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SUPER DOG PAWS IN THE PARK GOES SUPER THE www.thehills.nsw.gov.au #SydneyHills INSIDE 2 New projects 4 Meet the Youth Ambassadors 7 River Road closed 8 History buffs – Inn discovered! WINTER 2014 FOCUS News & Information | The Hills Shire Council

THE SUPERDOG · 7 River Road closed 8 History buffs – Inn discovered! winter 2014 ... & rOunDABO uTS liBrary SErViCE FOOtpaths & CyClEwAyS $3.5 milliOn $0.8 milliOn $11.6 milliOn

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SUPERDOG

Paw s i n t h e Pa r k g o e s S U P E R

THE

Cover Photo - Winter.indd 1 5/05/2014 12:02:52 PM

www.thehills.nsw.gov.au #SydneyHills

INSIDE

2New projects

4Meet the Youth Ambassadors

7 River Road closed

8History buffs – Inn discovered!

winter 2014

F O C U SNews & Information | The Hills Shire Council

SA

VE

TH

E D

AT

E

Castle Grandturns the big one-zero

It’s t ime to paint the town orange

Show off your talents in front of the mic

Enter the Open Mic competit ion and show off your talents, whether it ’s s inging, poetry, monologues, magical tr icks or comedy.

Celebrate Castle Grand’s 10th with activit ies for the kids, author talks, Hi l ls history, Mind Body & Soul Festival and Community Centre open day.

Get the juice on Orange BlOssOm Festival 2014. Enjoy a fest ival of art, culture, food, fun, fairs and f ireworks.

FrOm 29 may | castle tOwers

septemBer | castle grand

12—14 septemBer 2014

wHAT prOjECTS ArE in the hills shire plan?As a new financial year approaches, Council has released its budget blueprint that shows Sydney Hills residents where their money is being spent to improve the Shire during 2014/2015.

There are many highlights in the 2014/2015 budget including:• Infrastructure backlog slashed from $52 million reported in 2011 to $15.5 million in June 2015• 17% increase in capital expenditure on projects like roads, footpaths, parks and facilities• Quarter of the entire budget spent on parks, roads, footpaths and infrastructure • Council maintaining its debt-free status, sound

finances, positive financial outlook and strong asset management.

Council’s strong focus on promoting a fit and healthy lifestyle will see significant investment into new sporting fields and footpaths. Special focus will also be placed on community services such as libraries.

Key prOJects:UPGRADING POOLE ROAD AND SAMANTHA RILEY DRIVE Poole Road and Samantha Riley Drive Kellyville will see a major redevelopment take place. Samantha Riley Drive will be widened to four lanes, from Windsor Road to Glenhaven Road.

CADDIES CREEK PLAYING FIELDSThe first development stage of the Caddies Creek Sports Complex will begin in 2014/2015.

ARNOLD AVENUE SPORTS COMPLEXThis project will see one multi-purpose sporting field, lighting for training, informal ball playing area, public amenities, change room, kiosk, storage and meeting room, car parking for 110 Cars, a playground and youth space, a shared pedestrian and cycling trail that links around the reserve, barbecues and picnic area and more.

BAULKHAM HILLS TOWN CENTREThis project will see the upgrading of the streetscape, furniture and footpaths within the Town Centre.

GLENHAVEN ROAD & OLD NORTHERN ROAD INTERSECTIONCouncil has finalised planning and funding in order to begin construction of traffic signals at the Glenhaven Road and Old Northern Road intersection. COMMUNITY EVENTSSignificant funding has been set aside for community and signature events such as the Orange Blossom Festival, Sydney Hills Country Music Festival, the Pop-Up Markets, The Hills Lunar Festival and more.

r

Oad upGrADES

parK & playgrOund upGrADES

Fields & parKs iMprOVEMEnTS

street liGHTinG

Bridge wOrkS

lights & rOunDABOuTS

liBrary SErViCE

FOOtpaths & CyClEwAyS

$3.5milliOn

$0.8milliOn

$11.6milliOn

$6.6milliOn

$1.1milliOn

$10.3milliOn

$2.3milliOn

milliOn$25.8

To view the 2014/2015 Hills Shire Plan visit Council’s website www.thehils.nsw.gov.au or phone 9843 0555.

