LOCAL POLITICIANS SAY

$80M CLASSROOM BOOST FOR WESTERN SYDNEY

About 40 new classrooms will be built and almost 900 additional students accommodated at schools across Western Sydney as part of the NSW Government’s $1 billion boost over four years for the construction of new classrooms and schools infrastructure. The NSW Government has announced the new projects, with the capital works to support a once-in-a-generation demand for student places in public schools. Communities across Western Sydney are growing rapidly and student enrolments continue to rise. We are making a massive investment in local schools to provide the educational infrastructure to support families living in this region. These new school projects bring the total announced expenditure so far this financial year to almost $80 million for Western Sydney. Other projects announced in the 2016-17 Budget include a new school in North Kellyville, as well as new permanent classrooms at additional schools in Western Sydney. More than 100 new permanent classrooms, providing over 2,600 student places, will be delivered by the upgrades. As Western and South Western Sydney continue to grow, so too will our investment in new schools and classrooms. The School Infrastructure Strategy is designed to identify high growth areas across NSW and ensure capacity exists to meet the demand for enrolments. The projects will also include associated student and staff facilities to complement the new classrooms.

$108 MILLION BUS BOOST

Additional double decker buses will now serve some of our area’s busiest routes, as part of a $108 million investment in new buses from the NSW 2016-17 Budget. The 80 seat double deckers which carry 65 per cent more capacity than normal size buses, will be used on key corridors including the busy Rouse Hill-City service (route 607X) and between Blacktown and Macquarie Park (route 611). A new all-night 607X service will also be introduced on Friday and Saturday nights, together with a new 607 route from North Kellyville to Rouse Hill Town Centre and 15 new weekly 619 services from Castle Hill to Macquarie Park. These additional services are a welcome boost for our area, providing more travel options for commuters.

CASTLE HILL RED CROSS

I recently attended the 27th AGM of the Castle Hill Branch of Red Cross – a wonderful group of local people who go above and beyond the call of duty by giving support to those most in need. On the day it was lovely to hear from Chris Mansfield – NSW Membership Team Leader of Red Cross who spoke about the enormous contributions made by our local Castle Hill Branch. Many people may not know that in 2015 Red Cross provided 557,108 breakfasts to disadvantaged school kids; taught 6,000 young people first aid for alcohol and drug related emergencies; provided 100,000 tarpaulins and 2.8 million litres of safe drinking water to Nepal after last year’s earthquake; and provided support to tens of thousands of Australians and people in need abroad. In particular, Red Cross has been at the forefront of efforts to support those displaced by the ongoing conflict in Syria. Castle Hill Branch is one of the hardest working branches which is generously supported by donors in our community. Congratulations to President Jean Swayne and Vice President Lorraine Williams OAM, together with all members of the Castle Hill Branch for their incredible contribution.

CONGRATULATIONS
100th Birthday Josephine Flint- Jones and Frederick John Royer

60th Wedding Anniversary Roy and Beryl Lohman; Raymond and Faye Brown; John and Nina Leeds; Morris and Dorothy Watson