Council Update - Spring edition 2026
Our new quarterly newsletter letting you know what we’ve been doing to create a City you love
Mayor’s message
Dear residents,
I’m thrilled to announce that the new Canterbury Leisure & Aquatic Centre is complete and will open on 7 November.
This $61 million facility is more than just a new aquatic centre. It’s a world-class health, fitness and recreation destination that will serve generations.
The new centre features a heated 50-metre outdoor pool, a heated 25-metre indoor pool, a zero-depth children’s water play area, gym, fitness studios, accessible changerooms and amenities, sauna, cafe and much more.
I’m delighted to invite you to the grand opening on Saturday 7 November – join me to celebrate this historic moment and be among the first to see the magnificent new facilities.
Regards,
Mayor Bilal El-Hayek
To hear more from me, follow me on Facebook, Instagram and X.
CANTERBURY LEISURE & AQUATIC CENTRE
Canterbury Leisure & Aquatic Centre
Saturday 7 November
Ready, set, play
We’re continuing to deliver more welcoming spaces for our community to play, connect and stay active.
Through our Playground Surfaces Upgrade Program, funded through the Special Rate Variation (SRV), we’ve been renewing worn playground and recreation surfaces to improve safety, accessibility and the overall experience. In 2025/26, Council upgraded 13 sites across our City, with more planned this financial year.
This ongoing investment will help keep our playgrounds and recreation spaces safe, accessible and enjoyable for children, families and residents
for years to come.
Safer streets, cleaner waterways
We’re continuing to take action to help keep our streets and waterways cleaner and safer through a new city-wide drainage cleaning program.
Funded through the Special Rate Variation (SRV), the two-year trial began in December 2025 and will include every street across our City that has a stormwater pit, drain or raised pedestrian crossing. Using specialist equipment, Council crews are clearing out leaves, litter, mud and other debris that can cause blockages and increase the risk of local flooding. This important work also helps prevent rubbish and pollutants from reaching our waterways.
Information gathered during the trial will help shape future maintenance programs for the more than 30,000 stormwater pits and drains across our City. This will allow us to carry out work where it can make the biggest difference, helping to create a cleaner and safer City for our community.
On the job for our community
From the roads we drive on to the parks we enjoy, there’s a dedicated team working behind the scenes to keep our community safe and looking its best.
Council’s maintenance crews carry out a wide range of essential tasks every day, from repairing roads and footpaths to maintaining parks and pools. Their work helps keep our City safe and accessible for everyone to enjoy.
In the 2025/26 financial year, our crews:
- Renewed 210,000m²+ of roads
- Swept 44,000km+ of streets
- Constructed and expanded 14,000m²+ of footpaths
We’ve got our eyes on illegal dumping
We’ve got our eyes on illegal dumping
We’re on the watch for illegal dumping across Canterbury-Bankstown to help keep our streets clean and safe. Putting items out without a bulky waste
clean-up is illegal. You could be fined up to $5,000.
Vandals put on report
Recent selfish acts of vandalism in our City have cost residents tens of thousands of dollars to repair. The damage to parks, toilets and sports fields has caused disruption to our community with some facilities temporarily closed for repairs to be made.
If you’ve witnessed acts of vandalism, please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Together, we can work to keep these community spaces safe and enjoyable for the whole community.
Events coming up
CBCity Say NO to DV Tug O' War Cup
Lighting of the Tree
Carols in the Park
Aussie Party in the Park
Australia Day Awards 2027
Nominations now open
Do you know someone making a real difference in our community?
Nominate them for a CBCity Australia Day Award and help celebrate their contribution.
Nominations close Sunday 1 November.
Find out what’s on in Canterbury-Bankstown