For more information visit www.thehil ls.nsw.gov.au or cal l 9843 0555Hills Focus 3

SUPERDOG MEETS SUPERHEROES

ClivE ROUGhlEy &all tHat ‘Jazz’

Cassidy-Rae Wilson, 18, and Matthew Campbell, 17, have been announced as the 2014/2015 Hills Youth Ambassadors.

Both Cassidy-Rae and Matthew were chosen for their passionate devotion to volunteer work, community life and representing the Sydney Hills. Hills Shire Mayor Dr Michelle Byrne

presented the recipients with their awards, stating both Cassidy-Rae and Matthew are model members of the community and are very deserving of the prestigious accolade.

The new Youth Ambassadors will work with Council to represent the views and needs of young people in The Sydney Hills.

DatE: Sunday 31st AugusttIME: Pawsitive Steps Walk

9am – 10am Paws in the Park

10am – 2:30pmVENUE: Castle Hill Showground

Dog Arena Calling all superdogs and superheroes - the 11th Annual Paws in the Park and Pawsitive Steps Walk has gone SUPER! Be a superhero by joining in ‘Pawsitive

Steps’ - a walk to raise awareness for Mental Health. Your gold coin donation will help local mental health agencies. Dress up as your favourite hero or villain and enjoy the many local service displays and action packed activities like:• superhero face painting• crusaders cape making• heroes and villains craft activities• ‘Masters of disguise’ dress up

competition• superdog’s dog-e-dash

‘Marvel’ at the superpowers of doggies on display:• Agility Dog Association• Flyball• Treibball• Police Dogs• Assistant Dogs

Paws in the Park promotes responsible pet ownership and is a great opportunity for owners and their dogs to socialise in a fun, friendly environment.

Did you know that one of Clive Roughley’s favourite pastimes was listening to jazz? The Pines at Dural, once home to generations of the Roughley family, regularly comes to life with the vibrant sounds of jazz performed live on the front lawn, featuring some of Sydney’s leading jazz bands. Whether you choose to reserve one of the pre-booked tables or just spread your own picnic blanket on the grass under the shade of the towering pine trees, you would be hard pressed to find a more relaxing way to spend a Sunday.

Previously managed by a dedicated group of volunteers, the torch has been recently passed to the Hills Kellyville Rotary Club to carry on this event. While you’re there, step back in time and join one of the House Tours conducted by volunteers who bring the house and its contents to life. Places are limited - for enquiries and group bookings, call 9651 4411. For more information about Jazz at The Pines and other great events in the Sydney Hills, visit www.hhart.com.au and click on the ‘Events’ button.

Warm up this winter with our delicious new winter menu

• Do you want enticing, flavoursome and affordable meals delivered to your door by caring volunteers?

• Are you sick of cooking or thinking of what to cook?

• Are you over the age of 65 and residing in The Hills Shire?

• Be aMazED and SURPRISED by the vast variety of Winter meals now available.

Call us now on 9761 7600 for a FREE trial.

F o r community contribution

Sydney hillS buSineSS awardS for community contribution

Do you know a local business that has made a significant contribution to the community? Do they deserve recognition?

nominate today via online form on council’s website,www.thehills.nsw.gov.au

s y D n e y h i l l s b u s i n e s s A w A r D s 2 0 1 4

hillS COMMUniTy CaRE FOOD SERVICES

Paws in The Park with Pawsitive Steps towards Mental health

MEET yOUR nEw yOUTh

aMbaSSaDORS

Hills Focusthe Hills Shire Council 54

T h E CalENDaR

WalkS

ENVIRONMENt

bUSINESS

OUR bUSHlaND – tHE GOOD aND tHE baD 10-11AM | 12 JUNE

Discover our unique local threatened species and their habitats and identify various threats to the bushland.

ORGaNIC GaRDENING – PRESERVING yOUR FOOD 9.30-11.30AM | 14 JUNE

Learn different methods to preserve and pickle some of the excess food that comes from your garden or is leftover in your fridge.

OUR bUSHlaND – CONSERVatION MaNaGEMENt 10-11AM | 19 JUNE

Explore how you can help protect your local bushland.

Examine the various ways the threats to our bushland are managed.

