The Hawkesbury Post November 2024

What the Hawkesbury Didn't See Coming

“Feral pigs are a big problem out here,” Les Sheather explains in his typical, understated way. “At the moment, there’s really a lot, and farmers are having trouble with them. When it gets bad, they give us a ring, and we come up, but they’ve been bad, pretty well since COVID.” When the Hawkesbury Post caught up with the newly-elected Mayor of the Hawkesbury, he was out in the Pilliga, Western NSW, doing what he’s done for years: pig shooting. Pig shooting is something he does with mates a couple of times a year, and this trip had been planned well before he took on his new role as Mayor, he says. Now retired, he’s eager to be back in the council chambers, taking on full leadership responsibilities.

Unlike his predecessor, Sheather was more than willing to chat with the Hawkesbury Post, openly discussing issues he plans to address during his two-year tenure. Sheather wants it all on the table, from rate rises and zoning changes to tourism, sports councils, and the contentious raising of the dam wall. Sheather himself acknowledges a fairly unexceptional formal education, having instead learned the rhythms of the river and farming life firsthand. Raised along the banks of the Hawkesbury, he recounts, “We moved into the Hawkesbury by boat. Dad got a job putting the first fuel bowsers on the river, and we lived on a boat. We got as far as Sackville and then stayed. I was very young at the time, and we’ve been here ever since.” He later settled in Ebenezer with his wife of 58 years, Mi-

chelle, where they raised their two sons.

After leaving school, Sheather worked on farms and on flood land drainage systems around the Hawkesbury before serving two years in the national service. These early experiences forged his deep connection to the land, shaping his straightforward, no-nonsense approach. “I speak from the heart,” he says – and he’s carried that approach throughout his long career in local government. However, his mayoral victory last month was a surprise. “I found out I had the numbers about five minutes before the vote,” he says. Despite winning just 202 personal votes in the September local council elections – the second lowest of all councillors – Sheather won the mayoralty with backing from all Liberal councillors, Small Business Party’s

Eddie Dogramachi and Shane Djuric of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party. “Extremely privileged, very humble,” he says of his new role.

Known for his conservative politics, Sheather doesn’t shy away from his stance. “I’m as right-wing as they come,” he admits, but insists he’ll vote on issues, not alliances.

Fellow Councillor Nathan Zamprogno describes Sheather as “old-school,” noting, “Don’t expect to see him argue with people on Facebook – that’s just not his style.” Zamprogno hopes Sheather’s traditional approach will be a refreshing contrast to Council’s recent leadership.

While Zamprogno acknowledged Sheather’s ties with the Liberals, he said

Continued on page 6

Missing Mini Horse Breeder Found Dead in Suspected Murder

The body, believed to be that of Edwin Dobbin, an elderly miniature horse breeder, was discovered last month during a police search of a property in Upper Colo, marking a tragic end to the weeks-long search.

Dobbin, 82, was reported missing from his Leppington home on September 25, 2024, deeply worrying his family and prompting a police investigation led by officers from Camden Police Area Command. As part of their inquiries, investigators enlisted support from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.

On October 24, 2024, police arrested 67-year-old Phillip Bruce at a Smithfield residence. Police allege that Bruce, who was known to Dobbin, provided conflicting accounts of the incident multiple times during questioning.

Acting Superintendent Tim Cater said authorities are examining the nature of the relationship between the two men, noting that Dobbin’s family is devastated. “Police spoke with the family yesterday (24 October 2024) obviously in these circumstances they are very, very upset,” he said. Bruce was charged at Fairfield Police Station with murder, hindering a police investigation into a serious indictable offense, and the unlawful disposal of a body.

After his arrest, police, assisted by Hawkesbury Police Area Command, executed a crime scene warrant at a property in Upper Colo, which belongs

to Bruce’s family. There, investigators discovered a man’s body, which, while not yet formally identified, is believed to be Dobbin. Police suspect he may have suffered a gunshot wound to the head.

A post-mortem examination will be conducted to confirm the identity and cause of death, with a report to be prepared for the Coroner. Bruce appeared at Fairfield Local Court, where he was refused bail.

Cashed Up but Care Down at Windsor RSL

Windsor RSL Club has reported record profits for the 2024 financial year, largely driven by local residents’ losses on its 178 poker machines. Despite this financial success, the club continues to contribute only a small fraction of its tax-free earnings back to the community – particularly to the ex-servicemen and women it was originally established to support.

The club’s total revenue for the year exceeded $22 million, with $13.6 million generated from poker machine operations. However, donations to community and veteran organisations remained disproportionately low. In 2024, Windsor RSL allocated just 1.2 percent of its total revenue, approximately $266,707, to local groups – nearly 20 percent less than the previous year, despite a significant rise in profits. In 2023, the club donated $331,900.

RSL Clubs have come under increasing fire over the past few years with critics arguing that funds lost by patrons at poker machines continue to serve the club’s commercial interests rather than the community. In September the national head of the RSL of Australia supported a push to stop licenced clubs from using the RSL letters in their names amid a fight over whether poker machines should be allowed in the venues at all.

For the first time, Windsor RSL’s annual report featured a prominent infographic on the front page, presenting a polished image of the club’s contribu-

tions to the community. The page was filled with gimmicky statistics, including the number of “schnittys” sold, burgers, beers, and cups of coffee served, alongside raffle tickets and bingo games. What was glaringly absent was any mention of the club’s 178 poker machines – the real financial engine driving its revenues. This omission creates a misleading impression that the club’s focus is on hospitality, and community service rather than its real financial driver – gaming losses.

These losses by patrons helped drive the club’s fortunes with a 38% increase in Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA), which rose to $4.2 million. Net profit climbed from $1 million last year to $1.5 million in 2024. Yet, Windsor RSL President David Ingram provided no substantial commentary on any part of the club’s operations nor the club’s obligations to veterans or the community in the annual report. Instead, Ingram briefly stated that the club aims to “operate in a responsible and financially prudent manner,” adding that Windsor RSL “plays an important role in honouring present and returned servicemen and servicewomen.”

RSL Clubs were originally established to champion the welfare of Australian Defence Force members, both serving and retired. However, the financial reality paints a different picture. Most funds raised from poker machine losses appear to fuel the club’s commercial expansion, rather than support the veterans and their families as the organisation’s con-

stitution mandates.

Windsor RSL’s retained profits now exceed $14 million – an extraordinary amount for a not-for-profit organisation, which pays no tax. This financial cushion enabled the club to acquire the nearby Windsor Country Golf Club and add 12 more poker machines to its roster. The club’s continued investment in gaming operations has sparked growing concerns about problem gambling in the Hawkesbury region. With over 800 electronic gaming machines in the area,

advocates say these venues contribute to financial distress, mental health issues, and family violence. Meanwhile, the community in Kurrajong Heights is once again rallying against a proposed development for a casino and pub in the historic precinct. Despite widespread opposition to the initial proposal, the developer has submitted a revised application, seeking to open a gaming venue operating seven days a week, with VIP access for gamblers and a capacity of over 300 patrons.

Edwin Dobbin

Police search Upper Colo proerty for the body of Edwin Dobbin

www.hawkesburypost.com.au www.facebook.com/hawkesburypost

How to get the News

The Hawkesbury Post is available at all Hawkesbury newsagents free of charge and 100 other local locations.

Online

All stories can be found online. www.hawkesburypost.com.au

New stories are added daily.

The Hawkesbury App Download from the App Store or Google Play

Contacts

Editorial info@hawkesburypost.com.au

Advertising trish@hawkesburypost.com.au

Design and production

Design2Pro

Publisher Australian Neighbourhood Media

Is Mayor Sheather Listening?

The recent mayoral election of Les Sheather has brought a surprising new direction to the Hawkesbury. An independent yet strongly aligned with the Liberal perspective, Sheather’s election as mayor came as a surprise, especially following September’s council elections, where Hawkesbury residents clearly voiced their concerns. Voters expressed disillusionment with major parties and their support of property developers interests, highlighting the issues they care about most: environmental preservation, transparency, and a resistance to inappropriate development.

Yet, Sheather’s stance appears to run counter to these priorities. With an agenda of rezoning and increased subdivision, backed by the well-resourced, pro-development Hawkesbury Business Group, the new mayor’s approach could be perceived as dismissive of the very mandate voters sought. His plans to push to put rezoning and greater development on the table – and the backing from Liberal-aligned councillors, the Small Business Party, and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, – set a tone for an administration that may lean heavily toward development-focused priorities, a stark contrast to the anti-overdevelopment sentiment echoed in September’s vote.

Despite these concerns, Sheather has pledged to unify the council and focus on collaborative solutions – a stark shift from the division under former Mayor Sarah McMahon. However, with development so prominent on his agenda, achieving this unity may prove challenging.

His warnings about potential state intervention if local growth stalls are valid, and his focus on sports councils, tourism, and flood management shows a genuine commitment to local issues, regardless of where one stands on his plans.

Yet, building community trust may be difficult if he’s seen as too aligned with developer interests. Ultimately, Sheath-

er’s legacy will depend on his ability to balance his pro-growth vision with the community’s demand for preservation, as Hawkesbury’s future hangs between

Letters to the Editor

Dear Mayor and Councillors

There was a serious accident on Grose River Rd recently. As many of you would know, I have been raising the existing bridge as a significant risk to the community if the proposed Grose River Bridge is approved and built because the existing bridge is too narrow (see picture below). The width of the road and bridge appears as though it was a significant contributor to the accident and once again local residents were first responders who were put at risk providing assistance to the injured people. Councillors can you please follow this accident up with the police so you can make an educated decisions regarding Grose River Rd and the suitability of this bridge to be part of a major thoroughfare.

