FOCUS - The Hills Shire · 2017-03-20 · 4 i the hills shire CounCil hills foCus i 5 Volunteers...

FOCUSn e w s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e h i l l s s h i r e C o u n C i l

a u t u m n 2 0 1 6 s y d n e y h i l l s

Ta k e a r oa d T r i p To T h e b e au t i f u l h aw k e s b u ry r i v e r

5 t h i n G s t o w a t C h i n 2 0 1 6

l i k e s y d n e y h i l l s e v e n t s o n fa C e b o o k

P l a y t i m e f u n a n d b e s t b u s h w a l k s

daniel and annabelle got into the spirit of australia day 2016 at Bella Vista Farm

i N S i d e

2 i t h e h i l l s s h i r e C o u n C i l h i l l s f o C u s i 3

1 LocaL Government reform – merGer optionsThe Local Government

Area currently known as The Hills Shire Council could change by mid-2016. As part

of the Local Government Reform process, the NSW Government has released proposals for new council boundaries across NSW, with two proposals for The Hills Shire.

These are - the area above the M2 to be merged with Hawkesbury City Council and the area south of the M2 to become part of a greater Parramatta City Council. Public inquiries have

taken place and the NSW Government will make a final decision soon. Keep up to date with Council Boundary Reviews at www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au

t h e h i l l s s h i r e i s u n d e r G o i n G u n P r e C e d e n t e d G r o w t h a n d 2 0 1 6 P r o m i s e s t o b e a y e a r o f C h a n G e . f i v e n e w t h i n G s t o w a t C h o u t f o r i n v o l v e :

Baulkham Hills Town CentreStreetscape Upgrades• Major construction works are programmed for night: 7pm—6am• Pedestrians are able to access pathways at all times

MORE INFORMATIONProject Manager: 8853 1907

[email protected]

Allbusinesses are open as usual

2 priority precincts – sydney metro north West

Probably the biggest changes will arrive with the new rail.

Planning is underway by the Department of Environment and Planning to create areas around the future Showground, Bella Vista and Kellyville stations that will include new parks, shops, cafes, community centres and apartments close to the new transport links.

The Hills of the future will look very different – take a look at the concept videos on You Tube by searching for Showground Station Precinct, Bella Vista Station Precinct and Kellyville Station Precinct.

3 LocaL road UpGradesTo accommodate our growing

population, upgrades to key roads are planned to begin in 2016.

These include Showground Road, the intersection of Windsor and Wrights Road, the intersection of Old Northern Road and Glenhaven Road and Samantha Riley Drive.

4 castLe toWers expansionMore retail therapy is on the way

with work about to begin on extensions to Castle Towers that will see it become the second biggest shopping centre in Australia.

The build will see sections including the Piazza and sky bridge demolished and replaced, with other sections refurbished and the possibility of linking the centre to the new Castle Hill Railway Station.

5 BaULkham hiLLs toWn centre UpGradeNew footpaths,

street furniture and landscaping will transform the Baulkham Hills Town Centre streetscape in 2016.

The improvements are designed to refresh the look and feel of the town centre, attract new businesses and provide greater accessibility.

Similar work within the Castle Hill Town Centre in recent years has resulted in a booming new café culture. Details about the project can be found on Council’s website by searching for Road and Building Projects.

C h a n G e s i n


Volunteers are needed to help restore endangered Cumberland Plain Woodland at Bella Vista Farm. This project has been awarded funding for a three-year project from the NSW Environmental Trust Restoration and Rehabilitation Program and is designed to allow the bushland to regenerate naturally by reducing

competition from weed species and the impacts of rabbits.

Like to help? The Bella Vista Farm Bushcare Group meets on the third Sunday of each month from 9am until 12pm on the western side of the farmhouse. Everyone is welcome! To register your interest, please phone 9843 0555.

Become a bushland buddy

These walks are suitable for all ages. They require participants to be able to walk for two hours and negotiate uneven bush tracks. There are usually no toilet facilities on the walks.

SCALY BARK NIGHT WALKFriday 4 March | 8–10pm | Scaly Bark Creek, KenthurstExperience the sights and sounds of the bush after dark. This walk is along a creek valley where, the swamp mahoganies provide ideal habitat for yellow bellied gliders, sugar gliders and wallabies.