OUR bUSHlaND – IN tHE FIElD 10-11AM | 26 JUNE

Visit the site of a recent local success in terms of bushland restoration and gain some advice on how it was achieved.

bookings made easy…Did you know that Council offers free workshops and seminars on a range of waste and recycling topics? Most recently residents have enjoyed workshops on composting and worm farming, recycled art and up-cycling, community farming and bread, pasta and cheese making. Due to the increasing demand for these

workshops, an online booking system is now in place. Visit www.thehillswasteservices.eventbrite.com.au for full event details and to book in. Booking online means you can book in for workshops and seminars whenever you want - you can even book in on the go using your smart phone or tablet. Remember, workshops book out quickly and spaces are limited. Save the page to your favourites and check it regularly to make sure you don’t miss out on any exciting new events. If a workshop is full, just add your name to the waiting list and we will let you know when the next one is available.

MURRI yaNNa Walk RIFlE RaNGE RD NORtHMEaD tO SPEERS RD RESERVE NORtH ROCkS 2-4.30PM | SAT 7 JUNE

Learn local history as we follow this beautiful walk along Darling Mills Creek.

We will see the remnants of the Rifle Range, a significant Aboriginal habitation shelter, the foundations of an early settler’s house, one of The North Rocks quarries and walk on a convict built road. Note this is a one way walk. A car shuffle will be arranged.

PORtER’S ROaD FIRE tRaIl tO O’HaRa’S CREEk 2-4PM | SUN 22 JUNE

Enjoy district views from the trail along the sandstone ridge before we descend to the wet sclerophyll forest growing on the valley floor. These stately trees were once logged by timber getters who lived in the valley. On this walk we will see local wildflowers and a tranquil lagoon. Note this walk includes a steep descent and ascent.

bOOkINGS Boronia tours phone: 9634 3163, mobile: 0407 456 577, email: jennifer@boronia tours.com

Numbers are limited so bookings are essential for all walks.

SMaRt DIGItal - WEb DESIGN: bUSINESS baSICS. 12 JUNE

SMaRt StaRt 10 JULY

Get known, get informed and get connected.

SMaRt DIGItal - lINkEDIN FOR bUSINESS: HOW tO aDD ValUE aND NEtWORk lIkE a PRO.10 JULY

SMaRt MaRkEtING - 3 MONtHS INtERaCtIVE MaRkEtING aCtION PlaN 8 AUG

How to create effective marketing strategies without the stress of spending significant monies to ‘test’ what does work.

SMaRt DIGItal - RE-ENERGISE yOUR SOCIal MEDIa CONtENt 14 AUG

SMaRt StaRt - aUGUSt 14 AUG

Get known, get informed and get connected.

Book Business workshops online at www.thehills.nsw.gov.au – click on the ‘Business’ tab or phone 9762 1108

River Road, Wisemans Ferry will be temporarily closed between 2580 River Road and 2720 River Road (Carinyah Ski Park) from Monday 19 May 2014 up to and inclusive of Monday 30 June 2014 so stabilisation works can be conducted on the river embankment.

During working hours (Monday to Saturday 7am to 5pm) alternative detour routes will be in place – a map is available on the Road Closure web page on Council’s website – www.thehills.nsw.gov.au

Afterhours and Sundays, a single access lane controlled by temporary signalled traffic lights will be provided at reduced speed limit of 40km/h.

Motorists are to exercise extreme caution to account for the changing traffic conditions at all times.

If you have any questions in regards to the above please contact Martin Lacher – Hills Council Project Engineer on (02) 9843 0349.

ROAD CLOSURE RIVER ROAD, WISEMANS FERRY

Road Closure.indd 1 29/04/2014 11:38:08 AM

Hazard reduction burning aids in reducing the intensity of bush fires and assists fire fighters to control fire burning up to assets.

For hazard reduction burns to be successful they need the right wind and temperature conditions and the vegetation to be sufficiently dry, giving fire fighters only a small window of opportunity during the year to burn.

Unfortunately with the amount of rainfall occurring lately in The Hills, conditions have not been conducive to burning.

Therefore it is vital that residents living in bush fire prone areas manage their own properties to provide protection to homes and assets.

Over the upcoming Winter and Spring months residents should:• Keep lawns short and

prune and maintain garden beds.

• Cut back overhanging tree branches and dispose of cuttings appropriately.

• Check the condition of your roof and replace damaged roofing material to prevent ember entry.

• Clean leaves from the roof, gutters and downpipes and consider fitting metal leaf guards.