In the coming months a revised Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) will be put to the Councillors for approval regarding the construction of the Grose River Bridge and the upgrading of the approach Roads. The project involves three main portions.

1. The approach Road along Grose River Rd

2. The new Grose River Bridge

3. The connection to Springwood Rd

4. Portions 2 and 3 will be new infrastructure that will comply with the Australian Standards but for some strange reason portion 1 will not comply with Australian Standards and remain as is and this includes a 100-year-old Bridge over Phillip Charley Creek that was designed as a stock crossing. Only locals would know the bridge exists and the

bridge is treated with greatest respect due to its narrowness and locals will not cross or pass at the same time.

The problem is the new Grose River Bridge is 1.5 metres narrower than what is required under the Australian Standards and once the project is completed there will be a 1000% increase in traffic. I have written several letters to the Mayor and Councillors regarding my concerns and have mixed response from support to dismissive. But the Mayor has confirmed in an email there is no intention to upgrade the existing Bridge.

I have trouble understanding how council could consider approving this proposal without a closer look at the existing bridge.

development and protecting its cherished rural character.

Editor, Samantha Magnusson sam@hawkesburypost.com.au

I ask the Councillors who intend to support this proposal that they are first required to demonstrate the safety of this bridge by crossing at the same time as another vehicle.

Craig Fuller

Dear Editor,

Re: Hawkesbury Post article

“Monday’s candidate for review is Amanda Kotlash from the Labor Party”, (Online) 9 September 2024

As previously notified, we received a complaint concerning the above article.

The complainant said (in relevant part) that the article’s “… tone was disparaging and it was in many points inaccurate, unfair, incomplete and opinionated. It was not based on fact.”

After careful consideration, the Council’s Secretariat has decided not to proceed further with the complaint. In reaching this decision, we have taken into account that the information in the article appears to be based on publicly available information from Hawksbury City Council. As such, we consider the publication has taken reasonable steps to comply with the Press Council’s principles in relation to accuracy and fairness. Accordingly, we consider it is unlikely that a breach of the Council’s Standards of Practice has occurred.

The complainant has been informed of the outcome and the complaint is now closed.

Kind regards, Paul Nangle Director of Complaints

Australian Press Council Inc

Photo credit Perspectives by Peter Haynes

Buried deep inside the Hawkesbury Council’s 129-page Draft 2025 Flood Plan is a proposal that could change the future of Windsor and the surrounding Macquarie towns in ways that few residents likely see coming. The recommendation, to raise the flood control level to the 1 in 200 AEP (Annual Exceedance Probability) event, plus a 0.5-metre freeboard, would push the flood planning level in Windsor to 19.3 metres – nearly two metres higher than the current benchmark.

At first glance, this technical-sounding adjustment might seem like a minor policy shift. But for tens of thousands of property owners across the region, the implications are nothing short of seismic. The flood planning level serves as the official marker that determines whether land is considered flood-prone, and it plays a crucial role in decisions about everything from home insurance to financing, resale value, and the permissibility of development. In simple terms, this recommendation could reclassify large portions of Windsor and other towns as too risky to build on, sending shockwaves through the property market.

For Windsor alone, this higher flood planning level would bring drastic changes. Thousands of homes and businesses, which currently sit just above the existing flood level, would now fall below the new mark, triggering a domino effect of economic and personal consequences. Property values in these areas could plummet as buyers shy away from floodprone land. Insurance companies, already hesitant to cover properties below the 1 in 100 AEP level, could withdraw further, leaving many homeowners without the safety net of flood insurance. Financing, too, would become a major hurdle. Banks have already been limiting loans for properties at risk of flooding, and an increase to the 1 in 200 level would make securing a mortgage even more difficult.

The implications don’t stop there. Under the new flood control level, property owners may face severe restrictions on what they can do with their land. Any sort of development – whether it’s building new homes, making improvements, or even repairing damage – would be subject to tighter controls. Floor levels for new buildings would need to be elevated to meet the new flood standards, and the process of getting approval for even minor changes could become bogged down in red tape. For many, this could mean the end of future development plans and a sharp reduction in the value of their investments.

The impact wouldn’t be limited to Windsor. The new flood planning level would affect a wide area, including most of the other Macquarie towns. While these places have long dealt with flood risks, the proposed changes would cast a much wider net, pulling in properties that were previously considered relatively safe from flooding. Ironically, the new measures would have little impact on the Hawkesbury Lowlands, where the 2020 flood policy changes already precluded almost all development. However it is likely to impact resale value as buyers find it harder to obtain finance. But for areas like Windsor and Richmond, the proposal represents a seismic economic and planning change.

What makes this situation even more troubling is how the proposed changes have been communicated. Hidden in the depths of a lengthy technical document, these recommendations haven’t received the clear, public-facing explanation that such a significant change deserves. For a policy that could affect tens of thousands of people, critics argue that the council should have done much more to bring these issues into the spotlight. Instead, many residents who stand to lose the most may not even be aware that their property is on the verge of being reclassified.

The Draft 2025 Flood Plan has been placed on public exhibition, inviting comments from the community. However, the lack of widespread awareness about the proposal means that many people may not realise the scale and implications of the

Flood Plan Recommends Drastic Changes for Hawkesbury Property

The map shows areas impacted by 19-20 metre flood

changes being proposed.

Council’s flood management strategy is built on the idea of safeguarding the community from future flood events, and the proposal to raise the flood planning level is presented as a necessary step in preparing for increasingly severe floods, compounded by climate change. The draft plan even mentions that the current flood planning levels don’t fully account for potential flood risks, particularly as the region faces growing uncertainties in predicting flood behavior. The inclusion of a 0.5-metre freeboard – a safety buffer added to the 1 in 200 AEP level – is designed to account for these uncertainties, including factors like storm surges, wind influences, and potential errors in flood modeling.

“Typically, in coastal locations a 0.5m freeboard above the 1% AEP is similar to the 0.5% AEP level. At Windsor the freeboard would need to be 1.2m to provide an Flood Planning Level at the 0.5% AEP level. With climate change 2030 1% AEP flood levels are already close to the historic 0.5% AEP. Given the extreme flood range, consideration should be given to using a flood planning level greater than the 1% AEP. The extreme flood range or the climate change risk (as discussed in Section 7.3) are enough in isolation to recommend consideration of a higher flood planning level than the 1% AEP,” the study undertaken by engineering consultants, WMA Water said.

Hawkesbury City Council’s current planning documents set the Flood Planning Level to the 1% AEP level without freeboard. The nature of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley means that the additional area affected by an increase in flood planning level is small. Based on the flood range and climate risk it is recommended that Council adopt the 0.5 % AEP (1 in 200 AEP) as the defined flood event and the 0.5 % AEP (1 in 200 AEP) plus 0.5m freeboard for the Flood Planning Level….Therefore, it is recommended that Councils planning documents be updated to reflect this. Consideration should be given to the inclusion of climate change in planning levels,” it said.

What the Hawkesbury Didn't See Coming

FROM PAGE 1

that Sheather should be judged by his actions. “I know Les will be judged by his association with the Liberals,” Zamprogno said, but added that he hopes Sheather will act independently and stand with the community when necessary. “Factionalism and kowtowing to developer interests is a cancer on local politics that needs to be eradicated,” he said.

Having known Sheather for nearly 30 years, Zamprogno is confident in his friend’s intentions. “I really do think his heart is in the right place. I’ve rarely seen someone with such a heart for the community, and such a willingness to muck in...just because it’s the right thing to do.”

Sheather insists he’s not beholden to any party. Addressing criticism of his ties to the Liberal Party, he says, “I resigned from the Liberal Party in ‘83 or ‘84. I’m not here to push outside political agendas that don’t serve our city. I’m not about making deals. I won’t make deals,” he says firmly. Sheather told the HP he gets along with all councillors. He refers to Greens Councillor Danielle Wheeler as an example. “Danielle represents a significant part of our community, and she does it extremely well. That’s why she gets elected,” he says, adding that councillors like independent Mary Lyons-Buckett and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers’ Shane Djuric, bring valuable perspectives, even if their voices are sometimes lost in council discussions. “We need to respect their views and who they represent in the community to achieve that.” However, in the last term, Sheather often voted in favour of development

proposals that these councillors opposed, and he frequently opposed environmental measures they supported.

While Sheather says he respects diverse perspectives, but firmly believes development is crucial to Hawkesbury’s future. “If we’re looking for development, then we need to look at how we’re going to progress it and pay for it in the future,” he says. He acknowledges this stance might rile some residents but sees development as essential to addressing the region’s low growth rate and its potential impacts.

But Sheather’s no stranger to controversy. Sheather’s role as a director on the Windsor RSL board, a tax-exempt club that brings in over $1.1 million monthly from poker machines, has drawn scrutiny. Windsor RSL allocates just 1.2% of its revenue to community groups. Earlier this year, former Mayor Sarah McMahon resigned from the club’s board as the government considers barring councillors from such roles.

Sheather also drew criticism when he spoke in favour of poker machine revenue at a local government conference without disclosing his paid role with Windsor RSL at the time.

Sheather has influential backers, including the well-funded, pro-development lobby group Hawkesbury Business Group (HBG), chaired by Hypro Pet Foods founder John Camilleri. HBG’s stated mission is to advocate for improved planning, infrastructure, and land release, and it provided financial backing for Sheather’s and Eddie Dogramaci’s election campaigns.

Emails obtained by the Hawkesbury Post via Freedom of Information reveal Sheather’s instrumental role in brokering

the contentious sale of publicly-owned land at Woodlands Park Pony Club to Hypro, a transaction conducted without public tender or community input.

Still, Sheather says he wants to foster a unified council focused on collaboration rather than silos. He is clear on his opposition to significant rate hikes, citing his business background and commitment to making Council assets more efficient without burgeoning ratepayers.

