Bankstown City Council has received national recognition for successfully advocating on behalf of its residents, businesses and community groups.
Bankstown was named winner of the Best Advocacy/Public Affairs Award at the Government Communications Australia 2014 Awards for Excellence in Melbourne.
Mayor Khal Asfour said the award was a great result for not only Council but also the whole community.
“This award highlights the role councils can play in supporting their communities in having important issues addressed by state and federal governments.
“Council has successfully influenced a number of issues affecting our city.
“You only have to look at the upgrade of the ‘last mile’ of the Chullora Intermodal Terminal project to see how effective our advocacy work is.”
Chullora Intermodal Terminal is a freight hub that has needed more access routes for more then 20 years.
In 2013, successful lobbying got the project funded.
“Through our continuous lobbying, the final stage of the terminal, which will bring huge economic benefits to our city, was completed after Council secured funding from Infrastructure Australia.”
Other significant issues Bankstown successfully advocated on behalf of residents included theM5 Corridor Taskforce.
Bankstown Council was the driving force behind the formation of the M5 Corridor Taskforce, a coalition of councils along the M5 which successfully lobbied the NSW Government to fund the expansion of the M5.
Mayor Asfour was also appointed to the inaugural Board of Local Government NSW, the peak industry association representing the interest of all
152 NSW councils.
Illegal dumping was also successfully tackled, and LED street lighting was also trialed by council and has since been endorsed for residential roads.
