Steven Head shares what’s happening across Hornsby Shire.
Update on Major Projects
Galston Village to be transformed into a vibrant place to relax, dine and play.
hidden gem Wallarobba
Discover the history of this beautiful heritage building.
bushcare volunteers
Become a Bushcare volunteer and help to restore and learn about our bushland.
08 10 in the spotlight: DPOP
What is the DPOP? Find out about Council’s priorities.
waterways news
Celebrating twenty years of scientific monitoring.
waste and recycling news
Calling all coffee enthusiasts. Check out the Responsible Cafes in our Shire.
Cover image: Cherry blossoms at Fagan Park by Sam Edmonds
Hornsby Shire Council
Message general manager’s
WELCOME TO ‘OUR COUNCIL’, OUR QUARTERLY PUBLICATION, BRINGING YOU NEWS OF WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS HORNSBY SHIRE.
A warm welcome to the fifth edition of Our Council, where you can gain insight into some of the projects and initiatives being delivered in the Hornsby Shire.
As you may know, we are currently in the interim period between the Local Government Elections and the new term of Council commencing. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Councillors from the previous term of Council for their service and we look forward to inducting our next Council in October.
“ I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK ALL THE COUNCILLORS FROM THE PREVIOUS TERM OF COUNCIL FOR THEIR SERVICE
“
UPDATE ON HOUSING
With housing so regularly in the news, I wanted to provide you with an update on Council’s response to the NSW Government’s Transport Oriented Development (TOD) rezoning for the Hornsby Town Centre.
In August, Councillors endorsed a submission to the NSW Government outlining that while the proposed rezoning is ‘broadly consistent’ with our own adopted Hornsby Town Centre Masterplan, it appears deficient in providing certainty that essential supporting infrastructure will be delivered for future residents, workers and visitors.
The submission outlines key areas of concern, recommending the NSW Government:
Commit State Government funding to deliver improvements such as upgrades to the Hornsby transport interchange, road improvements and open space provision.
Require that increases in height and density only be possible where properties are consolidated to support appropriate good design and provision of public benefits such as pedestrian links, parks, a new library and public parking.
Commit to the delivery of employment opportunities on State Government lands.
Support Council’s strategy to deliver affordable housing by committing to the provision of at least 10% affordable housing on public land.
I look forward to meeting with the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces to emphasise our concerns and am confident that we can have an open and productive conversation with the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to find the best possible outcomes for our community. As ever we will keep you informed as this matter progresses.
Steven Head General Manager, Hornsby Shire Council
Update on
major projects
REVITALISING GALSTON VILLAGE
Galston Village will soon undergo significant enhancements to its main street and surrounding areas when the Galston Village Public Domain Plan comes to life. The plan is set to transform Galston Village into a vibrant place to relax, dine and play, while preserving its unique character and addressing vehicle travel, safety and access.
PRIORITISING SAFETY AND TRAVEL
With growth, and as visitation increases, to the semi-rural and regional attraction, safety is a high priority. Plans include a reduction in the speed limit to 40km/h, the introduction of zebra crossings, plus a median strip and angled parking in front of the shops.
Footpaths will be widened, providing improved accessibility to venues and facilities and networks for walking and cycling, with handy bike facilities to be located near the shops. There will also be a new centrally located, sheltered bus stop and a tourist information point.
ENHANCING CHARACTER
Additional features, which will improve the character and shopping experience, include outdoor seating, informal gathering areas and a toddler playground. There are also plans for tree planting, which will enhance the village’s ambiance and reflect the green environment that Hornsby Shire is known and loved for.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Detailed design development is currently being undertaken, guided by feedback from the community. The draft Plan received 68 online submissions from the community during Council’s five-week exhibition period, with the majority expressing strong support for the proposed enhancements.
We will maintain liaison with commercial landowners in the shopping precinct and key stakeholders into detailed design phases, continue to review existing options for public toilets and pursue approval for roadway works with Transport for New South Wales.