• Check the condition of external walls and cladding and seal gaps to prevent ember entry.

• Enclose underfloor areas to prevent ember entry.

• Remove and store flammable items away from the home.

For more information visit the Rural Fire Service website at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au, or contact The Hills District Rural Fire Service on 9654 1244.

hazard reduction burning aids in reducing the intensity of bush fires and assists fire fighters to control fire burning up to assets.

PREPaRinG fORtHE bUSH FIRE SEaSON

The Hills Shire Council Hills Focus6 7

FOUNDThe hidden r e m a i n s

in the mid-1800s Kellyville was an isolated but welcome rest stop on a long journey to Windsor or the hawkesbury. Stone establishments, The Royal Oak inn and The White hart inn offered journeyman a refuge from the real threat of bushrangers and the promise of a meal and stabling for the horses before setting off once again into the surrounding bushland.

But only one of these impressive buildings survived to modern times, the Royal Oak inn, (you might know it by its new name - The Mean Fiddler), the other disappeared beneath the soil, it’s exact location a mystery until its foundations were recently discovered at the intersection of Old Windsor and Windsor roads by teams preparing for the construction of the north West Rail link.

no-one knows why one survived and not the other but archaeologists are hoping to answer this question and many more as they assess artefacts recovered from the site, each revealing aspects of the everyday life of visitors to the inn.

Finds include coins that are almost 200 years old, a dolls leg, a rusty key that could well have been for the main doors and a toothpaste pot with Queen Victoria’s image on the top.

There is still much more to be learnt from the site with a cellar and brick well yet to be excavated. To protect the archaeology one of the rail link sky train pylons will now be repositioned ensuring the site continues to be unearthed for years to come.

Learn more about the hidden ‘hart’ of Kellyville at nwrail.transport.nsw.gov.au

MiSSing Since THE LATE 1800S

white hart iNNOF

Centre Spread - Hidden Remains.indd 2-3 29/04/2014 11:40:54 AM

the Hills Shire Council Hills Focus8 9

SMaRT PhOnE?SMaRt VENUEAre you looking for a venue to hire? A new ‘Find a Venue’ section has now been added to the smartphone version of Council’s website, making it even easier to plan for that special occasion. You can easily and conveniently review Community Halls and rooms for hire in several ways; either by choosing the main features you are looking for (a playground to amuse the kids, or a room best suited for weddings or parties), by how many people the venue seats, or by searching for locations in specific suburbs. Each venue features everything you need to know to make your

decision including photo galleries, features, virtual tours, maps, hire charges, availability and booking information. While you’re there you can also find park information, report an issue, look up your bin collection day, check if your sportsground is open, read council news tweets or book a Kerbside Clean-Up. And, because it’s a mobile site and not an app there is no need to download or install anything. Just search for the Hills Shire Council on your phone and you will auto-matically connect to the mobile site (and you can still click through to the main Council website).

“Then we should be able to do our work in less time and that means more can be done in the long term for our local environment.”

naTiOnal tREE Day

Concerned about something in your community?

Have you seen something that needs fixing?

Is there an issue we need to know about?

LET US KNOW TODAY• ReportitviaE-Request:Visitwww.thehills.nsw.gov.au andclickon“CustomerE-Requests”inthegreen columnontheleft.• Gotasmartphone?UseCouncil’smobilesite andselect“Reportanissue”.• OrphoneourCustomerServiceCentre on98430555.

Join in tree planting activities this National Tree Day. The fire brigade will be on hand to water in all plants and The Lions Club will be hosting a BBQ.

Sunday 27th July, 9am to 12pm Two locations: Fred Caterson Reserve, Castle Hill and MacKillop Drive Reserve, Baulkham Hills Please wear long trousers, long-sleeved shirt, hat and closed in shoes. For more information about National Tree Day visit http://treeday. planetark.org