BREAKFAST WITH THE BIRDS Sunday 13 March | 8–10.30am Sunday 24 April | 8–10.30am Fred Caterson Reserve, Castle HillThe old scribbly gums and dense under storey plants in Fred Caterson Reserve provide homes for many birds. Such a variety of habitats in a small area ensures that we will see many species on this early morning walk. Enjoy a hearty country breakfast after the walk. This walk is not suitable for children under 12. To assist with catering please book before Thursday 10 March.

WATERFALL WALKSaturday 9 April | 10am–Midday | Seville Reserve North Rocks to Hunts Creek Reserve CarlingfordWalk through the valley of Hunts Creek, see an historic bridge, tree ferns, towering cliffs, cool pools and a waterfall. Part of the walk will pass through the grounds of The Kings School. Note this is a one way walk. A car shuffle will be arranged.

SCHOOL HOLIDAY WALK Thursday 14 April | 9.30–11.30 am Tuesday 19 April | 9.30–11.30amExplore Toongabbie Creek, Baulkham HillsWalk from William Joyce Reserve to Sierra Place. Learn how to identify different trees, listen for bellbirds and find fungi. Suitable for children 8–13 years and their carers.

REDISCOVER THE MARELLA MISSION Sunday 17 April | 2–4pm | Bernie Mullane Reserve, KellyvilleBernie Mullane Reserve is the site of the former Marella Mission, a home for children from the stolen generation. An Aboriginal woman will take us on a walk where we can relive her memories of this time.

DARLING MILLS NIGHT WALKFriday 20 May | 6.30–8.30 pm Darling Mills Creek, North RocksExperience the sights and sounds of the bush after dark. An active fox baiting program has seen an increase in the numbers and variety of native animals in the Darling Mills Creek Valley. We may be lucky enough to see some of them on this night time walk.

MURRI YANNA WALK Saturday 28 May | 1.30–4pm Rifle Range Road Northmead to Speers Rd Reserve, North RocksLearn some local history as we follow this beautiful walk along Darling Mills Creek. We will see the remnants of the Rifle Range, a significant Aboriginal shelter, and the foundations of an early settler’s house. This walk is rugged and steep in places. Note this is a one way walk. A car shuffle will be arranged.

BURRAGA WALK Saturday 11 June | 1.30–4pm | Bidjigal ReserveEnjoy a longer walk in the heart of Bidjigal Reserve. We will explore sandstone gullies, rainforest and sandstone heath. Highlights include a spectacular view into the valley of Darling Mills Creek and an impressive habitation shelter. This walk is rugged and steep in some places and requires crossing several creeks on stepping stones.

Walk the great outdoors& discover the Sydney Hills

Want more walks? Find our Walks and Workshop

Program on Council’s website.

COST Free

BOOKINGS Boronia Tours Phone: 9634 3163, Mobile: 0407 456 577 Email: [email protected] are limited so bookings are essential for all walks.

WHERE TO MEETThe exact meeting place will be advised at the time of booking

WHAT TO WEARWear comfortable shoes, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. For night time walks wear warm clothes and mosquito repellent.

WHAT TO BRINGBring a drink, camera, a torch for night walks and binoculars for bird watching.

Walks Program Summer 2016.indd 2 29/01/2016 11:07 AM

www.compostrevolution.com.au

Make your own soil.

GIVE YOURGARDEN

SOME

a compost bin or worm farm

+ FREEDELIVERY

*

*RRP

50OFF%

Get 50% off a compost bin or worm farm from your council, recycle your food scraps and watch your garden grow!

Call 9843 0310 for more information. Households are eligible for a discount on one compost bin or worm farm kit only.

This project was supported by the Environmental Trust as part of the NSW EPA’s Waste Less, Recycle More initiative, funded from the waste levy.

www.compostrevolution.com.au/thehills

seniors open Day 2016d o n t m i s s t h i s G r e at e v e n t d e s i G n e d to k e e P yo u i n fo r m e d.

