Connect Magazine – Winter edition 2026

When the last foot crossed the finish line of The Crest Athletics Track during April’s Mayor’s 24- Hour Challenge for Mental Health, Mathew Howard and Kelly O’Brien took a deep breath so that they could take in what their community had achieved. 

More than a thousand people had walked beside them in memory of their daughter, Charlotte, who died by suicide after experiencing ongoing bullying.

Together, they had clocked up 7,279km across 18,199 laps – to Perth and back – and raised more than $100,000 to support mental health. 

Every dollar went directly to fund Charlotte’s Wish Scholarships, which offer early support for young people. 

For Kelly, the true impact of the Challenge was found in the moments shared on the track.

“What stood out to us was the compassion and empathy – we felt a genuine connection with people from many walks of life as they shared their 'why' for being there.” 

A 14-year-old boy from Lakemba who was taking part in the walk was awarded a Charlotte’s Wish Scholarship after he shared his own experiences of being bullied. 

“I knew I needed him to be a part of this program. He will get the full benefit of a scholarship to bring out the best version of his already wonderful self,” Kelly said.

Thanks to the fundraising effort, 14 more scholarships will be delivered to young people, giving them the tools to build resilience, connections and practical coping skills. 

“My hope for the day was to feel Charlotte’s presence and to feel she was proud of us – I absolutely felt all of this,” said Kelly. 

For support, call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800

Fast facts

• $104,000 raised
• Most laps by a single person: 400+
• 35 teams

Get ready to make a splash! 

Swimmers, fitness fans and wellness seekers – your new Canterbury Leisure & Aquatic Centre will be opening soon! 

Construction of the new multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art facility, one of our largest ever projects, is nearing completion and there is already a buzz in the community about what’s coming. 

The world class facility is highlighted by a stunning outdoor 50m heated pool, an indoor 25m pool and a kid’s outdoor water play area. Other features include a relaxing sauna, fully equipped premium fitness gym and two group fitness areas. 

The final stages of the project will include the massive task of filling and testing the new pools and preparation for the grand opening. 

Last swim, first look: local swimmers see the new Centre in progress

At 71, David O’Brien is a lifelong swimmer at Canterbury Leisure & Aquatic Centre, where he learned to swim in the 60s.

In 2023, David and his wife Helen swam the last laps at the pool before it was closed for construction. They recently accompanied Mayor Bilal El-Hayek for a peek behind the scenes of the new Centre, still under construction. 

“This is such amazing progress for the community,” David said. “We’re so lucky to be living in a council that can deliver a facility like this.” 

 "When this opens it is going to be such a great spot – not just for swimming, but the cafe and gym will be the perfect place to meet up with friends,” Helen said.

To keep up to date on the project and to hear about grand opening announcements and exclusive launch offers:

Our nine libraries across Canterbury-Bankstown have so much to offer beyond borrowing books. 

They’re vibrant community hubs that foster learning, creativity and connection. 

Parents and carers share special moments at baby rhyme time and story time, children can take part in homework help, book clubs and gaming groups, and adults can build confidence through hobby groups, English conversation groups and tech support.

For seniors, our libraries help reduce isolation and support wellbeing with chair yoga, social games, craft groups and our popular bus to library and home library services.

We also have multilingual collections, cultural groups and local and family history support services that celebrate our diverse community.

With access to public computers, Wi-Fi and 24/7 digital resources that include TV shows, films, ebooks and audiobooks, there’s something for everyone. And most of this is completely FREE! 

Looking ahead, we’re making sure your libraries will be ready for the future, with three of our older libraries to be replaced by new ones in the next few years. More updates coming soon!

Fast facts

• 4,500+ library programs
• 5,200 daily WiFi users
• 14,500 attendees at preschool programs

Early in the morning, before most of us have rolled out of bed, our Roads Operations crew is already at work, keeping Canterbury-Bankstown moving. 

From fixing potholes to laying asphalt, they keep our roads safe, smooth and reliable. 

“Our goal is simple – make the roads safer for everyone. Every job contributes to that,” said Michael, Team Leader.

That purpose carries the team through long days, tough weather and the demands of working in live traffic. 

“The team shows up every day in rain, hail or shine to get the job done safely and properly,” said Neil, Leading Hand.

Every task, no matter how small, contributes to something bigger: safer roads and a stronger community.

Next time you are driving through our City, take a moment to appreciate the work beneath your wheels – and the team behind it.

Charging electric vehicles (EVs) is about to get easier. We’re installing 12 chargers in our car parks and facilities across Canterbury-Bankstown. 

This is part of the Electrifying the City program, which will see 36 new EV charging ports installed across all five wards this year. The chargers include a mix of 22kWh alternate current (AC) and 55kWh direct current (DC). Great for quick top ups, but also powerful enough for weekly charging. 

This project helps achieve the vision in our Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan, by helping us move towards zero-emission transport. 

This project is proudly funded by the NSW Government’s Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants Program.

In March 2026, we adopted our Urban Forest Strategic Plan. But what is an urban forest? 

When you look through your window and see trees and shrubs, you're looking at the urban forest. It’s more than just trees it's a mix of trees, shrubs and grasses and even includes green spaces such as green roofs. These all help reduce heat waves, combat climate change, support biodiversity and enhance community wellbeing. 

The plan will help with the future of our City by focusing on the protection, management and growth of our urban tree canopy. You play a important role! You can help build our urban forest by retaining existing trees and planting local plants on your property.

Milperra is now home to one of Australia’s largest pump and jump tracks, with our new Deepwater Pump Track officially open to riders of all ages and skill levels. 

Take your bike down and you’ll find smooth rollers, flowing corners and different riding paths designed for bicycles and scooters. There are easier lines for new riders and challenging ones for the experienced. 

Around the track, there are pedestrian paths, shelters, bike racks, seating, additional parking, amenities and green space. Mayor Bilal El-Hayek, who tried out the track for himself, said the new facility is already proving popular, from the littlest riders to BMX enthusiasts.

“Deepwater Pump Track is a fantastic addition to our City and a great place for everyone to stay active and have fun," he said 

The track is located close to the M5 turnoff, Kelso Park sports fields and the upgraded Deepwater Park Play Space, creating a growing recreation hub for the community. 

The project was delivered in partnership with the NSW Government through its Places to Play program.

Fast facts

• 200m of main track
• 80m junior track
• 2ha new open space

The recently upgraded Canterbury Underpass shared path is an important connection between Canterbury Station and the Cooks River for cyclists and pedestrians.

We proudly partnered with artists Jasmine Sarin and Pilar Basa to create a colourful mural that reflects the natural wildlife and surrounding Cook’s river as inspiration, creating a vibrant and welcoming space for the community to walk, cycle and use. The artists shared their passion for making art accessible to all, saying, “Not everyone can go to a gallery, not everyone has the finances to buy art. Working in the community is so meaningful.” 

Their creativity has helped to deliver a cleaner, more vibrant and inviting space for locals and visitors to experience and enjoy.

Fast facts

• Mural size: 100m²+
• Time to create: 13 days

CBCity Children’s Services is now running the Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) service at Bankstown Public School. 

We already run the OSHC service at Clemton Park Public school. 

While before and after school care is for students at those schools, our Vacation Care programs are open to children across the community, subject to availability once bookings from the school community have been accommodated.

We know how important it is for families to have flexible and reliable care throughout the year, including holidays – especially working families. 

During Vacation Care, children take part in activities like sports, music and dance, arts and crafts, cooking and indoor and outdoor play and discovery. 

We also organise excursions to make sure kids are getting out and about and enjoying their holidays. All our OSHC and Vacation Care are run by experienced, qualified educators.