DELIVERING VIBRANT TOWN CENTRES
BEFORE & AFTER VIEW
ARTIST’S IMPRESSION - VILLAGE PARK
The Galston Village Public Domain Plan is specified in Council’s Delivery Program and Operational Plan 2024-2027, which identifies a need for the creation of vibrant town centres in Hornsby Shire. The improvements to Galston Village will support the local economy and encourage visitation to Hornsby Shire.
The project was also identified in Councils’ Long Term Financial Plan and will receive funding to see it through to completion over the next two financial years.
FIND OUT MORE
Construction of the upgrades in Galston Village are due to commence in 2025. For more information, visit: hornsby.nsw.gov.au/majorprojects
Your Say Hornsby is a website dedicated to all the projects that require input from the community. It’s important that you feel involved and educated in the decisions that are made by Council.
To learn more, scan the QR code and sign up to Your Say, or visit yoursay.hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Artist impression
WALLAROBBA HIDDEN GEM
HORNSBY’S HISTORIC ARTS AND CULTURE HUB
Nestled next to Willow Park on Edgeworth David Avenue in Hornsby, the Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre is a beautifully restored heritage building that showcases the area’s rich history. Often regarded as a hidden gem, Wallarobba’s roots trace back to 1903 when it was originally built by Elizabeth Kirby, a widow. The property, named “Wallarobba”, meaning ‘damp gully’, was sold the following year to her son, William Henry Kirby, an undertaker in the city.
In 1911, Wallarobba changed hands to James Stephen Inch, the Managing Director of the Co-operative Assurance Company in Sydney. Inch, along with his wife Jessie Emily (née Prosser), transformed the estate into a family home for their five daughters and three sons. Tragically, one of their sons, Alfred, was killed in the First World War. Despite the family’s loss, the Inch residence became a community hub, frequently hosting charitable events. Empire Day was a particularly festive occasion, celebrated with a large bonfire in the paddocks behind the house, drawing children from the neighbourhood. The property boasted a creek where children enjoyed swimming and canoeing, and rustic tables and chairs adorned the garden, surrounded by willow trees.
In 1914, the property was subdivided, and 12 building blocks along Florence Street were auctioned off. In 1925, Alfred Parker acquired Wallarobba and renamed it Willow Park. Parker, who served as a Councillor of Hornsby Shire from 1926 to 1930 and as Lord Mayor of Sydney in 1934, was knighted shortly before his death in 1935. His widow, Lady Parker, remained in the house until 1937.
WALLAROBBA ARTS AND CULTURAL CENTRE IS A BEAUTIFULLY RESTORED HERITAGE BUILDING THAT SHOWCASES
THE AREA’S RICH HISTORY. “
After many years of different uses, Wallarobba was officially reopened as the Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre in October 2011, following a comprehensive two-year renovation and restoration project. Today, the centre is heritage listed and serves as a vibrant community hub, hosting art exhibitions, cultural events, and workshops. Visitors can explore the history of the building while enjoying its contemporary role as an art gallery and cultural centre, blending the past and present in a unique setting.
For more information, visit hornsby.nsw.gov.au/wallarobba
As the Bushland Shire, we are fortunate to be surrounded by beautiful bushland and stunning nature. You may not know, however, that behind the scenes a dedicated band of Bushcare volunteers work to help create a thriving native bushland for current and future generations.
Bushcare volunteers contribute to the restoration of degraded bushland areas into healthy natural ecosystems by helping control weeds, planting local native species, and improving the habitat of the bushland’s inhabitants like threatened powerful owls and glossy black-cockatoos.
Volunteering is a fantastic way to help restore and learn about our critically endangered forests and other bushland while getting out in nature and connecting with like-minded people in your community.
There are 400 registered volunteers working at 65 different sites across Hornsby Shire, stretching from North Epping in the south to Glenorie in the north and Dangar Island in the east.