He is also vocal about Hawkesbury’s growth potential, cautioning that state intervention could threaten local autonomy if the region doesn’t address its low 1% growth rate. “If we don’t look at what the community wants, others will come in and tell us,” he warns.

One pressing issue for Sheather is the impact of rising property values and rates in areas like Scheyville and Maraylya, where he believes zoning adjustments could offer relief. “People are being forced off their properties,” he says, proposing more flexible land-use options. He notes that residents look across to Box Hill and see “land values that have gone through the roof, and they want that opportunity, too.” However, data from Hawkesbury Council tells a different story, with only six ‘hardship applications’ in the 2023/2024 financial year and just two so far this year, as reported to the HP. Not one application has come from Scheyville or Maraylya.

Another issue central to Sheather’s platform is new flood regulations. He says a recommendation to raise the flood planning level to cover a one in 200-year flood event would be “disastrous” for residents. If adopted, he claims 15,000 more homes would be classed as floodprone, affecting not just development

but insurance, property values, and the ability to obtain finance.

He argues that raising the Warragamba Dam wall is the only realistic solution, although the state government disagrees. For lower-risk areas like South Windsor, where flood velocity is minimal, “just backwater”, Sheather supports simplifying regulations around home extensions, removing the requirement for a flood study.

Sport has always been a part of Sheather’s life, and with over 20,000 residents using local sports grounds weekly, he wants to see the review into the Sports Council completed. He said there are ongoing frustrations due to bureaucratic hurdles, but said it’s essential to ensure that Council procedures align with the needs of the Sports Council, which controls local sporting facilities.

He also sees potential in targeted tourism, suggesting that the Council should support businesses and community groups in promoting events like boat regattas, go-karts, football, and women’s cricket rather than backing a “whole city” approach. “We’re lacking proper accommodation and even a basic caravan park,” he noted, stressing the need for infrastructure that encourages visitors to stay and spend locally.

However, as Sheather outlines his case for rezoning and development, the community’s response remains uncertain. Given the significant 25% drop in the Liberal Party’s primary vote during the last council election, balancing growth with residents’ concerns could present challenges. How he navigates these priorities will be crucial not only for his success as Mayor but also for rebuilding the community’s trust.

Corruption Inquiry Casts Long Shadow Over Redbank

Years after its approval, the Redbank development in North Richmond remains one of the Hawkesbury’s most divisive projects, its legacy tainted by accusations of political favoritism, backroom deals, and irreversible environmental change. What was once rural farmland west of the river has become a sprawling suburban estate, permanently altering the landscape and paving the way for further developments that many argue would never be approved under today’s standards–and never should have been approved back then.

At the center of this controversy was former Liberal MP and Hawkesbury mayor, Bart Bassett, whose involvement in the project raised serious concerns about political influence over local planning decisions. The saga became a focal point of an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) investigation, casting a long shadow over the development’s origins.

The Redbank project, spearheaded by developer Nathan Tinkler’s firm Buildev, aimed to transform farmland on the outskirts of Richmond into a large-scale residential estate. Touted as a suburban oasis blending rural charm with modern conveniences, Redbank Communities sought approval for significant zoning changes to repurpose agricultural land for residential use. In 2012, Hawkesbury City Council approved the rezoning, despite concerns from residents and environmental advocates who warned about the loss of farmland, flooding issues and pressure on local infrastructure.

However, the approval soon became mired in allegations of improper political donations and backroom dealings. ICAC’s 2014 Operation Spicer inquiry into illegal donations by property developers to Liberal Party candidates brought Redbank into the spotlight. ICAC investigated whether Buildev, with financial stakes in the Redbank development, funneled money into political campaigns to sway decisions in their favor. One of the key figures under investigation was Bassett, who had been the Hawkesbury mayor and a state Liberal MP during critical stages of the Redbank rezoning process.

The inquiry revealed that Buildev had directed $18,000 through another Tinkler company – the Free Enterprise Foundation, to Bassett’s 2011 state election campaign, a clear breach of New South Wales laws prohibiting political donations from property developers.

Evidence also emerged that Bassett, while serving as mayor in May 2011, voted in favor of a residential land strategy that would benefit Buildev’s interests. These revelations cast doubt on whether the development had received approval on merit or due to political influence. Buildev co-founder Darren Williams was asked by Counsel assisting ICAC, Geoffrey Watson SC, during ICAC hearings, whether Bassett was in a position where he could assist Buildev.

WIlliams told the inquiry: “You could assume that.”

Watson replied; “It’s a hard cold fact that he could vote on council in favour of a Buildev proposal, correct?”

“Yes,” Williams replied. Williams then told the inquiry at least some of Bassett’s funding for his election campaign had come from Buildev.

Documents tendered to the ICAC show that years before Mr Bassett became an MP, top Buildev executives met him at home and attempted to use high-level political connections to “neutralise” critical voices on Hawkesbury council.

Bassett defended his actions at the ICAC hearings, maintaining that his votes were based on council staff recommendations and denying that political donations influenced his decisions. “I

reject this allegation and I look forward to my opportunity to clear my name,” Bassett said. “In the meantime I have decided to stand aside from the Parliamentary Liberal Party.”

However, public skepticism remained high. In response to the growing scandal, Bassett was exiled to the parliamentary crossbench while the investigation unfolded. Despite the damaging allegations, ICAC did not find enough evidence to make findings of corruption against Bassett, though the inquiry undeniably tainted the Redbank project’s image.

Bassett consults for Redbank today, and remains the President of a Hawkesbury Branch of the Liberal Party.

Amid the ICAC hearings, Hawkesbury City Council convened an extraordinary meeting to address the mounting public outrage over Redbank. Councillors voted to request that the New South Wales Government freeze any development applications for the project until ICAC had completed its investigation. Councillor Christine Paine, who called for the freeze, said at the time, “The community is very angry, very disenfranchised with council, so this might start healing a little bit.”

The motion to freeze Redbank was met with significant community support. Around 150 residents packed the council chamber, with many speaking out against the development. Kim Smith, a local organiser from the group ‘Hawkesbury Rates Disgrace’, said, “All they are asking is that any further developments out in North Richmond are put on hold until the ICAC releases their findings so that we know everything is above board.”

Despite the council’s call for a freeze, Hawkesbury Mayor Kim Ford was the sole Councillor to oppose the motion. Ford was Bassett’s campaign director in 2011, and was parachuted into Council without a Liberal preselection at a 2010 by-election occasioned by the death of Mayor Rex Stubbs. Ford insisted that the planning processes had been “open and transparent all the way,” and that there had been no “backroom deals” or improper actions in the approval of Redbank. Meanwhile, Buildev had sold its stake in the Redbank project to the North Richmond Joint Venture (NRJV) in 2012. The NRJV maintained that it

had never made any unlawful political donations and was not under investigation by ICAC. Nevertheless, the ICAC inquiry has sparked widespread distrust among Hawkesbury residents about the development, with many questioning the

legitimacy of its approval process. Today ongoing concerns about the destruction of wildlife habitat and expansion of the development continue to fuel community dissent about the development.

Former Hawkesbury Mayor and Liberal MP Bart Bassett was at the centre of the ICAC and Redbank controversy

Abandoned Pipes Highlight HCC’s Flooding Disgrace

In Cornwallis, striking images of abandoned pipes lying unused on the riverbank vividly illustrate an ongoing disaster. The Hawkesbury City Council’s (HCC) inaction has transformed what should have been a straightforward repair into a significant environmental and economic crisis. Four years after the collapse of the river levee and drain, the Cornwallis Canyon remains trapped in a tangled web of bureaucratic delays, posing a constant threat of financial loss to businesses and farmers, as well as serious risks to both life and livestock with each flooding event.

A local resident sent these photos to The Hawkesbury Post, showcasing $1 million worth of pipes that were intended for repairs but were found to be the wrong size. These pipes, purchased two years ago, have become a stark reminder of the council’s mismanagement, economic loss and the ongoing frustration to repair the collapsed river levee, a life saving protection during floods.

HCC says it will replace the pipes with a new set of box culverts, costing $1.6 million. Despite earlier assurances that all the pipes would be reused,

tender documents reveal that 42 of them are slated for crushing and disposal, raising further questions about waste and inefficiency in the project.

As we reported last month, the long-awaited $18.7 million repair project, which began nearly four years ago, has faced yet another setback, with completion unlikely before 2026. HCC secured funding for the project through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements in December 2023, which includes $8.2 million for a new road and $13.5 million for riverbank and drainage reconstruction.

Despite securing the necessary funding, the project is now held up by the tender process. A four-week tender was issued in June 2024, more than three years after the damage occurred in March 2021.

HCC and Public Works shortlisted six companies and appeared ready to select Jeffsann Excavations, people familiar with the tender process told The Hawkesbury Post. Jeffsann Excavations, a local company, had been assisting private landholders with restoration of the damage that occurred to their properties due to the collapsed drain and river levee.

Jeffsann’s proposal of $13.5 million was $2 million lower than that of Sutherland-based Haslin Constructions. However, in an unexpected turn, Public Works ruled that Jeffsann was disqualified from handling contracts over $9 million, despite previously encouraging the business, just three months earlier, to submit a bid for the job.

Neither HCC nor Public Works have commented on the abrupt change in decision. A resident familiar with the situation told the Hawkesbury Post that, due to these ongoing setbacks, it’s likely work in Cornwallis won’t begin until March or April 2025, just as flooding risks peak, potentially extending the timeline into 2026.

Your Chance to Save Wildlife From Outdated Developments

A NSW Government inquiry into dormant “Zombie DAs” could drive critical reforms to protect koala and wildlife habitats across the Hawkesbury, with Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, rallying residents to speak up. Templeman believes community voices could be essential in safeguarding these fragile ecosystems from outdated development projects.