Wednesday 6 april 11am-2pm

4 Guest speakers4 Information stands4 Displays4 Show bags4 Lucky door prizes4 The memory van4 Seniors rights service4 NSW police day

CaLL 9761 7604 For TraNSporT BookiNGS

Building 15 Balcombe Heights Estate92 Seven Hills Road, Baulkham HillsFREE transport is available from Castle Hill & Baulkham Hills Librariesto Balcombe Heights Estate.

An initiative of the Hills Shire Councilwith Hills Community Care and NSW Seniors Festival.


in the vegie patcht

he change of season promises cooler conditions, making it easier to get excited about revitalising your backyard vegie garden.

the vegie patch at the Community environment Centre is brimming with fresh produce including fragrant herbs like parsley and mint, plump purple eggplants and zesty zucchini. drop in to learn some tricks of the trade for your vegie patch including creating raised garden beds for easy weeding, composting and transforming your patch into a water-wise garden. the Community environment Centre is open every thursday at annangrove Park, annangrove road, annangrove. Phone 9654 3571 or 9843 0533.

don’t miss out on:

4 Youth Week4 Senior’s Week4 Convict Footprints @

Heritage Park4 Hills Building and Design

Awards4 Orange Blossom Festival4 Shakespeare in the Park4 Christmas Sky Show4 Convict Footprints @ Bella

Vista Farm

4 Australia Day celebrations and more

As well, a range of cultural, music and food festivals and sporting fan days will take place throughout the year. Stay up to date with the Sydney Hills Events Facebook page. And don’t forget to #sydneyhillsevents on Instagram to feature in our Instagram feed.

a big thank you to residents who participated in both our annual waste audit and domestic waste service consultation. your information will help us continually improve our service to you. The hills Shire Council Waste Management team

t h i s a u t u m n ?

yoUr heLp has ‘Bin’ Great!

w h a t ’ s G r o w i n G

To Bee or noT To Beehere’s a clever idea from the Community environment Centre - why not attract pollinators to your garden by building a ‘Bee hotel’? this one already has some visitors - you can tell by the ‘doors’ they build on their hotel rooms.

m a r c h - a p r i L s e r i e s 2 0 1 6

creative instaLLations thUrsday 3rd march 10.00 to 11.00amJoin the growing trend to install wildlife nest boxes in your backyard. Learn how to make a variety of attractive and well-designed boxes. This is box building for the birds 101(Designs provided).

native Bee keepinGsatUrday 5th march 10.00am to 1.00pmDiscover the world of Australian native bees and their various hives. Explore the diversity of plants and techniques that will attract and sustain native bees in your backyard. This is a new workshop.

natUraL fertiLisersthUrsday 17th march 10.00 to 12 noon Learn about the plants and minerals used to boost soil fertility. Techniques for making cold and hot compost; herbal ferments; compost tea and compost accelerators will be examined.

Basic BUshLand photoGraphythUrsday 31st march 10.00 to 12 noon An engaging introductory workshop to help you achieve a more professional & focused photographic image. A walk in the local bushland & a free photography booklet included.

oz harvestfriday 1st apriL 10.00am to 11.00am Oz Harvest helps eliminate waste through the redistribution of excess food. Discover the good work carried out by this volunteer organisation. Venue is Castle Hill Library.

LivinG sUstainaBLy workshoPs

Workshops on Line at: www.thehillsenvironment.eventbrite.com.au

profiLe series a series of taLks 10am tiLL 11am Sustainability Officer 10th March Biodiversity Officer 7th April Landuse Officer 5th May

P l a n yo u r y e a r a h e a d to i n C lu d e s o m e o f t h e b e st e v e n ts i n sy d n e y – h e l d r i G h t h e r e i n t h e h i l l s .

sydney hiLLs events

WILD PEAR CAFE One of Sydney’s most renowned cafes. Enjoy tasty bites and sensational coffee while overlooking the nursery. Also right next door to “The Pines”, Visitor Interpretation Centre—so you can pick up some information at the beginning of the trip.

GLENORIE BAKERY Recently renovated this is one of the better spots to stop over for a quick pie or three.

HAWKINS LOOKOUT It’s hard to believe you’re still in the same Council area when you gaze out over this breathtaking landscape.

SOLOMON WISEMAN In his wisdom, Mr Wiseman decided to initiate the ferry service linking our rural north to the Central Coast.

