Memorable year for Fairfield City
Published on 23 December 2020
2020 has certainly been a memorable year. As your Mayor, I am proud of the many great projects and initiatives we delivered for the community despite the challenges of COVID-19.
We opened the synthetic and turf sports fields at Fairfield Showground, as well as our multipurpose amenities building which offers sports teams and festivals the best in change rooms, meeting rooms, office space and kitchen/canteen facilities. These new facilities are so good that the A-League’s newest football team Macarthur FC have set up their training base there.
Our new 3,200 sqm playground at Koonoona Park was opened for the families of Villawood and Carramar. We also installed outdoor fitness equipment at Powhatan Reserve, Endeavour Park and Chisholm Park. This is in addition to $1.25 million in improvements to other parks and playgrounds across our City this financial year.
The missing link at Sweethaven Road was completed, connecting Edensor and Prairie Vale roads. This month we will also complete the upgrade of Smithfield Road to four lanes from Elizabeth Drive to Polding Street.
During COVID-19, we transformed our services to make them accessible during lockdown months, and sent staff to help local community groups. We supported the community with COVID-19 care packs for sports clubs, community groups and those recovering in quarantine; and helped make 1,200 reusable facemasks for vulnerable members of the community. We partnered with NSW Health to operate COVID-19 testing sites to help our community beat the pandemic, including Fairfield Showground, where more than 21,000 people were tested.
The drive-in movies made their return to Fairfield City for the first time in decades during the winter school holidays, giving families a safe way to have fun together during COVID-19. We also reduced our rates to support you during these difficult times, keeping our rates among the lowest in Sydney, while still delivering the infrastructure and services you rely on. We also supported local business with our #supportlocal campaign.
On top of these important projects, Council also continued to deliver on our works program, including $13.1 million for road improvements and $3.1 million for new and upgraded footpaths.
While we achieved a lot this year, 2021 is shaping up to be another big year, with even more exciting projects on the way that will ensure Fairfield City remains a wonderful place to live, work, play and raise a family. I wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year.