Bidjiwong Community Nursery in Baulkham Hills is undergoing a facelift by Council officers to streamline the important work at the facility, the propagation and growth of native plants and grasses for our parks and reserves. Employees of the Hills Shire Council are trained in the use of continuous improvement tools designed to improve productivity. One of these tools, known as ‘5S’, is being implemented at Bidjiwong Community Nursery and according to Council’s Business Improvement Coordinator, Steve Dobis, the introduction of the 5S process is empowering staff to take better control of their work areas. “5S is about reducing time spent on activities that don’t add value to our customers. We do this by

removing non-essential items in our work environment and then cleaning and setting things in order so that it’s not only obvious where tools and product belong but it becomes obvious when those things are missing or are due for replacement,” he said. Mr Dobis said that by setting up the nursery in this way any employee or volunteer working at the site will be more comfortable, safer and more productive. “When the nursery has been through the 5S treatment we will have created a more standardised layout that helps to reduce preparation times. In the end it will help to save both time and money while providing our employees and volunteers a more satisfying working environment”. Bushland Maintenance

Coordinator Lisa Willock said everyone was on-hand at the nursery recently to begin step one in the 5S process. “Over the years the nursery was starting to get cluttered with things that were broken or not being used anymore, such as old filing cabinets. We needed to sort through and remove quite a few items, five skips worth in the end,” she said. “Already it has made a real difference to the way the place looks and feels and we are looking forward to the next step - to rearrange the site so we get the best out of the location without having to move things around the site as much. “Then we should be able to do our work in less time and that means more can be done in the long term for our local environment”.

BUShCaREaCtIVItIESIf you live near one of the bushland reserves in The Hills Shire, no doubt you are blessed with an array of native birdlife, and quite possibly native frogs, lizards, insects and small mammals. The Shire is home to over 300 animal and 1,000 plant species, which makes this an area of great biodiversity.

The backbone of this biodiversi-ty is the large swathe of native bushland, stretching from North Rocks to Castle Hill, and most of the areas north of Dural, culminating at Wisemans Ferry. In some special places you might be lucky enough to see the endangered “Hills Hibertia” (Hibertia Superans), the vulnerable Powerful Owl, or families of microbats, Sugar Gliders, Bandicoots, Echidnas or even Swamp Wallabies.

With the pressures of growth, the plant and animals which call the Hills home need our help. The community has already started to take up the challenge through Council’s bushcare program, where locals adopt a patch of bushland to restore the biodiversity. This has reaped rewards, with sightings of native birds and animals increasing every year.

If you would like to join your local bushcare group, visit www.thehills.nsw.gov.au, click on the Environment tab and select ‘Bushcare’. A message from The Hills Shire Council Bushland Conservation Committee.

COMMUniTyNURSERy SHINES

The Hills Shire Council Hills Focus10 11

HIllS FINaNCIal StRENGtH PayS DIVIDENDS

Council’s recent exhibition of its second year of The Hills Shire Plan not only highlights the ongoing viability and sustainability of our Local Government Area, but also demonstrates how a strong, measured and disciplined approach to financial manage-ment can seriously deliver for our residents through new and renewed infrastructure.

Now into our twelfth straight year of debt free management and having been identified by NSW Treasury Corp as being in a sound financial state, the proposed budget for the 2014-15 financial year will deliver a record $59.1 million in capital works expenditure. This investment in our community further reduces Council’s infrastructure backlog as we continue to catch up on rolling out the facilities that are most important to our community.

East Ward continues to be the major beneficiary of Council’s infrastructure investment.

In addition to the rolling forward of a number of footpath projects in April across Carlingford and North Rocks, the year ahead highlights upgrades to amenities buildings at Don Moore Reserve, George Thornton Reserve, Harold West Reserve, Murray Farm Reserve, North Rocks Park and Northmead Reserve, the commencement of design and construction work of stormwater network upgrades and channel rehabilitation works at Carmen Drive and Northmead Reserve, road rehabilitation and resurfacing on Barclay Road (North Rocks), Anderson Road (Northmead), Woodstock Road (Carlingford) and Ellerslie Drive (West Pennant Hills) and the replacement of playgrounds at George Thornton and Northmead Reserves, amongst many other local projects.

ENGaGING PaRRaMatta tO CHaNGE tRaCk ON lIGHt RaIl

If a future light rail link for Parramatta is to be evaluated in the next term of the State Government, it is my view that an Epping to Parramatta link via Carlingford needs revisiting. Our community in Carlingford will remember the failure of the former NSW Labor Government to deliver the missing section of the Parramatta to Chatswood Rail Link when in office and I am therefore keen to ensure that we do not miss out a second time around.

I have held a number of discussions with Parramatta Councillors about the revisiting of the Western Sydney Light Rail proposal and I look forward to working with Parramatta’s next Lord Mayor to see the current plan amended.

