Blacktown City Council reopens playgrounds and calls for mass vaccination hub

Blacktown City Council has moved to reopen the playgrounds and exercise equipment within the Blacktown Local Government Area with City Mayor Tony Bleasdale also continuing to campaign for a mass vaccination hub in the Council area.

Mayor Bleasdale advised “Council’s recent decision to close the playgrounds was always subject to review and not designed to be for any set length of time.

“We have made the decision having heard the calls from the community.

“Council also made the decision being aware of the obligations of the Public Health Orders and noting that our neighbouring councils have kept their playgrounds open.

“The original decision to close the playgrounds was beyond the obligations in the Public Health Orders but was based on need to reduce people gathering.

“We can’t have such confidence – but we can point to the majority of our residents doing the right thing and acknowledge that we support the stance of NSW Police in enforcing the Public Health Orders.

“Council will continue to maintain its high level of cleaning and maintenance of our parks, reserves and public spaces and additional signs will be erected reminding people of their responsibilities.

“Please let there be no doubt, however – should the Public Health Orders be changed so as to require playgrounds to close, Council will immediately implement those changed requirements.”

Meanwhile Mayor Bleasdale is continuing his campaign to have a walk-up mass vaccination hub in the Blacktown Council area.

“I have again written to the Health Minister and Premier pointing out the situation where our City with a population of nearly 400,000 does not have a mass vaccination hub whereas surrounding councils have multiple vaccination hubs.

“Blacktown City Council has offered to provide, at no cost to NSW Health, a number of large, centrally located venues and all non-medical staff but so far the offer has fallen on deaf ears.”