BUSBY’S CAFE How’s the serenity? A real treat for foodies. We recommend the kangaroo loin and the duck curry.

WISEMANS FERRY PARK One of the best spots for a picnic. Sit by the water’s edge, throw a line in the river and enjoy one of The Hills’ most scenic parks.

WISEMANS FERRY Before the Pacific Highway and the M1, there was the Wisemans Ferry. This vital link between The Hills and the Central Coast is still running.

CONVICT TRAIL Walk the road built by the convicts in the 19th century.

TOBRUK SHEEP STATION Feeling sheepish? Head to Sydney’s ONLY remaining fully operational sheep station. Check opening times.

LOCAL PRODUCE There are so many wonderful roadside kiosks to sample some of the delicious fresh produce grown right here in The Hills.

For many Hills residents, Old Northern Road is little more than the way you get from Baulkham Hills to Castle Hill. However beyond the hustle and bustle of Castle Hill Town Centre lies a link to our rural past and present. Old Northern Road was originally built by the convicts as Great North Road. It connects suburbs like Glenhaven, Dural, Glenorie, Maroota, Annangrove and more all the way up to idyllic Wisemans Ferry. Along the way there are many wonderful spots to stop off for a quick coffee, a long lunch, a fish, or a chance to simply sit and savour the serenity.

On our trip we met Clem,from Newcastle in the UK, who comes here every year. What a great endorsement!

Road tripto the water’s edge

Hills Focus Day Trip to Wisemans.indd 8-9 15/02/2016 2:12 PM

1 0 i t h e h i l l s s h i r e C o u n C i l h i l l s f o C u s i 1 1

new Play equiPment in our loCal Parks has been desiGned with fun and fitness in mind – and there’s more Planned in the near future.

It’s time to play!

Mer

ryl a

ve

res

erve

for a big day out for your little ones, you can’t beat bernie mullane reserve, kellyville for its fantastic all abilities playground, bike paths, cool green open spaces, ample parking and sports fields. You might event see a duck or two!

MuM’s pick!

CoMinG sooneven more playtime fun is coming in the next few months with new play areas designed for the following parks. helmsley Grove reserveCastle hill turkeys nest recreation Park arnold Janssen drivebeaumont hills

speers road reservenorth rocks olola ave reserveCastle hill larissa ave reservewest Pennant hills discover more parks and playgrounds at www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/Venues/parks-recreation

Reading Challenge

Take up the Challenge and make 2016 your year of reading!

Read 20 books and check the boxes off as you go. There are five free choices and books can be read in any order.

To help you find the books that you will love, we will publish monthly suggestion lists on the website and in hard copy that you can collect from any branch of The Hills Shire Library Service.

Post your finds and find more inspiration on The Page Turner, a site for book lovers - http://thehillspageturner.blogspot.com.au/

The hills shiRe libRaRy seRviCe

www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/library

2016

Read a book ........

recommended to you

in a format you haven’t read before

a prize winner

that became a movie or television show

originally published in a language other than English

that is a biography OR travel memoir

with a mystery

by an author visiting the library in 2016

with more than 500 pages

that is nonfiction

published in 2016

from your to read pile

by an author you’ve never read before

that is a New York Times bestseller

set in Australia

Reading Challenge Hills Focus March 2016.indd 1 29/01/2016 10:03:22 AM

harry carr reserveCoronation roadbaulkham hillsColourful play structure, roundabout, soft-fall grass, accessible swing and seating. GLendaLe parkPortsea Place, Castle hillnew seating, pathways, shade trees and rubber soft fall underneath swings. aLice roBinson reservedavis Place GlenhavenClimbing frame, grass soft-fall, see saw and swings. meryLL ave reservebaukham hillsCastle themed play structure, swings, new trees. northmead reserveelizabeth Crescent northmead, recently upgraded for all abilities.