Marie Kobler, featured in our recent #SayHighForest videos, has been volunteering at her local Bushcare site for about 20 years.
“My mother was always passionate about natural bushland and instilled a love of the natural environment in me, so it was almost inevitable that I followed in her footsteps and joined my local Bushcare group,” said Marie.
“It is rewarding and satisfying to work on a site and see native plants flourishing where weeds once dominated.”
Marie Kobler
Bushcare volunteers
Hornsby Shire Council
Becoming a Bushcare volunteer is simple, and anyone can join. Volunteers are all ages, come from all walks of life and no prior knowledge is required – Council provides all training. Groups usually meet around once a month, either on weekdays or weekends, and for around three hours. Each group is guided by one of our specialist Bushcare Trainers.
BUSHCARE IS SELF CARE
Did you know becoming a Bushcare volunteer is likely to increase your happiness levels? Not only are Bushcare groups welcoming and social, but contact with soil and a specific soil bacteria, Mycobacterium vaccae, triggers the release of serotonin in our brain according to research. Serotonin is a happy chemical, a natural anti-depressant and strengthens the immune system!
To find our more about volunteering visit: hornsby.nsw.gov.au/bushcare
Become a bushcare volunteer
delivery program in the spotlight:
WHAT IS THE DPOP?
Like many organisations, acronyms are frequently used to abbreviate projects, and Council is no exception! We refer to our ‘Delivery Program 2024-2027 and Operational Plan 2024/25’ as the DPOP. But what it is?
The DPOP is where Council outlines what it intends to do over the next few years and highlights what its priorities will be. The document also contains Council’s budget and other financial details. It’s basically the blueprint for achieving what you, the community, have asked us to achieve for the coming 12 months.
The priorities you have told us include responding to population growth, addressing housing affordability and the cost of living, responding to economic and technological change, taking action on climate change, and enhancing the social diversity and resilience within our community.
The DPOP sets out in detail the many steps Council will take to make Hornsby Shire a more resilient place, especially in relation to bushfires and extreme weather events, working toward environmental sustainability, and maintaining our beautiful natural environment even as we provide for essential development.
As we prepare for the Hornsby Shire of the future, it is essential that our infrastructure is of a standard that our growing population expects and deserves. Therefore, this year we will spend just over $69.6 million on capital projects, largely funded from external grants, development contributions as well as the Special Rate Variation funds which allow us to fund priority projects.
Hornsby Town Centre
Hornsby Shire Council
WHERE THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT IN 2024/25
$8.2M Parks and playgrounds $5.6M Footpaths and shared paths $1.7M Cultural facilities
$2.3M Sporting facilities $8.5M Local roads and traffic facilities $6.9M Public domain
$25.1M
Open space recreation (including Hornsby Park and Westleigh Park) $.5M Foreshores $3M Buildings and structures
$1.2M Waterways $1.5M Drainage
$2.1M Fleet replacement $3M Corporate items
FIND OUT MORE
To read through the DPOP, scan the QR code or visit: hornsby.nsw.gov.au/publications
estuary Hawkesbury River
CELEBRATING TWENTY YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC MONITORING
This year, we are proudly celebrating twenty years of scientific monitoring of the Hawkesbury River estuary. This work has not only improved the knowledge of the river’s health but also provided invaluable insights for recreational and commercial users who rely on its waters.
In collaboration with the NSW Government’s Manly Hydraulics Laboratory (MHL), the last two decades have seen the collection of data through a network of seven monitoring stations, which provide near real-time observations of salinity, turbidity, water temperature and algal indicators which have become crucial for making decisions about overall estuary health and swimming and aquaculture safety including the estuary’s prized oyster farms.
“We now have a very high-resolution data set, which gives us an unprecedented understanding of local conditions and the confidence to make informed decisions about the river,” said Catchments Coordinator Dr Ana Rubio.