“Zombie DAs,” or legacy development applications, are old approvals granted under now outdated environmental standards. Some have sat idle for years, even decades, yet retain permissions that ignore updated regulations and ecological studies. When revived, these projects can move forward with little regard for current environmental needs.

In the Hawkesbury, several dormant applications have sparked concern, including a controversial housing development at 150 Hermitage Road in Kurrajong, which has already destroyed established wildlife habitats.

“There’s a growing understanding in our community that there are significant threats to the habit of koalas and vulnerable native animals in the Hawkesbury, particularly through ‘zombie DAs’,” Templeman said.

“These historic DAs were done with a different set of rules or understanding of the importance of the land, or approved for any number of reasons,” she said.

Templeman said she has heard directly from residents who are distressed by the renewed clearing of trees, now known to be critical koala and wildlife habitats.

“While the revival of dormant, historic DAs is not the only reason habitat is being cleared, there will be other old

DAs that come back to life in the future. That’s why I’m encouraging Hawkesbury residents to contact the inquiry and share their concerns about how they’re hurting our vulnerable native wildlife,” she said.

Templeman told the Hawkesbury Post she had spoken to the inquiry chair Clayton Barr, and while formal submissions have closed, correspondence is still being accepted.

“I explained to him the distressing Zombie DAs that are popping up in the Hawkesbury,” Templeman said.

“I would really encourage people to raise their concerns as the State Minister for Planning has asked for this inquiry to be done. It won’t report until next year, but it is a chance to get some

ideas out about how historic DAs should be managed,” she said.

The Hermitage Road project, approved by Hawkesbury City Council (HCC) in 2010, has already disrupted vital wildlife corridors essential to koalas, glossy black cockatoos, and other endangered species. Despite strong public outcry, the development will proceed under outdated 2010 regulations, allowing for the property to

be divided into eight residential lots and the removal of wildlife habitat.

HCC informed residents in September, that, despite their concerns, it has limited power to stop the Hermitage Road development. It said it had requested guidance from the NSW Minister for the Environment on whether updated conservation laws could apply but has yet to provide any updates on this request.

In the meantime, Templeman continues to urge residents to voice their concerns to the inquiry about the impact of Zombie DAs.

State Greens MP Cate Faehrmann has also lobbied for the urgent need to reassess Zombie DAs across NSW, citing the threat these outdated approvals pose to species already teetering on the edge of extinction. “These old consents would never meet today’s environmental standards,” Faehrmann said. “We can’t allow approvals from decades ago to continue harming wildlife.”

If you want to share your thoughts on ‘Zombie DAs’ with the government inquiry, email Committee Manager Anna Tran at environmentplanning@parliament.nsw.gov.au.

More information on the NSW inquiry can be found here: https://www. parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/ inquiries/Pages/inquiry-details.aspx?pk=3037#tab-contactus

Developer’s Dirt Turns Pristine Creek Brown

Photos taken near 150 Hermitage Rd in Kurrajong paint a jarring picture: upstream of a new development, the Blue Gum Creek flows clear and unblemished, but downstream, it turns into a murky brownish-yellow, laden with sediment.

These images were captured on 15 October. Some residents have since written to Hawkesbury Council, raising serious concerns about environmental damage linked to the developer’s lack of sediment control.

Eric Finley, whose family has lived alongside the creek for 25 years, said he has “never seen water of this color here before, even after heavy rain.” He believes there has been a lack of proper oversight and control which is required under the conditions of the Development Application (DA). Finley’s letter to Council detailed the impact of sediment runoff on Blue Gum Creek, which is home to a range of wildlife, including Platypus that rely on the creek’s health for survival.

Sediment pollution occurs when soil particles run off into waterways, impacting both human and animal health.

“The difference in water quality above and below the site is dramatic even at a casual glance,” Finley wrote to Council, pointing out that the upstream water remains clear while the downstream section, where major earth and roadworks are underway, is heavily discoloured. Finley’s letter references sediment control advice given by a Council officer to the developer last month, which was intended to prevent precisely this outcome.

Finley also noted that a University of Western Sydney study found platypus DNA in Blue Gum Creek in June 2023, confirming the presence of this species. The creek flows into Little Wheeny Creek, a significant ecosystem for the region, supporting a variety of threatened and endangered species. The recent pollution threatens the delicate balance of this habitat, with sedimentation potentially damaging the food sources and nesting areas crucial to wildlife.

In his letter, Finley demanded that the

Council take immediate action to enforce stricter controls at the site. “This development has already had a significant and unnecessary impact on the local environment and wildlife, not to mention local residents’ quality of life,” he wrote, urging the Council to address the issue before it worsens.

Finley’s concerns reflect broader frustrations among residents who have witnessed local ecosystems disrupted by so-called “Zombie DAs”- developments approved under planning applications granted more than a decade ago. The DA for 150 Hermitage Rd, approved in 2008, allowed the developer to clear land and wildlife habitat under regulations that some residents believe are outdated and inadequate for protecting the environment today.

Despite assurances from the Council last month that the developer would install necessary sediment controls, photos and first-hand observations suggest otherwise. Council had not responded to the Hawkesbury Post’s questions by the time of publication.

Blue Gum Creek polluted with sediment from Kurrajong development.

Hawkesbury Local Business Awards

Judges Praise Hawkesbury Local Business Awards

“Gala Event Set for Windsor”

There are less than two weeks left until the winners of the Hawkesbury Local Business Awards are announced at a gala presentation to be held at the Windsor Function Centre.

It is a tight race, according to Precedent Productions Managing Director and Awards founder Steve Loe. “Our judges are always impressed by the high standard of the Hawkesbury Local Business Awards finalists,” he said.

“This year is no exception and our judges have said it has been more difficult than ever to separate this year’s awards contenders and determine winners in each category.”

Mr Loe said that the high quality of the Hawkesbury finalists came as no surprise.

“After more than 30 years of running the Local Business Awards, I know that businesses in the Hawkesbury are adaptable and hard-working.

“They always put their best foot forward and ensure that their customers receive outstanding products and service.

“That is why it is also unsurprising that the Hawkesbury community throws its support behind those businesses both during the awards period and throughout the year.

“While there can only be one winner in each category, as far as I am concerned every finalist is a winner.”

Mr Loe called on the Hawkesbury community to recognise the generosity of the Awards’ major sponsors and supports them, Bx Networking, White Key Marketing and the Hawkesbury Post. Without their support, this program would simply not be possible,” he said.

This year’s category winners will be announced at Windsor Function Centre on the evening of the 13th of November.

“The presentation features wonderful entertainment, with local dignitaries in attendance, but the real stars of the show are the finalists and winners,” Mr Loe said.

“As always, Hawkesbury Post editorial staff will cover the event, with a special feature that lists all the winners as well as pictures from the night, to be published the following week.

For more information about the Local Business Awards, call Precedent Productions on 8577 5060 or visit https://thebusinessawards.com.au

Hawkesbury Local Business Awards

Integrity and Total Customer Focus

CHEM-DRY AUSTYLE is built on core values that prioritise integrity, quality, and customer-centricity.

They strive to provide transparent communication, and consistently efficient service.

Chem-Dry Austyle’s purpose is to create meaningful connections with customers, ensuring their needs are understood and met with superior solutions to exceed customer expectations.

By combining industry expertise with a commitment to continuous improvement, they aim to make a positive impact in the local community and build long-term relationships.

We are committed to the Chem-Dry Brand Promise which is: We will delight our customers with the cleanest and fastest drying carpets and upholstery in the industry. Our products will be expertly applied so as to be gentle on carpets and property, safe for people and pets, and our services will be delivered by trustworthy, friendly professionals. Visit: www.chemdryaustyle.com.au

We would like to thank our clients and the Hawkesbury community for their ongoing support and nomination in the Local Business Awards.

For more than 30 years, ChemDry Austyle has been proudly providing carpet, leather, tile and upholstery cleaning services.

We pride ourselves on the long-term relationships we have nurtured with our clients and endeavour to use our expertise, best business practices and quality service to be the only service you need.

Why choose ChemDry Austyle?

Only ChemDry uses our proprietary cleaning solution The Natural™ and carpets are dry in 1-2 hrs.

Scan to connect & discover more

Proudly Servicing Western Sydney, Northern Sydney & Manly Warringah Independently Owned & Operated chemdryaustyle.com.au 9894 9540

Kohnertz Family Creating Lounges & Sofas for Over Half a Century

Sitting in Comfort has never been so easy! If you’re looking to find your dream lounge, head over to Known For Lounges showrooms in Vineyard and Minchinbury.

The Kohnertz family – Marc and his wife Toni, and their children Bridgette and Ben – have been locals in the Western Sydney area for over 50 years now and their family of 3 generations have been providing customers from all over Sydney & Country areas with Quality Australian made Lounge & Sofas for all these years. What began with Marc’s parents immigrating from Germany in the 1960’s and Marc’s dad Wolfgang, acquiring work at Parker furniture gaining valuable knowledge that he could provide value for money as well as maintaining high quality furniture. Then shortly after Marc arrived into the world and his interest in creating beautiful furniture was apparent from a very young age, so he decided to carry on from his parents footsteps. Marc says “Now I have myself, my wife Toni and my children Bridgette and Ben also involved in the Business. And they assure that, “If a situation arises in which a client can’t find exactly what suits them in their showrooms, their expert team of designers would turn a unique request into reality.

The company’s showrooms display some of the best quality Australian-made sofas and lounges with competitive prices compared with trending

“Our

designers could turn a unique request into reality.”

brands in the market and they also specialise in custom made lounges and sofas to be made into any size, configuration, comfort and colour!