the end of 2015 and the start of 2016 have been largely devoted to making our case for what we feel is the best future outcome for our shire. with the nsw Government’s Council boundary review process in the proposal stage, the hills shire Council does not agree with that the Government envisages as our future. their proposal is for all hills suburbs below the m2 including parts of baulkham hills, Carlingford, north rocks, northmead, winston hills and oatlands to become part of an expanded Parramatta City Council. they propose that the rest of the shire merge with hawkesbury City Council. while we understand the need for local government reform, Council’s position is that a merger with hawkesbury should only be considered if it is a full merger. we don’t want to lose our suburbs south of the m2 because they are long-standing and established hills communities. they have strong ties with other hills suburbs and there are far more synergies between the hills suburbs below and above the m2 than there are for hills suburbs below the m2 and those in Parramatta City Council. regardless of what happens, i will say that residents living in suburbs that remain in the hills will continue to receive strong leadership and be governed by a Council that will maintain strong financial and asset management principles. but rest assured we will do everything we can to make sure that the suburbs below the m2 remain in the hills. we support local government reform, but it can’t be at the expense of long-standing communities of interest.

Mayor CounCillor Dr MiChelle Byrne0448 268 [email protected]

W e S T

CounCillor rayMonD harty oaM0412 265 [email protected]@comet-training.com.au

the hills shire is divided into four wards - north, Central, east and west - and each ward is represented by three Councillors. information about ward boundaries, Councillors, Council meetings and latest news can be found on Council’s website www.thehills.nsw.gov.au - click on the ‘about Council’ tab at the top of the home page.

as a councillor, i have always promoted the principles of:• Financial prudence• Less bureaucracy• Less regulation• Responsible governancethere are currently two big issues before Council. we have the new rail corridor and development

CounCillor Mike thoMas0423 798 [email protected]

C o u n C i l l o r s C o m m e n t s

Deputy Mayor CounCillor yvonne keane0419 553 [email protected]

assessing development applications (das) forms a large part of Council’s responsibilities for our community. and rightly so. Council’s da assessment process is merit-based and rigorous. it affords that all appropriate checks and balances are in place which, of course, are centred around protecting the public interest.nearly every day i receive a call from a resident

C e N T r a L

Kick start 2016

sponsorship, fUndraisinG & Grants21 march i 6.30—8.30pm designed to provide grass roots level club and association personnel with skills in effective fundraising and developing sponsorship proposals. memBer BehavioUr and WeLfare in sport4 april i 6:30—9:30pmlearn about member and player behaviours and useful tips in handling welfare. the aim is to provide knowledge and tools to help volunteers and players make right decisions on and off the field.

manaGinG senior cLUB and representative team30 april | 9am—5pmdevelop the skills needed to manage representative sporting teams in sport and recreation’s managing senior Club and representative teams level 2 program. for experienced team managers and those managing representative teams for an event or senior club teams for a season, this six-month course covers both theory and practice and explores the role and responsibilities of a team manager, competition and team development

cycles, team manager duties, anti-doping, health and wellbeing, travel and transport. risk manaGement for sports cLUBs/events23 may | 6:30—9:30pm

understand risk management and compliance for community sport clubs and events. this workshop for sports

administrators, committee members and volunteers provides a basic overview of work health and safety compliance along with a practical overview of risk management for events and community sporting clubs.

all courses are held at the hills shire Council. for bookings head to www.thehills.nsw.gov.au and search for kick start in the search box or call 131 302.

f r e e s P o r ts t r a i n i n G s e r i e s

3 3 free trial meals (variety of meals)3 Easy to heat, ready to eat 3 Balanced and nutritious meals 3 Meals to suit individual dietary needs3 Delivered by our friendly volunteers3 Extensive range of appetising meals

Must be eligible for services to receive free samples

For more information call 02 9761 7602or email [email protected]

