Council eNews | Dinner Crawl, Open Days, Mayor’s Sleepout and more
Read this week's Council News
NEW events at Bankstown Bites
Fri 24 and Sat 25 Jul at Griffith Park, Bankstown
Get ready for the return of one of Sydney’s favourite food festivals! Bankstown Bites is back with not one, but two, unmissable days of celebration.
Have you heard about the new experiences on this year’s agenda? Kick things off with an exclusive Dinner Crawl on Wednesday, where you can enjoy a three-course meal across three of Bankstown’s renowned restaurants, before rolling through to the first day of the event on Friday night.
Then turn up the heat on Saturday with an unmissable barbecue masterclass! Secure your tickets today and be part of the action!
Dear resident,
Every night, in our community and beyond, homeless people are sleeping on our streets.
It can take just one piece of bad luck – a cut in working hours, a car breakdown, a sick child – to push a struggling household over the edge into homelessness. The 2026 NSW Government street count, carried out earlier this year, showed a 5% increase in people sleeping on the streets across NSW.
That’s why every year I host my Mayor’s Lights Out Sleepout. I challenge business CEOs, community organisations, local schools, community leaders and members of our community to brave the cold with me and help raise funds to tackle homelessness.
My sleepout brings together our community to raise awareness, show compassion and contribute directly to some of the organisations who are doing critical work on the ground: Mission Australia, Maronites on Mission and Brothers in Need.
You don’t need to sleep out to help – donating makes a huge difference. I’m as grateful to our donors as I am to the people, groups and businesses that join us on the night. And I’m grateful to the mighty Bulldogs, who once again are supporting us by hosting the fundraising effort.
Join us at Belmore Sports Ground on Friday 28 August – or donate!
Find out more at cb.city/MayorsSleepout2026
Regards,
Mayor Bilal El-Hayek
City of Canterbury Bankstown
IMPORTANT: Campsie Customer Service Centre is moving
From Monday 20 July, Campsie Customer Service Centre will be located at:
Campsie Library and Knowledge Centre
14-18 Amy Street, Campsie
Please note that no cash will be accepted at the new location.
Bankstown Arts Centre Open Day 2026
Sat 25 Jul, noon-6pm at Bankstown Arts Centre
Heading to Bankstown Bites? Make the most of your day with a short walk to Bankstown Arts Centre for Open Day 2026.
Browse through artist markets, soak up live performances and enjoy hands-on fun at free art workshops!
National Tree Day turns 30
Sun 26 Jul, 9:30am-1pm at Cooks River Reserve, Belfield
To celebrate, join us for a tree planting that will be bigger and better than ever before!
Stay for the native animal display, kids' activities, native plant giveaway and more! Plus, grab a sausage sizzle, coffee and cake and admire your handy work.
All activities and food are FREE. Registration is also FREE and essential.
Have your say on Special Entertainment Precincts
We are working with the NSW Government to test new Special Entertainment Precincts in parts of Bankstown and Campsie to give our community more activities at night. Feedback closes Monday 27 July.
Mayor Bilal El-Hayek is hosting a sleepout at Belmore Sports Ground to help raise funds and awareness of people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness
What’s on
School holiday programs
NAIDOC Family Fun Day
NAIDOC film screening Q&A
Community Safety Outreach and Pop-Up Session Roselands