The price ranges of designs include:

• Australian Made Chaise Lounges from $1690

• Australian Made Large L Shape Lounges from $2290

• Australian Made Corner Lounges from $2490

• Australian Made 3-Seater + 2 Single Recliner Suites from $3490

• Reclining Corner Lounges from $3990

• Large Home Theatre Reclining Lounges from $3290

Showroom locations:

• Unit 3/2 Rob Place, Vineyard NSW 2765 (Off Windsor Rd) Phone: 02 4577 7251

• Unit 1/11-15 Eddie Rd, Minchinbury NSW 2770 Phone: 02 9625 3630

Visit www.knownforlounges.com to view a range of designs offered in their showrooms! Open 7 days

Three generations of bespoke furniture specialists in Australia – Wolfgang, Renate, Marc and his wife Toni Kohnertz and their children, Bridgette, and Ben Kohnertz.

Focus on Family and Quality Food

THE Clarendon Tavern is a family-owned pub located on Hawkesbury Valley Way between Windsor and Richmond.

New ownership from July 2021 has seen an improved offering with an emphasis on quality food and a broad selection of both craft and traditional draught beers across 58 taps.

The spacious venue has many different areas for you to eat, drink and be social.

For all those dog lovers out there, our front patio is dog friendly.

The bistro offers quality food at great value prices. For families with children, we have a courtyard with kids’ playground and arcade.

The Clarendon aims to please all guests, whether you are with your family or friends or with a large or small group.

For punters, The Clarendon offers a TAB with KENO. They have multiple dedicated function spaces catering for your private or corporate event.

The Clarendon is located close to Hawkesbury Racecourse, Hawkesbury Showground and the RAAF Base.

“We aim to provide a venue for the Hawkesbury community to enjoy a relaxed and comfortable experience. With

affordable dining, ice cold drinks and a play area for the kids, there is something for everyone at the Clarendon Tavern. Our team strive to offer elite customer service and we all work very hard to ensure our guests leave with a smile on their faces,” a spokesperson said. Call on 02 9055 7700 or email at bar@clarendontavern.com Visit: www.clarendontavern.com

Dance Into Your Future

“Most

Hawkesbury Local Business Awards

Enhancing Lives Through Care

LOCATED at multiple sites in the Hawkesbury area of NSW, New Haven Farm Home provides permanent accommodation and lifestyle support for more than 40 clients.

The team is dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with a disability, helping them achieve their personal goals through an individualised approach to care, skill development and community inclusion.

New Haven Farm Home is a trusted not-for-profit organisation, with 60 years of experience helping people with a disability through holistic and individually tailored care and support programs.

It is important to them that everyone is in the centre of the decisions made about their lives, with choice in the activities they participate in, the skills they would like to learn and develop, and the goals they would like to achieve.

New Haven Farm Home values the community in which we are all a part of and encourages and supports individuals to be involved and integrated in the everyday community environment – living, working, learning and contributing.

While developing social and living skills, this sense of belonging and inclusion enables individuals and their gifts to be respected and appreciated by others as valued members of the community.

Visit: www. newhavenfarm.org.au

Listing the Finest in Hawkesbury

HAMISH Rogers has been listing and selling the finest real estate in the Hills and Hawkesbury Districts for over 33 years.

Hamish Rogers Realty opened its doors in 2002 in an office over the hardware/petrol station in Pitt Town and in October of 2020 the agency moved to Oakville.

Hamish’s wife Jessica joined the business in 2006 and from then the business has grown into the market leader it is today

Hamish Rogers Realty is founded around one simple mission: “To deliver RESULTS that exceed our client’s EXPECTATIONS.”

Not only has this agency been around for decades, but it is also what lies behind the name is what really counts.

“We only promote our business through our results. Unlike other agencies, we focus on personalised service and a deep understanding of our clients’ requirements and needs,” said Hamish.

”As an agency, we have been so fortunate to have never needed to chase listings, as they have always come directly to us. We have been successful in our goals, and we are proud of the service and results we deliver.”

Despite being a husband-and-wife team, Hamish Rogers Realty has continued to dominate the market.

Their success reflects dedication, experience and the stress-free process.

Listings are mostly from word of

mouth and referrals.

They work hard to maintain a level of service that allows our clients to make informed, educated decisions when selling their properties.

“We understand that selling can be very stressful, and we are committed to making the process as smooth and comfortable as possible, ensuring the best and most honest outcome was achieved,” said Hamish.

Visit: www.hamishrogersrealty. com.au

Hawkesbury Local Business Awards

Family Law For Over 20 years

Rafton Family Lawyers have been offering highly specialised Family law services to people of the Hawkesbury for nearly 20 years

KNOWN for its highly specialised expertise, Rafton Family Lawyers has provided top-class service to the Hawkesbury area for almost two decades.

Founder and managing director, Kate Rafton influences the firm’s culture of being family focused and offering flexibility to staff.

The firm is recognised for its practical, down-to-earth approach and the outcomes they achieve for clients. They frequently receive referrals from other local lawyers due to their expertise and knowledge and ability to deal with complex cases such as high nett worth property disputes and complex probate or contested wills applications in the Supreme Court.

Rafton and her team of experienced lawyers and administrative staff are committed to providing the best possible family law and probate, estate litigation services.

The firm commenced operations at the beautiful historic “Eltham” building located at 317 Windsor Street Richmond. This remains the head office for all operations with expansion over the past 20 years seeing the firm expand to 6 other locations across Western Sydney.

Raftons is the only specialist firm in the Hawkesbury region with all solicitors having expertise in family law. By specialising in specific areas, the

firm know how to get the best results and can assist with complex legal situations. With rapidly changing legal rules and increased litigation, firms now need to offer specialised not general services so clients can ensure they are receiving the right advice at the right time. Rafton reflects on the past few decades “When I started nearly 20 years ago I could see a real need for our local community to have expert assistance in Family Law, which was my speciality area, I think that is why our firm expanded so significantly over the years due to the demand increased for highly specialised legal help”.

The firm has enjoyed a significant revenue growth over the past 2 years, by opening two new offices and adding two additional practice areas.

The firm has expanded their service areas to bring in a wills and estates arm and special mediation practice, which have been hugely successful.

The addition of Maurice Edwards to lead their special mediation practice and help clients avoid court where possible, brings over 40 years of experience to the firm, along with strong mentorship and an ethics focus.

Rafton Family Lawyers believe in supporting the local community and giving something back to the people of Western Sydney. After all, they live and work in the area where clients are.

Visit: www. rafton.com.au

Highest Standards of Workmanship AIRMAKERS is your Local Daikin Dealer

They are dedicated to delivering the highest standards of quality in both workmanship and products.

The businesses mission is to ensure your comfort by providing reliable and efficient climate solutions tailored to your needs. Airmakers takes pride in using quality materials and equipment, ensuring lasting performance and energy efficiency.

Their team is made up of honest, hardworking professionals who are fully qualified and passionate about their work.

They take great pride in their work and are committed to exceeding customer expectations.

Over the years, Airmakers has built many long-standing relationships with clients who trust them for reliability and exceptional service.

With a focus on trust and integrity, Airmakers provides more than just air conditioning services; they offer a positive, lasting experience with customer satisfaction at the heart of everything we do.

Visit: www. www.airmakers.com.au

Beauty is Skin Deep

Beauty experts enhance the way we look, including the way we feel about ourselves.

Beauty therapist Pembe of In2Skin & Brows in Windsor says they make inspiration flow so that customers achieve confidence, one skin at a time.

When Pembe opened her beauty therapy business in 2016, she chose to specialise in creating radiant skin and brow silhouettes that suit a customer’s personal journey.

“Supporting the customer’s journey to have glowing skin and beautiful brows is our promise, with highest level of care, giving confidence and vibrant beauty deep within,” Pember says.

“I have created a space where customers can feel at home while having treatments with our latest skin therapies available.”

While working at a day spa, Pembe studied for her Diploma of Beauty Therapy accredited not only in Australia but also internationally.

She is a mother of four children and with ample support from her husband, Pembe has grown her business employing qualified skin therapists she has trained herself.

After working for many years

with several beauty salons and skin clinics, Pembe picked up her unique treatment style in skin and brows.

“I made the decision to teach my passion on beauty therapy and came to the realisation my true calling was to be in a skin therapy clinic,” she says.

Whether you want to improve the appearance of your skin type or transform the way you look, Pember and her team are the skin and brow beauty experts to call on, and they are more than happy to help.

They offer skin treatments and correction, laser hair removal, brows and lashes, spray tan, tinting, waxing, facials, and peels among others, and customers can browse on best products to maintain skin appearance.

Want to give a family member or friend a gift on special occasions they’d really appreciate? In2Skin & Brow beauty treatment and product vouchers are available.

In2Skin & Brow caters for everyone’s needs to achieve their desired look. To book an appointment or learn more about their services, visit https://www.in2skinandbrows.com or contact them directly by email hello@in2skinandbrows.com or call 0401 244 848.

Hawkesbury Local Business Awards

Located in Richmond in the beautiful Hawkesbury NSW, Hawkesbury Tax & Accounting (HTAA) is an accounting firm that provides individual and business accounting and taxation advice, Xero software bookkeeping services and business structuring.

They service the greater Hawkesbury, Penrith, Blue Mountains, Hills and Greater Sydney regions

Since 2000, HTAA has worked with many clients to grow and protect their wealth by managing their tax affairs, their bookkeeping, providing business tax specialist advice and business ownership structures. By helping add structure and organisation to your life and delivering high quality taxation advice at realistic prices clients can get on with doing what they love knowing that they are taking care of things for you.