PlayGROUNDS, PEOPlE aND PIllS

Entertaining our granddaughter has drawn me to the many parks and playgrounds across the Shire and I am impressed with the standard of play equipment and the general condition of playgrounds. I do however understand why we get calls from residents for fenced areas - little kids move very quickly!

Looking after a grandchild also prompted me to think about the coming winter and its attendant cold and flu viruses. In slowing their spread through the community we are advised by health authorities to always sneeze or cough into a tissue or handkerchief, wash our hands frequently throughout the day and try to avoid shaking hands when we are infected.

This year’s Hills Relay for Life was another example of the outstanding community spirit alive in our Shire. A senior member of the Cancer Council told me that we are unique in our Relay both in fundraising and, most significantly, in the way we get such a huge community participation. At The Centenary of Anzac Reserve on the first weekend in May we had thousands of people come together in a celebration of life, a remembrance of those we have lost and a reaffirmation of our will to maintain the relentless efforts at unlocking cures for cancer.

Over the same weekend I supported our son-in-law as he participated in a 24 hour swim relay at the Olympic Aquatic Centre. The event, held to raise funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, was another example of the way communities come together across Australia to raise funds and awareness of the serious illnesses which unexpectedly afflict so many of us.

EaSTCLR ALAN HASELDEN

EaST

CLR RYAN TRACEY

0427 928 [email protected]

0419 495 [email protected]

0419 429 [email protected]

HIllS SHIRE PlaN

Council’s draft $180 million Hills Shire Plan is on exhibition now and we want to hear from you. I’m particularly proud of this budget. Not only do we maintain our debt-free status, but we are increasing our capital expenditure and investing in roads, footpaths, parks and reserves. Our infrastructure backlog continues to be slashed from the $52 million reported in 2011 to $15.5 million in June 2015. The NSW Treasury Corp analysis of Councils throughout NSW found that The Hills Shire Council was one of only three local government areas to have sound finances, strong asset management and a positive financial outlook. I’m proud of the fact that we have a very balanced approach to the way we manage the Hills Shire. We invest in community assets but we live within our means. We will continue to be financially prudent and always act in the best interests of residents and ratepayers of the Sydney Hills. Visit www.thehills.nsw.gov.au for more details. SyDNEy COUNtRy MUSIC FEStIVal

Bella Vista Farm Park, one of my favourite venues in NSW, is set to host the Sydney Country Music Festival again on Saturday November 8. McAlister Kemp and The McClymonts are set to headline the event which is becoming increasingly popular and has found a fantastic home here in the Sydney Hills. The Sydney Country Music Festival is one of our signature events which attracts visitors from outside the Shire and the Sydney Metropolitan Area. Signature events that attract overnight visitors provide a huge boost to the local economy. The festival also unlocks Bella Vista Farm Park to residents and visitors. More than $1 million has been spent on restoring Bella Vista Farm Park over the last decade and it’s fantastic to see it being enjoyed by the community. Visit www.sydneycountrymusicfestival.com.au to stay up to date with details as they are announced, or https://www.facebook.com/sydneycountrymusicfestival

EaSTDEPUTY MAYOR CLR ANDREW JEFFERIES

wEST

CLR DR MICHELLE BYRNE MAYOR0448 268 140 [email protected]

The Hills Shire is divided into four wards - North, Central, East and West, and each Ward is represented by three Councillors.

You can contact your local Councillor direct to discuss any issues you may have about your Ward.

Information about ward boundaries, Councillors, council meetings and latest news can be found on Council’s website www.thehills.nsw.gov.au – click on the ‘About Council’ tab at the top of the home page.

wEST

CLR MIKE THOMAS

0423 798 [email protected]

wESTCLR RAYMOND HARTY OAM

0412 265 [email protected]

The Hills Shire is divided into four wards - North, Central, East and West, and each Ward is represented by three Councillors.

You can contact your local Councillor direct to discuss any issues you may have about your Ward.

Information about ward boundaries, Councillors, council meetings and latest news can be found on Council’s website www.thehills.nsw.gov.au – click on the ‘About Council’ tab at the top of the home page.

