Blackstone Community News was founded in October last year, and works to spread information about the local area, while also acting as a representing voice to the Meander Valley Council.

Group secretary Lyn Westlake-Gibson said the group aimed to work closely with the council to improve conditions in the neighbourhood. 

The group is headed by a 10-member committee of “wonderful, hard working people”, according to Ms Westlake-Gibson  

“We’ve had meetings with the council, but we are going to ask for grants to make Blackstone a better place,” she said.

“They’ve just informed us we’re getting more footpaths along Blackstone Road.”

Some of the early events of the group included a market sale in November to spread the word about the group and to create a palpable community spirit.

Additionally, the group plans to release a quarterly newsletter, in addition to regularly updating its social media with community news. 

“Basically what we want to do is bring together the community of Blackstone and keep them informed of what’s going on and to make the area better to live,” she said. 

“Because each house has quite a bit of land around it, it means we’re not close neighbours – most of us choose not to be.

“But [the group] is just about getting everybody to know everybody in an non-intrusive way.”

Meander Valley mayor Craig Perkins said he welcomed the group with open arms. 

“We are a council with a lot of distinct communities,” he said.

“Having a go-to point where the council can work with the community will help us communicate things [the council] is doing and they can also come back to us with their views and ideas.

“Driven community groups that are prepared to work with council are really effective for the work that we do.”

Mr Perkins indicated that the council would consider conducting a community forum with Blackstone Community News in the near future.