A reminder that Bankstown's Lunar New Year Festival is on this weekend. Festivities will start this year on Friday evening (5 February) from 5pm-9pm with twilight activities and a night noodle market and conclude with a full-day festival on Saturday 6 February (9am -4pm). Hope to see you there.

Council's Sport a Month program resumes this month with the sport of Hockey. Each Saturday during February, Council and Bankstown Sports Hockey Club are offering residents over the age of 4 the opportunity to come and try the sport. For bookings or more details, visit www.bankstown.nsw.gov.au or call Council on 9707 9641. The complete Sport a Month program for 2010 is available for download from Council's website.

The Bankstown Community Directory has recently been updated and copies of the 2010 edition are now available at all five of our local libraries or from Council's customer service centre. The guide provides residents with contact information for over 1000 local organisations, groups and agencies that serve the Bankstown community.

With schools having returned last week, it is timely to refocus our attention on road safety. Throughout the Bankstown area all schools will now have new road markings as you enter the school zone. These are a series of small diamonds in parallel lines on the road called 'Dragon Teeth' and are yet another visual reminder for motorists to slow down to 40km/hr. The RTA, NSW Police, Department of Education and Bankstown City Council continue to work closely together in the interest of children's safety.