MORE

THAN JUST

A MEAL

t r y o u r M E a l s f o r f r E E

with a concern regarding a da. more and more, these concerns relate to ‘complying development’. Complying development was recently introduced by the nsw Government to enable some forms of development to be approved by private certifiers, bypassing the Council process of assessment and community consultation. i have seen much confusion in our community around complying developments. recently the department of Planning and environment released a draft policy which seeks to expand the state wide ‘complying’ provisions to also include ‘low-rise medium density residential development’. (in layman’s terms this simply means dual occupancy and small scale town houses and so forth.) the draft policy seeks to override Council’s local controls and bypass Council’s community consultation process entirely. i say this is a terrible idea. the driving objective of this policy seems to be to increase housing supply and provide more housing choice. but at what cost? well, in my opinion, the cost would be achieveing the very best outcomes, including design, for our community. the suggested ‘tick-a-box’ checklist approach against common code, undertaken by a building certifier, is simply not rigorous enough and it leaves me very concerned. Gone would be the opportunity for performance-based assessment, which takes into account the all important design and impact of the proposed development on the site and on the adjoining properties. This inflexible approach will, without a doubt, lead to very poor design outcomes indeed. whilst i understand and embrace our Council’s responsibility to work with Government to achieve greater housing supply and choice in the hills, i do not support any policy change that removes rigour, overrides local zonings and bypasses community consultation. thankfully, Council has articulated its position by unanimously opposing this draft policy change. i truly hope the department listens to us, and other strong voices within the sector, and abandons this policy change. it is simply unacceptable to me, and i will continue to advocate for appropriate check and balances to protect the public interest.

around these sites as well as the state Government’s merger proposals.

Council is very focused on development plans for the rail corridor. the value of the developments far exceed anything we have ever seen in our shire. in the area around the showgrounds, Council has been presented with plans for as many as 10,000 units. if there is an average of three people per unit, it will house 30,000 people. this is more people than most small towns. it is critical that infrastructure is provided to support these high densities. otherwise our suburbs will become gridlocked and undesirable places to live in.

the prospect of seeing the hills shire Council being broken up saddens me. our council has been in existence for over a hundred years. in recent times it has emerged from financial distress to become perhaps the most financially strong and stable council in NSW.

the challenge is to come through this period of change with Council’s finances intact. I trust that our community will be protected from the claims of others to the financial assets owned and paid for by the residents of this shire.

the hills shire is divided into four wards - north, Central, east and west - and each ward is represented by three Councillors. information about ward boundaries, Councillors, Council meetings and latest news can be found on Council’s website www.thehills.nsw.gov.au - click on the ‘about Council’ tab at the top of the home page.

CounCillor tony hay oaM0414 482 [email protected]


i was disappointed to learn of the nsw Government’s proposals for council amalgamations that effectively cuts our shire in two. as one of the very few councils in sydney deemed fit for the future by the Government’s own

the merger proposal put forward by the baird Government for the hills shire Council is dreadful. in east ward we will see the loss of over 28,000 residents to a newly formed Parramatta City Council which will also consist of parts of auburn, holroyd and hornsby. this proposal also includes the loss of some of our foundation suburbs to Parramatta Council. These areas were first developed by the baulkham hills shire Council, these communities truly set the tone and feel of our Garden shire, these areas still encompass the attitudes and feelings of the hills shire - and these residents have not associated with Parramatta City previously or currently. the proposed merger of hawkesbury City Council with the remaining areas will change the tone of our shire immensely, growing it rapidly and crippling it with hawkesbury’s infrastructure backlog and debt. the labor councillors voted against the proposed merger with hawkesbury Council as The Hills Shire Council met fit for the future requirements and is the most financially stable council in nsw.

the community ought to feel outraged with this proposal and in June we will know the outcome of the public inquiries and written submissions. ‘no forced mergers’ is one promise this liberal Government has broken. ultimately the best message you can send the baird Government is at the ballot box in 2019.

CounCillor ryan traCey 0419 429 [email protected]

a Challenging Year ahead in december i was again privileged to attend several prize giving ceremonies at local public and private primary schools as well as the outstanding event held each year by Castle hill high school. the talents, enthusiasm and politeness of our young people are on full display at these events that confirm that not only do we live in the best era of human history but that our future is in good hands. the end of a year is also an opportunity to attend events where we pay tribute to our emergency organizations, the ses and rfs, whose volunteers selflessly put themselves in difficult if not dangerous situations in rescuing and protecting us from natural and other hazards. our community is immeasurably enriched by our volunteers.

as Council’s representative on the Parramatta river Catchment Group, i have become even more sensitive to the amount of rubbish which litters the community and which usually ends up in the river. Carelessly discarding our trash affects and demeans us all and contributes to the fact that our great river cannot be enjoyed in the way that people in earlier times did. an exciting year confronts Council and the community as we work our way through the amalgamation process. whatever the outcome, residents should know that the state Government has boldly embarked on this process with the best of intentions for the long term benefit of the community. there is massive change afoot in the hills as the metro forges ahead and thousands more people seek to make this beautiful shire their home. my colleagues and i take our responsibilities very seriously in addressing