“MHL’s support in developing and deploying real-time monitoring technology has revolutionised our estuary management. The collaboration has set a new benchmark for state and national monitoring”.
A key achievement of the program is the long real-time dataset of chlorophyll-a levels in the waterway — a particularly important insight for determining safe use of the Shire’s popular fishing and kayaking spots at Brooklyn, Berowra Waters and Crosslands Reserve.
Hawkesbury River Bridge
NOT ONLY IMPROVED THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE RIVER’S HEALTH BUT ALSO PROVIDED INVALUABLE INSIGHTS FOR RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL USERS
“ “
Looking to the future of the program, our Environment Team are investigating the use of Artificial Intelligence trained on the dataset that could unlock unprecedented ability for prediction of river fluctuations.
FIND OUT MORE
For more information on the Hawkesbury River, the Council’s estuary management, and the Hawkesbury River System Coastal Management Program, visit: hornsby.nsw.gov.au/waterways
Oyster farms
Catchments Coordinator Dr Ana Rubio.
RECYCLING NEWS Waste and
RESPONSIBLE CAFES CALLING ALL COFFEE ENTHUSIASTS
Here’s some good news to ponder over your next cuppa or cold brew.
Council has partnered with Responsible Cafes to support waste-wise and sustainable local cafes. Responsible Cafes is an accreditation system for cafes that actively try to reduce their waste. This includes providing incentives for customers who bring reusable cups, recycling food waste or reducing single-use plastics.
Their mission is to provide the hospitality industry with tools and a platform to reduce their waste and ecological footprint.
This community driven organisation has been working with businesses for over ten years and was featured on the ABC’s War on Waste program. They now have over 4,000 participating cafes who collectively save an average of 140,000 disposable cups from landfill each day.
Coffee drinkers and cafe owners can find out more about what’s happening locally on the Responsible Cafes website - responsiblecafes.org
Simply enter your suburb on the interactive map to view participating cafes, their waste reduction efforts, and any incentives on offer. Once you’re ready to visit the cafe, bring your reusable cup if you’re on the go.
Cafe owners can register with Responsible Cafes –it’s free and simple! Once registered, your cafe will be listed on the interactive map, and you’ll have access to a range of support and resources.
FIND OUT MORE
For more information, scan the QR code or visit: hornsby.nsw.gov.au/ responsiblecafes
RECYCLING CHAMPIONS: HORNSBY SHIRE
WINS BIG AT MOBILEMUSTER
Hornsby Shire has won MobileMuster’s Top Collector Award for the seventh consecutive year at state and national levels.
The awards recognise local councils for collecting mobile phone components for recycling.
Here are the stats:
688 kg of unwanted mobile phones, chargers, and accessories collected.
Equivalent to 6,250 mobile phones.
Conserved approximately 2.9 tonnes of mineral resources.
Avoided 2 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Waste Management Supervisor Nathan Chen
Council recognises the Traditional Owners of the lands of Hornsby Shire, the Dharug and GuriNgai peoples, and pays respect to their Ancestors and Elders past and present and to their Heritage.
We acknowledge and uphold their intrinsic connections and continuing relationships to Country.
GET IN TOUCH
‘Our Council’ is a Hornsby Shire Council publication. Send us your feedback or suggestions for stories to: media@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Subscribe to our free monthly eNews: hornsby.nsw.gov.au/enews
CONTACT DETAILS
Hornsby Shire Council
PO Box 37, Hornsby NSW 1630
Phone: 9847 6666
Fax: (02) 9847 6999
Email: hsc@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Customer service (telephone and online) hours: 8.30am–5pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) In person: Customer Enquiries counter is located inside Hornsby Library, 28-44 George Street, Hornsby hornsby.nsw.gov.au
This publication is printed on Supreme Uncoated Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) certified paper using vegetable oil based inks and an alcohol-free ISO 14001 certified printing process.