Visit: www. hawkesburytaxandaccounting.com.au

Hawkesbury Local Business Awards

Quality Auto Electrical Services

AUTO LOGIX is located at Mulgrave & provide automotive air conditioning services and repairs, auto electrical fit-outs, upgrades and repairs to cars, utes, trucks, machinery, caravans, trailers and more.

The businesses’ goal is to provide their customers with comfort, usability and style as they drive, work and play.

“The aim is to provide high quality workmanship, and finishes to all jobs,

whilst providing reliable & committed service to each person, or business,” a spokesperson said.

“Our goal is for you to ‘Drive comfortably, Adventure endlessly’.”

Auto Logix has been servicing the Hawkesbury, Greater Sydney and Lithgow regions since 2016, with quality auto electrical services and repairs.

Visit: www. autologix.com.au

Gift shopping with purpose

BY A Farmer’s Daughter has a purpose which is to provide the local Hawkesbury community and visitors with a destination to find that perfect gift with special meaning.

It may include a keepsake souvenir or fashion. curating an eclectic mix of Australian made products, locally made pieces, featuring Alicia’s unique, repurposed creations or Winnie sisters label

By A Farmer’s Daughter is a small, fe-

male owned and operated business. They curate a selection of beautiful homewares, giftware, fashion and art that each have a special story behind them. We have carefully gathered fabulous products full of meaning that spark joy. Located in historic Windsor, they are open 7 days and offer a unique shopping experience.

Visit: www. farmersdaughter. com.au

Discover chic designs & vintage treasures nestled side by side at our store in Historic Windsor. We stock a range of fabulous products that carry deep meaning and spark joy. Visit us today for a truly unique shopping experience!

Gourmet Herbs

Horticulturist Jane Vasallo is known for her range of micro herbs she grows on her upper Hawkesbury farm.

Restaurants in Sydney, Newcastle and Canberra are among the clientele in her specialty business called Gourmet Herbs.

The company is winner of the Australian Small Business Champion Award 2022 and Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Award 2022 and Hawkesbury Local Business Award winner 2022.

Starting with fancy lettuce, Jane trialed growing micro-herbs and awed by the huge demand across Australia.

She now grows up to 23 kinds of herbs which popular chefs and households use as daily ingredients in their menus.

Our main purpose is to produce and provide fresh, high-quality herbs and edible flowers to complete and compliment any plate as it is served.

We can offer a range of cut herbs, an assortment of Asian herbs, including the basic herbs for everyday cooking and edible flowers such as zucchini flowers and violas just to name a few.

Our values and principles are carried out equally to include ethical behaviour and core values are utmost important for our company.

We start with our employees right through to our clients and business associates.

By following guidelines, this enables us to achieve our best product to satisfy customers.

Visit our farm and meet our people, we’ll show you where your food comes from by clicking https://gourmetherbs. com.au/.

Gourmet Herbs produce are sold at Shed A, Stand 34 at the Sydney Markets or contact 0416 000 614 or jane@gourmetherbs.com.au for enquiries.

Mission to Serve the Best

At 50 Three Café & Patisserie, their mission is to create a memorable culinary experience for all who visit.

“We take pride in our French patisserie, with our croissants rated among the best,” a spokesperson said.

“Our menu features a variety of breakfast options for kids and adults, freshly baked bread, and refreshing juices, all served with Kurrajong’s stunning mountain views.

50three Café & Patisserie also specialises in customized cakes for birthdays, weddings, and major events.

The businesses values centre on quality, passion, and genuine hospitality, bringing the finest ingredients and flavors to every plate.

“Whether it’s enjoying a morning pastry, sharing a family breakfast, or celebrating a special occasion, we aim to offer moments of joy and a taste of France in our café.”

“We proudly serve premium coffee from Little Marionette, ensuring every sip complements our dishes.”

Find us at – 79 Old Bells Line of Rd, Kurrajong NSW 2758

Visit: www. 50three.com.au

Compassionate Medical Attention

At Myhealth North Richmond the aim is to prioritise patient-centred care, ensuring every individual receives compassionate, comprehensive medical attention. Their core values include integrity, respect, and excellence which guide

interactions and clinical practices.

Myhealth North Richmond strives to create a welcoming environment where patients feel valued and understood, fostering strong relationships built on trust.

“Our vision at Myhealth is to estab-

lish a medical centre that provides the highest standard, non-discriminatory medical care in a modern and friendly environment, “ a spokesperson said.’

‘We aim to provide a full range of medical and allied health services to the community.”

All of our doctors at Myhealth have come from a wide range of backgrounds and have a variety of special interests. We pride ourselves with providing quality medical care to all our patients.”

Email: northrichmond.reception@ myhealth.net.au

Safe, Reliable Horse Transportation

REGENCY Floats’ main aim is to supply the Australian market with safe and reliable horse transportation.

Being an equestrian family from the local area, they understand exactly what horses require to keep them safe and comfortable, especially when traveling any distance.

Regency also understands just how expensive horses and livestock can be, so they aim to make safety and reliability as affordable as possible.

As a business Regency does their best to help the local and wider Equestrian community, in sponsoring multiple horse shows throughout the year.

They sponsor about five major events a year, including the Hawkesbury Show, Blacktown Show, NSW Dressage Championships in Horsley Park, Miniature Horse Show at Hawkesbury Grounds and Arndell Anglican School Show at Hawkesbury Grounds. As well as sponsoring events they also have a few sponsored riders.

As a Hawkesbury based business, Regency is also backing the local community by supporting the movement to keep and maintain the Clarendon Dressage Arenas and Events, by sponsoring one of the arenas at the grounds and promoting the petition to keep it open.

Visit: www.regencyfloats.com.au

In the market for a safe, reliable, and high-quality angle or straight load horse oat from an Australian supplier? Regency Floats has decades of experience in the industry, making only the best horse oats available on the market. Review our Australian range today or learn more by calling our friendly team.

Hawkesbury Local Business Awards

Only the Best Craftsmanship

At Tuff Built Constructions they pride themselves on providing exceptional service and quality craftsmanship to leave a long-lasting professional finish on all projects.

Their experienced and highly skilled carpenters are ready to delve into your next project and are here to help bring your vision to life!

The business is a lifelong dream that has come to fruition by owner drector Jack Tuffley. His unwavering passion and strong mindset have planted the seeds for Tuff Built to grow and flourish into a top tier successful company.

“Producing high quality workmanship that will stand the test of time, keeping in mind that each project is personal to individual client’s needs, we like to reflect that in our craft working in closely with clients to ensure that their idea is produced in such a way that it will feel very personal, bespoke and memorable,” said Jack.

“Our focus is to not only to construct A1 quality results, but also provide an exceptional experience that is pleasant throughout the transformation of your space.” Visit: www.tuffbuiltconstructions. com

Viktoria’s Hair & Beauty is an award-winning salon located in the charming surrounds of Hawkesbury, in Sydney’s northwest.

Business owner, Victoria, a hair colour specialist and bridal hair stylist for more than two decades opened the salon in 2010.

With a high level of creative hairdressing and beauty skills, Victoria

Look your Best with Award-Winning Hair Stylist and Beauty Salon

and her team are passionate about what they do and highly skilled in the industry.

Victoria’s team thrives on providing a high level of customer service paying attention to the finest detail.

“We go above and beyond to ensure you look your best and feel amazing every time you leave our salon,” says Victoria.

“Our hairdressers, stylist, makeup artists and beauty therapists are constantly keeping up to date with latest fashion trends.

“We provide a level of service like no other salon, giving our clients a high level of satisfaction, only using the best products to ensure the best results are always achieved.”

Viktoria’s professional bridal hair styling and make-up service is sought after, offering classic French roll to modern messy buns and pampering the bride, including her entourage, on a very special day.

The team can travel to provide service for bridal groups of 5 or more anywhere within the Hawkesbury,

Hearing Support

Locally Available

Anyone experiencing hearing loss has readily available local support at Total Hearing and Health at George Street, Windsor. The clinic opened in 2015 as an independent family-owned hearing testing and advisory covering the Hawkesbury district to assist residents manage hearing loss. We recognise the responsibility to ensure we are unwavering in our commitment to empower individuals, enhance their lives and make a positive impact on the community.

We believe in integrity, transparency, and dedication to our clients. Our purpose is clear – to be a beacon of hope and support for those facing audiological challenges.

We exist to restore the gift of hearing, to help individuals reconnect with their world, and to enrich their quality of life.

We take pride in our role as advocates for hearing health, educating and empowering our community to make informed decisions about their auditory

and outer suburbs.

When entering Viktoria’s salon at North Richmond, you will be greeted with a friendly smile.

You will notice our salon is a classic yet modern take, being only newly renovated to give a fresh, clean, and classy environment.

Enjoy a latte or herbal tea while browsing the internet on our FREE Wi-Fi.

Relax and unwind in our reclining and massaging basin chairs while having an amazing scalp shampoo and massage complimentary with all hair services, giving you the ultimate salon experience. Call us on (02) 4571 3302 or book online to make an appointment or email us enquiries@viktorias.com. au with any enquiries or visit https:// www.viktorias.com.au/

Viktoria’s Hair & Beauty Salon is located at Shop 7, Heritage Plaza, 15-17 Bells Line of Road, North Richmond NSW 2754. Open Monday to Saturday.

well-being. With our values as our compass, we are not just a business, we are a lifeline, a partner in your hearing health journey, and a force for positive change in the lives we touch.

Enquiries in person at 265 George Street, Windsor NSW 2756, by email on windsor@ totalhearinghealth.com.au or call (02) 4577 3358. Click www.totalhearinghealth.com.au to find out more how we could help you.

Meaningful Connection to Life

AT Yoga Bare, their purpose is to provide a holistic health hub that nurtures the mind, body and spirit.