CounCillor anDrew Jefferies0427 928 [email protected]

e a S T


happy New Year!as i write this the local Government reform package is well underway and with a great deal of uncertainty with it – for resident, Councillors and staff alike. we may not be here in a few months and my deepest concern with that is you, the ratepayer, will have no local representation should they place all councils into administration prior to the next local Government election (now scheduled for march 2017). with this in mind i want to assure you that i will be working hard for you, representing your views at this level of Government. i will continue to pursue the state Government on issues such as safe roads (old northern road crossing between tafe and baulkham hills shops), showground road upgrade, the development (or over development) of the shire and will continue to work closely with the local area Commander on making the hills a safe environment. i want to mention the two things that deeply concern me the most. domestic violence, in any form should not be tolerated, this goes for men, women and children and i encourage you to use the local agencies should you encounter such cases. the other is the increase use of the drug “ice” – this without a doubt is the foulest, life wrecking substance being used by kids, young adults and so called “grown-ups” in our society. say no to domestic violence – say no to drugs. thank you for your support over the past years and i have enjoyed serving you as your elected representative and will continue to do so. feel free to contact me should you require my assistance in any way, you don’t have to be a Central ward resident to ask. take care and enjoy the cooler months of Autumn!

CounCillor Dr Jeff lowe0419 821 [email protected]

CounCillor alan haselDen0419 495 [email protected]

CounCillor Dr peter GanGeMi0419 429 [email protected]

i see around the district that it is winter sport registration time. this prompts me to think about two of our greatest assets; open space and volunteers. Council is working extra hard with field allocations, a somewhat difficult task with the growth of all ages wishing to participate in sport and some unfortunate outcomes last year when young children were denied access to recreational space that others in the community declined to share. despite these obstacles allocations are on track and i wish all those involved a great season, including he newly formed sydney hills football Association. It is difficult to be a trailblazer in any situation and it is usually not until long after the era that initiative and effort is truly recognised; so to those involved - keep your chin up. finally as autumn falls what a great time to be out and about our shire with some excellent examples of annual gardens. Perhaps as winter approaches there maybe even a chance to visit some cold climate gardens in the far away corners of our beautiful neighbouring ‘shire’ of hawkesbury.

CounCillor Mark taylor Mp0419 618 [email protected]

N o r T h

the densification of the region and often have to take a position that some feel is unfair. regrettably, that’s the lot of elected representatives. we are guided by (but don’t always agree with) recommendations from Council’s team of highly qualified and experienced practitioners of urban and rural planning who strive to achieve the best balance of the complex issues they confront.

with over 60% of nsw Councils declared “not fit for the future”, local government does need changes to improve the sector. however, is the proposed Council boundary reviews the best solution, for nsw, the hills or hawkesbury? the hills shire is by no means perfect – i believe too often during this term, Councillors have not listened to the wishes of the community. yet by and large, the hills shire Council is a model of

pocket park gets a make-over – alice robinson reserve, GlenhavenCouncil recently refurbished the alice robinson reserve at Glenhaven. the project cost $65,000 and improvements included the installation of synthetic grass with softfall underlay, a fun climbing frame with stainless steel slide, a new double swing set with a baby seat and a toddler seat and a double stand-up see-saw.

the work, whilst long overdue, was worth the wait as families can now enjoy great playtime space. more of these projects are being rolled

it was great to visit a ceramics exhibition at balcombe heights estate in January called made in australia. held by the Ceramic study group, this was a unique and learning experience. as a Council we should do what we can to encourage arts and develop a gallery/space that can be used by our community ongoing. it was also great to celebrate lunar new year festival at north rocks Park and i wish you all a happy and prosperous new year in this year of the monkey. our council holds a number of free community events each month – one of these is the recycled kitchen Garden workshop on 14 april from 10am-1pm. for more info call the resource recovery team on 9843 0555 or search for ‘events’ on our website www.thehills.nsw.gov.au

