Back to school

With school now back for the 2023 year, our local roads are once again busy at drop-off and pick-up times around primary and secondary campuses.

This affects the peninsula in particular, as well as other locations such as Mary Street and Earl Street.

Our Council works closely with school principals, through our road safety program and our School Principals Committee, to promote education for road users and pedestrians.

We have been receiving ongoing feedback from our local schools, and will continue to consult with the broader community to help ensure the safety of our students.

At times, you may see Council staff out and about around schools; please be mindful that education and enforcement play a vital role in helping keep children safe, especially early in the yearly school term.

Initiatives to help keep children safe around roads will also feature in the upcoming NSW Government ‘Be Bus Aware’ campaign for Bus Safety Week (20 to 26 February), which aims to raise awareness about how to keep kids safe on and around buses.

The campaign also reminds the community that when lights are flashing on buses, they may be picking up and dropping off children.

Free kids’ story sessions

Baby Bounce has returned to library and community space The YARN, on Fridays at 11am, now that the school term has resumed.

The free sessions are designed to engage youngsters aged 0 to 3 years in stories, songs and rhymes.

Parents and carers are welcome to drop in with their little ones on the day - bookings are not required.

The YARN also hosts free Story Time sessions, aimed at preschool-aged children, every Wednesday from 11am.

The YARN is open to the public from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. So, bring a friend and come and enjoy some quiet reading time or use the workspaces and free Wi-Fi.

Cooling playgrounds

We have some incredible outdoor spaces and playgrounds in Hunters Hill and recent works have added some new shade structures in time to deal with the summer heat.

Shade sails were replaced at Weil Park in Woolwich, while preparatory works are well under way to install a new shade sail at Harding Memorial Playground in Gladesville.

The shade is being added in response to public feedback expressed during previous community consultation and is part of our ongoing upgrades to local playspaces.

Clr Zac Miles is Mayor of Hunter’s Hill