Services and the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Western Sydney councils delivered a program of coordinated enforcement, roadside litter pick-ups, and marketing activities targeting…
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Monday, 29 May 2017 11:54
Event: Migration, renewal and the new Western City
Save the date: Overturning perceptions: migration, renewal and the new Western City Monday 6th June 3.00pm to 5.30pm Blacktown City Council, Flushcombe Rd, Blacktown. Western Sydney is renowned for its multi-cultural social character and as home to the most diverse mix of communities in Australia. This long-standing diversity has brought…
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