They believe in creating a supportive community where individuals can explore various paths to wellness including yoga, pilates, sauna, ice bath and massage therapy. Clients are empowered to find balance in life, and cultivate a deeper, more meaningful connection with themselves and the world around them.

Visit: www.yogabare.com.au

Values of Trust and Respect

AT Quick & Clean Home Care, they prioritise delivering exceptional service with integrity, efficiency, and a personal touch.

The businesses core values centre around trust, respect, and commitment to quality, ensuring every home we care for is treated with the utmost attention.

The team believes in building lasting relationships with their clients, providing reliable and detailed cleaning solutions that cater

to individual needs. Their purpose is to create a cleaner, healthier living environment, freeing up our clients’ time to focus on what truly matters to them.

“We strive to make every interaction positive, ensuring satisfaction through transparency, consistency, and a dedication to excellence,” a spokesperson said.

Susan Templeman Opinion

When the sun is shining, it’s easy to forget that the Hawkesbury floodplain has experienced 8 floods in the last few years.

But anyone looking at their insurance renewal, or worse – advice from their insurer that they will no longer offer insurance because of floods, knows the financial penalty that many Hawkesbury residents face.

The affordability and availability of flood insurance, as well as the way insurers worked through the 2022 flood claims, has been the subject of a 13-month Parliamentary inquiry, and I was specially brought onto the Economics Committee because of the experience of our region.

Hawkesbury residents shared their experiences of the 2022 and earlier floods via surveys and more than a dozen appeared before the Committee hearing in Richmond in May this year, and some of that evidence has been quoted in the report.

That has resulted in our recent report: Flood Failure to Future Fairness, with a raft of recommendations to the government including looking at

government intervention in the flood reinsurance market, better buyback and home resilience upgrade schemes, and recognition by insurers of actions individuals have taken to safeguard their property to be considered by the government.

We also called for strengthening of the government’s response to floods, from making sure that the data insurers and some government agencies already have about flooding is available to all households and small businesses and fixing the problem we see in the Hawkesbury where disaster funding has only allowed “like for like” repairs. Plus, we’ve recommended disaster recovery programs for individuals, landowners and businesses be reviewed to be fairer.

The third tranche of recommendations is on affordability and access to insurance. So much of what we in the Hawkesbury and Nepean know about inability to get insurance or the horrendous cost of it was heard up and down eastern Australia. Flood insurance is becoming increasingly unaffordable for properties with the highest risk.

We want to see the Australian Government continue to fund community level mitigation, ensuring at least $200 million a year ongoing, as the Albanese Government has introduced.

We want to see insurers explore more innovative products for homes and small businesses, and better ways for individual property mitigation to be rewarded by insurers with lower premiums.

We want to see resilience programs and buyback options for homes with very high flood risk, where alternative mitigation measures are unlikely to manage the risk.

Given the failures too many experienced in 2022 and earlier floods, there are 86 recommendations that start with improving the experience for people who are making a flood claim. The recommendations also include setting higher standards for the insurers’ behaviour, as well as also providing more support for people, like Legal Aid, to navigate the process.

We don’t want to see any more developments in high-risk areas.

We want to see state governments remove state-based taxes on general insurance products, and that insurers commit to passing these savings on in full through lower premiums. While state taxes generally add 20-40% to the cost of the premium, NSW continues to charge insurance customers to fund emergency services, adding a third layer of tax that increases premiums.

And we’ve recommended the government looks at the appropriateness of a government-supported reinsurance arrangement to make flood insurance more affordable.

The real message of the report, to every Parliamentarian and every government – local, state and federal – is that

there is urgency to this problem. We are not alone in the world in facing these challenges – I’m hearing the same call for speedier action in the US, UK, NZ and Canada.

It’s time to look at how government can intervene to ensure that people who have homes on the floodplain can afford insurance. But now is also the time to have hard conversations about buybacks, making individual homes safer and more resilient, and stopping new development on the floodplain. None of this can be done without working closely with the insurance industry. What we don’t do now will cost taxpayers further down the track, undermine the Hawkesbury economy, and lead to heartbreak for the most floodprone homeowners.

ROBYN PRESTON - STATE MEMBER FOR HAWKESBURY

Vapes – A New Public Health Crisis

Tobacco kills more than 8 million people worldwide each year. This figure includes an estimated 1.3 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke. In 2018, almost 20,500 Australians died from a smoking related disease – that’s more than fifty preventable deaths every day!

‘Preventable’ implies something which can be avoided, stopped or halted in its tracks.

Currently, there is a very serious issue within NSW communities with the illegal importation and sale of tobacco and vapes. For years we have heard about the association between nicotine and cancer, yet we are largely ignoring the research, placed right in front of us and written in plain English.

Recent years have seen the introduction of vapes, otherwise known as e-cigarettes, as a ‘responsible way’ to quit smoking. However, our young people are being put at risk because of under-the-counter, illegal sales of these items. With every piece of readily available research spelling out the harms of

tobacco and vape use, we must protect our future generations.

Did you know that single use vaping devices are shown to be incredibly addictive and deliberately designed to appeal to young people? This is a public health crisis of its own. People are inhaling a cocktail of chemicals, of which we are only just beginning to understand and younger generations are being exposed to the dangers posed by nicotine.

The purchase and sale of tobacco and vaping products is illegal, considered as organised crime and something which is preventable. Just recently in Parliament, I supported legislation that increases penalties for the illegal sale of vaping products across NSW.

The changes include fines of up to $1.5 million for the sale of commercial quantities of vapes as well as potential criminal charges for licenced individuals who are found to be selling these products illegally.

Creating an offence for the supply of vapes, except where it is by a prescribed person who is authorised to do so, will result in a maximum penalty being increased to seven years imprisonment or fourteen thousand penalty units, or both, which aligns with recent Commonwealth changes.

Many parents are concerned about the supply and availability of vapes, especially for young people and students. These products are deliberately targeting young people who can easily cultivate a nicotine addiction and it makes sense that we push back and create greater penalties for this growing public health issue.

Robyn Preston Opinion

Lifestyle Sprinkle Me with PFAS

Sydney Water and the Hawkesbury City Council operate the four water treatment plants in the Hawkesbury. They take in wastewater and sewage from across the region. Out the other end come two treated by-products: recycled “grey water” and sludge, also known as biosolids. The recycled water and sludge that these facilities produce are not tested for the cancer-causing PFAS chemicals – a group of nearly 15,000 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. PFAS are referred to as forever chemicals because they do not break down in nature lasting hundreds, possibly thousands of years. Currently, there are no publicly available test results for PFAS on these waste products.

The North Richmond Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF), Richmond WRRF – run by Sydney Water – and South Windsor Sewerage Treatment Plan (STP) and McGraths Hill STP discharge treated water into South Creek and watercourses, which flow into Redbank Creek and Rickabys Creek.

Recycled water from the Richmond plants is used for irrigation by local institutions, including Western Sydney University and Richmond Golf Club. HCC sells recycled water for irrigation and toilet flushing, as well as using it to irrigate public reserves, including Berger Road Lake Reserve, Berger Road Reserve, Bounty Reserve, Bradley Road Reserve, Colonial Reserve, Mileham Street Reserve, and Cox Street Reserve. Along with areas around at least a dozen other military bases across the country the Hawkesbury drew a short straw and became one of Australia’s PFAS hotspots. The contamination came from RAAF Base Richmond where now banned firefighting foams that contained PFAS were used for decades. PFAS has run off the base onto the Hawkesbury River flood plain, into groundwater and soil and into the river, coming back and forth with the tide and regular floods to spread across the region.

“The big thing is that a very, very, very small amount of PFAs goes a long way,” Associate Professor Ian Wright, a scientist at Western Sydney University says. “It’s hard to visualise this, but it’s like one eye-drop in 20 Olympic swimming pools that’s dangerous at that level. And the RAAF base used a lot of PFAS foams over a very long time.”

Once PFAS gets into the food chain it stays there. As well as contaminating fodder that grazing animals eat, it can also, like mercury, biomagnify when animals such as chickens eat insects and platypus feed on invertebrates. Wright explained, “This means that lower level bugs eat the plant, then the chicken eats the bug, and the concentration builds up at higher concentrations, each level you go”.

PFAS are not just harmful, they can be deadly and have been found by the World Health Organisation to cause a range of cancers, including kidney, testicular and thyroid, yet the Australian Department of Health claims the evidence is “limited”.

The Australian Cancer Atlas, a project of the Queensland University of Technology and the Queensland Cancer Council, shows that the Richmond area has a prevalence of thyroid cancer that is 41% higher than the national average, although without further studies direct causation with PFAS cannot be concluded.

Richmond resident Joanna Pickford was advised that her property had been contaminated by PFAS in 2018 and eventually gained a settlement from the Department of Defence as part of a class action on behalf of 30,000 people who

live close to three military bases that was settled for $132.7 million, one of four similar suits.

“I have hypothyroidism [an under-active thyroid], so does my daughter. I got it when I was 40 and my daughter caught it when she was 26. I’ve had two male cats that I have had from kittens, both had thyroid problems, and one of them died from thyroid cancer,” Pickford told the Post.

As the Federal government moves to dramatically lower the acceptable amount of the cancer-causing chemicals in drinking water, the NSW government has belatedly offered financial assistance for regional councils to test for the so-called forever chemicals. But this is only for drinking water and any testing for wastewater plant products remains largely absent in the emerging national conversation about PFAS.

“We don’t know where PFAS is, because we’re deliberately not testing for it. What is driving this? It’s negligence because it is of great concern to people. I found it bizarre that the water industry has been so resistant to grappling with this problem”, Wright says.

“If we’re using recycled water in urban environments, and particularly in environments that might run off back into waterways, and particularly drinking water supplies – which in this case in the Neapan-Hawkesbury River – we should definitely have a good understanding of PFAS concentrations in recycled water”, said water engineer Professor Stuart Khan, head of the University of New South Wales Civil Engineering School.