CounCillor roByn preston0419 200 [email protected]

criteria, it was a surprise to see these options put forward as a solution for stronger local government across north west sydney. while labor Councillors and an outgoing dissident have chosen to play politics and point fingers, the local government amalgamation process has been on the cards for many years given the general acceptance that 42 local governments across Greater sydney creates waste, duplication and red tape. however, like many within our community, i’m at a loss to understand how dividing our long established suburbs along the route of the m2 Motorway assists to improve efficiency and local governance in north west sydney. the creation of a new Parramatta Council taking in parts of another four adjoining councils only adds to inefficiency whilst using the m2 as a boundary not only divides our local community but creates a massive financial burden for a newly merged hills/hawkesbury entity. these proposals can be found online at www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au and i encourage all residents to contact their local state member to voice your concerns.

excellence. auditors have said the hills has the strongest financial position of any Council in the state. Our infrastructure is first class. We have the best Council staff a community could ask for. our community groups do us all proud. my belief is that any boundary adjustments should be constructed to be for the benefit of all parties involved. however, i don’t believe the proposal in front of us is in the interests of the hills or hawkesbury residents.

as a community, the hills has made many sacrifices over the last two decades to secure the long-term financial future of this area. Hawkesbury Council has not had the financial leadership, or the infrastructure quality of our Council.

Projects which may have been delivered in the hills in the next 10 years will inevitably be pushed down the priority list while the hawkesbury financial and infrastructure side is addressed. similarly, hawkesbury residents are dismayed that as they would make up a quarter of the population of the combined Council, they will therefore have a quarter of the representation in the Council chamber. the hawkesbury area is very different to the hills, featuring semi-rural towns as major population centres, a higher proportion of acreage lots, properties of lower densities across the board and a slower rate of development.

the hawkesbury community are very proud of their history, their natural assets and their way of life, and they are right to be concerned that the lower representation may not be in their best interests. Council boundary proposals that were truly beneficial to all would have brought all parties and all communities together. there were those who rushed out to unconditionally back council reform. let’s hope the community don’t pay the price for those actions.

out throughout The Hills Shire this financial year, because this Council is debt free and able to enhance your suburb to maintain the lifestyle we cherish. Box hill progress association bi-monthly meeting now starts at 7.30pmi always enjoy attending the box hill Progress association meetings, which are held on the second monday of every second month. the district is going through a massive transformation and will be unrecognisable in the next two years.

the information we share at these meetings helps us manage the changing scenery around box hill. moreover, these meetings, which consistently attract 40 to 60 attendees, have become enjoyable, social, low key events that keep us all connected. if a member is ill, someone from the association will check in on them and we will all sign a get-well card or send flowers too. That’s what good neighbours do?

if you want to get up to speed with this evolving suburb, you can attend the next meeting on monday, 11 april 2015 at the new time of 7.30pm at the Community hall on Nelson Road, Box Hill. I hope to see you there! paul rapp gets a big wrap for australia day celebrationsevery year i say to myself “it can’t get any better”, but each year kenthurst rotarian Paul rapp, known to most of us as ‘rappy’, goes way beyond expectations to deliver an impressive reminder of our australian heritage and what it is we love about being australian. this year the hon. Charlie lynn, now a retired upper house member of the new south wales Parliament and war veteran, gave a moving address. kenthurst Public school Captains demonstrated why this school is so well regarded for delivering quality education whilst reinforcing the values of respect and mateship amongst students and staff.

our volunteers with the rural fire service, rotary and inner wheel all contributed to a fabulous celebration. my congratulations to all of you. i wonder what ‘rappy’ is planning for the anzac day commemoration?

REGISTER NOW!

10 March 2016 8.30am - 6.00pmNovotel Norwest

AN INITIATIVE OF

SUPPORTING PARTNERS EVENT PARTNERS

For more information visit www.businesssydneyhills.com.au

FREE

ENTRY

REGISTER NOW!

Connecting small business with government & business support

FOCUS - The Hills Shire · 2017-03-20 · 4 i the hills shire CounCil hills foCus i 5 Volunteers...

Documents

Transcript of FOCUS - The Hills Shire · 2017-03-20 · 4 i the hills shire CounCil hills foCus i 5 Volunteers...