Message from the Mayor
Councillor Ola Hamed
Hi Cumberland,
What a whirlwind of colour, culture and pure joy the start of this year has been! From the sky lighting up on Australia Day to the high-energy Lunar New Year lion dancers stealing the show, it feels like we’ve been celebrating non-stop.
And guess what? We’re not slowing down. With Ramadan, Nowruz and Easter all on the horizon, the festivities are only just getting started. One of my favourite parts of this job is seeing our diverse community come together at these events. The unity and harmony of our people is one of our great strengths and something we should all be proud of. I'm often told how much people appreciate our rich cultural calendar and nothing beats being there in-person for our events. You really can't beat the sight of hundreds of smiling faces and families sharing food and laughter. If you haven't joined us yet, make the next one your first. You’ll be glad you did.
And speaking of things to look forward to, 2026 is shaping up to be a big year for local projects. We’re gearing up to open the Laurie Ferguson Water Playground in Granville Park, and the Guildford Pool project is on track too. Over in Greystanes, Nemesia Street Park is getting two brand new netball courts, and the Duck River Regional Playground will soon offer an inclusive, accessible play space right next to the beautiful Auburn Botanic Gardens. And that’s just a taste of what’s coming.
We’re also getting ready to celebrate International Women’s Day, a moment I hold close to my heart. Cumberland is home to so many remarkable women, leaders, innovators, and creators who bring passion and purpose to everything they do. Their dedication lifts our whole community. To all the women of Cumberland: thank you. Your strength, your achievements and your spirit inspire the next generation to dream big and rise even higher.
Here’s to more celebrations, more community moments and more reasons to smile together.
Take care and talk soon Cumberland,
Ola
Community News
Laurie Ferguson Water Playground Upgrade Underway
Work is progressing on the exciting upgrade at Granville Park, with construction on the new Laurie Ferguson Water Playground now nearing completion. Crews are busy transforming the space into a bigger, brighter waterplay experience that celebrates the legacy of the former Member for Granville.
The playground revitalisation is also taking shape, with the upgrade works adding fresh opportunities for play and adventure. New amenities, including changerooms, male and female bathrooms and outdoor showers are being installed to create a more welcoming and accessible park for families. The Splash Park is on track to open by the end of February.
Christmas Lighting Competition Winners
Cumberland lit up in festive colour once again, with residents across the area showing off their creativity in the Christmas 2025 Lighting Competition. The community’s energy and passion for marking the festive season in this way brought much joy to our residents. This year’s winners were:
- Wentworthville Ward: David of Merrylands
- South Granville Ward: Edmond of Granville
- Granville Ward: Rafael of Granville
- Regents Park Ward: Rajendra of Auburn
- Greystanes Ward: Samantha of Woodpark
The Winning Voter Prize went to Mary-Ann from Guildford. Congratulations to all entrants and voters for helping Christmas lights sparkle across Cumberland.
Upcoming: Light up Cumberland with the spirit of Eid, visit: www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/eid-lighting
Australia Day 2026: Celebrating our Local Citizen of the Year Award Recipients
Cumberland welcomed 68 new citizens at its Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony on Monday, 26 January 2026 at The Holroyd Centre, Merrylands. As part of the ceremony, we recognised the outstanding recipients of the 2026 Local Citizen of the Year Award. Congratulations to them all!
Enrol at Cumberland’s Long Day Care and OOSH Services
Affordable, trusted quality education and care for children aged 0-12. This year, families can enjoy up to 72 hours of subsidised care each fortnight for all children! As an extra bonus, Council is also offering a savings boost with Start Strong funding – up to $2,563 per year for children aged 4+ and $769 for children aged 3.
What's On
Ramadan
The Ramadan Street Festival is back across two magical nights. Indulge in delicious food, discover new flavours, and enjoy the cultural festivities with family and friends.
- From Saturday 7 to Sunday 8 March, 7pm to 12am
- Auburn Road, Auburn
For more information, visit: www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/ramadan
Nowruz
Join us for live music, performances, dances and cultural activities to celebrate the rich traditions of Nowruz.
- Saturday 21 March, 5pm to 9pm
- Merrylands Road, Merrylands
For more information, visit: www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/nowruz
Easter in the Gardens
Celebrate the magic of Easter with a day full of creativity, colour, and community joy. Easter craft workshops and interactive activities, egg hunts, facepainting and a meet and greet with the Easter bunny.
- Saturday 28 March 2026, 10am to 2pm
- Central Gardens Nature Reserve, Merrylands West
For more information, visit: www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/easter-gardens
Easter Extravaganza
A two-day celebration of fun, family and community featuring market stalls, live entertainment, food trucks and a petting zoo. Enjoy classic and custom car displays, meet the Easter Bunny, and say hello to our special guest comedian Rob Shehadie.
Friday 27 and Saturday 28 March 2026, 4pm to 9pm
The Granville Centre, Granville
For more information, visit: www.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/easter
In the Works
Footpath Projects
Council has recently completed footpath renewals at Cutcliffe Avenue in Regents Park where 280m of footpath in total was resurfaced and new concrete was laid.
Nemesia Street Park Amenities Upgrades
Two full sized netball courts, a half training court and new amenity building have recently been installed by Council at Nemesia Street Park in Greystanes, which is now open to the public.
Have Your Say
You are invited to have your say on a range of Council projects, plans and policies that are currently on exhibition. Your feedback helps shape Council’s delivery of services, facilities and programs.
For more information visit: https://haveyoursay.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/
Cumberland City Councillors
Residents can contact their local Councillor to share ideas and discuss any issues of concern.