PFAS in biosolids is arguably even more concerning with about 500,000 tonnes of human waste used annually for fertiliser across Australia, introducing the chemicals directly into the food chain. Yet its producers don’t want to know.

“Council is not required to test treated water for PFAS,” the HCC spokesperson said, adding that biosolids were taken away from the plants and used as fertiliser.

“Sydney Water covers the cost for biosolids to be reused in agriculture, forestry, and compost markets,” a spokesperson for Sydney Water told the Post.

In June, 2024 environmental action group Friends of the Earth released

the results of a Freedom of Information request that showed Sydney Water has been testing for PFAS in biosolids – but not recycled water. Of the ten places where testing took place and elevated PFAS was found, Richmond yielded the highest concentration of PFAS.

The Hawkesbury has dodged a bullet as biosolids are banned for use in the Sydney basin; instead they are sent into regional NSW.

In Australia the wheels of government turn slowly, particularly in the case of PFAS. In September 2022 the draft National Environmental Management Plan 3.0 was released by the Department of Climate Change Energy the Environment and Water. It includes updated guidance on how PFAS should be monitored and managed, including in recycled water and sludge. Consultation on the plan closed in Feb 2023 but since then, nothing.

In Europe relatively new EU regulations are being implemented by member states like the Netherlands and Germany. In the US, the Federal EPA released a PFAS action plan that included EPA Method 1633, a testing protocol developed to detect and quantify 40 specific PFAS in various environmental samples, including wastewater, surface water, groundwater, soil, biosolids. As well, many states have developed guidelines and begun testing biosolids for PFAS, given the risks of leaching into groundwater or being taken up by crops.

As Australian governments at last begin to face up to the vast problems that PFAS presents, a focus on contaminated waste is essential. In the meantime, more than 1.2 million litres of recycled water is being fed back into the river system that supplies the Hawkesbury’s drinking water, or watering on a field or park near you.

Western Sydney University uses untested recycled water for irrigation

Toxic Chemicals Stay as PFAS Ban Delayed

By Kate Hughes PhD2

Scientific evidence around PFAS health risks is convincing, and internationally, some PFAS groups have been banned or scheduled for phase-out. This includes Australia, where controls now restrict their import or use. The catch is that these positive changes won’t take effect until 1 July 2025.

In Australia, controlling imports is critical because all PFAS enters our environment through imported products. PFAS are present in thousands of consumer goods and in longstanding industrial applications considered essential. Without them, many things we take for granted would no longer be available.

So, what can be done? A good place to start is to limit PFAS use to only essential items. In Europe and the USA, there is ongoing discussion about the benefits of this approach, which would eliminate PFAS in products like cosmetics, personal care items, non-stick cookware,

pizza boxes, sandwich wrappers, popcorn bags, furnishings, fabrics, and outdoor clothing.

There’s plenty to consider here, but don’t hold your breath – there will be a significant delay between when the Commonwealth Government agrees on the need for controls and when PFAS use is restricted to essentials only. This is known as “the regulatory lag,” which has characterised the timeline for controls on most hazardous substances over the last 50 years. A notable exception occurred in 1987, when a global ban on substances depleting the ozone layer was enacted under the Montreal Protocol.

However, as for PFAS, any global agreement restricting or banning their use is likely years away, and it might not be entirely effective since new types of PFAS are being created to replace the old. Out with the old risk, in with the new!

In Australia, those with the expertise and authority have yet to agree on what constitutes significant PFAS risk. I attended the international Clean Up Conference in Adelaide in mid-September, where a leading environmental regulator assured the audience that PFAS risks were overstated, citing evidence showing the actual risk as significantly lower than 20 years ago. He claimed that there were far more pressing health risks, including the stress and anxiety people feel when they learn that their drinking water contains PFAS!

The problem with this dose of official reassurance is that he was only referring to well-studied PFAS – the ones we know about – while leaving aside the possibility that PFAS not yet assessed or regulated could pose health risks in the

PFAS is present in thousands of consumer goods and in longstanding industrial applications considered essential. Without them, many things we take for granted would no longer be available."

future. And that is the majority! On the plus side, it’s good to know that the Commonwealth Government is refining industrial chemical regulations to better reflect PFAS exposure risks and will soon release Version 3 of the National Environment Management Plan for PFAS. This plan will offer guidance on monitoring and managing PFAS stockpiles, landfills, and sewage treatment plants.

While helpful, when it comes to preventing future PFAS contamination, there are just vague references to our “international obligations.” Nor is there any guidance on how individuals can limit their exposure.

It appears we may need to take matters into our own hands to protect our future.

Next month: PFAS clean-up technologies

McMahon on the Bench as Libs Install Sheather as Mayor

In a move that defies the results of the recent local election, Les Sheather was elected Mayor of Hawkesbury last month, with Sarah McMahon selected as Deputy Mayor, maintaining a Liberal-aligned leadership team for the Council.

Twelve newly elected councillors were sworn in on 16 October before casting their votes for a new mayor and deputy mayor to lead the council in the upcoming term. This followed September’s local government elections, which saw significant voter backlash against major parties. The Liberal Party experienced one of the largest electoral swings in Hawkesbury’s history, while the Labour Party lost a seat in the Chamber.

The September 14, local government elections saw a remarkable shift away from large party-affiliated candidates, with Mary Lyons-Buckett, a leading independent councillor, receiving a strong mandate. Her “People Not Parties” group gained an extra seat, highlighting voter dissatisfaction with the status quo and delivering a clear message for change. The Liberal Party, led by former Mayor McMahon, lost more than 25% of its formal vote and barely held onto its fourth seat, reflecting a significant erosion of public trust. McMahon’s individual vote fell by over 36% compared to the last election.

Despite a clear mandate for change, the Mayoral vote saw Liberal-aligned Independent Sheather win against Lyons-Buckett, Labour’s Amanda Kotlash, and Independent Nathan Zamprogno. Lyons-Buckett had strong backing from Greens Councillor Danielle Wheeler, Independent Tom Aczel, Zamprogno, and

Fishers, and Farmers Party. Kotlash secured only her own vote and dropped out after the first round.

Riverside Gardens is a boutique retirement village offering stylish residences within a safe, independent living community.

Established in 2010, Riverside Gardens consists of 2 and 3 bedroom villas and apartments nestled amongst established gardens and tree lined streets.

On a daily basis, the community centre is a hive of activity and a beautiful space for residents to socialise and enjoy.

Riverside Gardens is conveniently located within walking distance of North Richmond shops, cafes, and endless recreation.

Sheather, however, maintained solid support from all Liberal-aligned councillors throughout the rounds, and in the final vote, gained additional backing from Djuric and Kotlash. This solidified a right-leaning bloc on the Council and indicated that the controversial Liberal/

Labour alliance will likely persist this term. With this alignment, Sheather secured a seven-vote majority, clinching the mayoral seat.

At September’s Council elections, Sheather’s group garnered just 3.38% of the formal vote, representing about one-third of the support received by the groups led by the other mayoral candidates. Personally, he secured a mere 0.55% of the vote, with his popularity slightly exceeding that of Kotlash, who received just 0.39%, amounting to only 139 votes from the community.

The Deputy Mayoral election last night played out similarly. McMahon won the position after a drawn-out voting process that pitted Lyons-Buckett and her supporters against McMahon and her allies. In the first round, McMahon received six votes, with Lyons-Buckett trailing with four, while Zamprogno received two votes, supported by his own and those from Djuric. The tie was ultimately broken by lot, securing McMahon’s position as Deputy Mayor.

The new leadership faces significant challenges in addressing critical issues that have fuelled dissatisfaction among the Hawkesbury community. Key concerns during the election included inappropriate and rapid development, the protection of natural environments – particularly native animal habitats –and the integrity of councillors. Voters overwhelmingly supported candidates who prioritised greater transparency and sustainable growth, stressing the need for a Council that not only listens to its residents but also takes decisive action on their behalf.

Sheather and McMahon will serve in their new roles until September 2026.

Boutique

Kotlash in the final vote. Meanwhile, Zamprogno received two votes in the first and second rounds, supported by Shane Djuric of the Shooters,

1 What is fermented to make the alcoholic drink mead?

2 The Napa Valley wine region US state?

3 Which soft drink is produced using smilax plants?

4 Which country is considered the origin of coffee?

5 What alcoholic drink is nicknamed ‘the green fairy’?

6 Which is consumed

more worldwide: tea, coffee or wine?

7 Which two alcoholic ingredients are used in a martini (pictured)?

8 In Italian, what does ‘espresso’ mean?

9 Camellia sinensis is the plant tea is made from. Is it also the plant from which we get tea tree oil?

10 Per capita, which country consumes the most beer?

Edgeword

Place each of the tiles of letters into the blank jigsaw below to create four sixletter words going across and down.

Insert the missing letters to make 10 words – five reading across the grid and five reading down. The leftover letters will spell out a secret message.

There may be more than one possible answer.

Drop Down

Starting with the sevenletter word, drop a letter and form a six-letter word. Continue in this manner until you reach the single letter at the bottom. You can rearrange the letters in each step, if necessary.

There may be more than one possible answer.

Crossmath

Insert each number from 1 to 9 in the shaded squares to solve all the horizontal and vertical equations. Multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

Fill in the blank cells using the numbers from 1 to 9. Each number can only appear once in each row, column and 3x3 block Today’s Focus: 11 words: Good 16 words: Very good 22 words: Excellent

Using the nine letters in the grid, how many words of four letters or more can you list? The centre letter must be included and each letter may only be used once. No colloquial or foreign words. No capitalised nouns, apostrophes or plural words ending in “s”.