It was my honour to attend the Hills Youth Awards, acknowledging the contributions that the youth make to our community. Congratulations to all of the finalists and youth ambassadors for 2014. Anzac Sunday & Anzac Day in the Hills was well attended at The Centenary of Anzac Reserve in Wrights Rd Caste Hill - and well organised by Castle Hill RSL & Castle Hill RSL Sub Branch. Great to see all of our local schools and community groups taking part in this event. Congratulations to Kenthurst Rotary and Annangrove Progress Association for their Anzac ceremonies which I also attended.

I had the pleasure of meeting Greg Peters from The Hills Shire Music School who was announced winner of the commercial category at the Local Business Awards. It was encouraging to see so many passionate business owners thriving in The Hills. Well done to all of the nominees and winners!

Did you know The Hills Shire Council’s economic development team can provide local businesses with a suite of tools to better understand their communities and the economy? Throughout the year, Council is holding regular ‘Get Smart’ business workshops and details can be viewed on our website.

It was great to see the community come together for The Hills Relay for Life - honouring those we have lost to cancer, embracing those who are fighting cancer and raising money for a cure. This is a very worthy cause which grows each year and The Hills Shire Council is a major sponsor of this event. Roads are important infrastructure for our community and I hope to gain more insights about this when I attend the Australian Road Summit in Sydney. I look forward to networking with government and industry and will advocate for ways we can reduce the burden of tolls particularly for those in The Hills.

The Hills Shire Council’s popular business workshops have expanded in 2014. The Get Smart Series workshops now include; Smart Start, Smart Home, Smart Digital, Smart Marketing and Smart Enviro. Each workshop is tailored to the needs of new and existing businesses to better understand their target markets.

Interested in attending?Go to www.thehills.nsw.gov.au, click on the ‘Business and Industry’ tab and select Business Workshops from the drop-down menu.

An InITIATIvE of

the hIlls shIre councIl

www.thehills.nsw.gov.au

Free Business Workshops

Get smart.

The Hills Shire Council Hills Focus12 13

bREakING NEWS PItt tOWN ROaD bRIDGES OPENTwo old timber bridges on Pitt Town Road have been replaced with new concrete bridges.

The new higher, wider bridges will be less prone to flooding, and high strength concrete and steel tendons have replaced the timber, making the bridges far more structurally secure.

The area around the new bridges have been rehabilitated with around 6,000 na-tive plants planted at both bridge sites and the creek lined with rocks to stop erosion, protect the bridges and provide a habitat for native species.

The last remaining timber bridge in Shire, at Mud Island, will be replaced in 2014-15.

bREakING NEWS

ClEaN SWEEPDid you know that Council has a new weapon in its arsenal to tackle dirty streets?

‘The Sweeper’ is a new state-of-the-art vehicle that be rolling through the streets of Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Kellyville, Crestwood, Box Hill, Oatlands and North Rocks.

The Hills Shire is divided into four wards - North, Central, East and West, and each Ward is represented by three Councillors.

You can contact your local Councillor direct to discuss any issues you may have about your Ward.

Information about ward boundaries, Councillors, council meetings and latest news can be found on Council’s website www.thehills.nsw.gov.au – click on the ‘About Council’ tab at the top of the home page.

Council recently voted to put on exhibition the draft Hills Shire Plan 2014 - 2015.

In this plan, the Hills Shire maintains its strong financial record that is the envy of the country. In the 2014/2015 financial year, Council is forecast to have an Unrestricted Current Ratio of 12.5 compared to the industry standard of 1.5 and zero debt.

Even more importantly, the plan contains excellent news for North Ward residents over the next four years.

$9.3 million is being spent building the Caddies Creek Reserve in Beaumont Hills. The reserve will feature a baseball field, and three multipurpose fields which include capabilities for AFL, Cricket, Soccer, League and Union.

$5.4 million has been allocated for Road Re-habilitation in North Ward over the course of the four year delivery plan, including $1.1 million on Annangrove Road and $457,000 on Grange Road Glenhaven.

$5 million is being spent upgrading Poole Road and an additional $5 million is being spent upgrading Samantha Riley Drive to four lanes, featuring a set of traffic lights at the Hezlett Road intersection.

$3.6 million has been allocated for the long overdue traffic lights at the intersection of Glenhaven and Old Northern Roads$235,000 is being spent on an upgrade of the playground equipment in Wisemans Ferry $200,000 has been allocated for new buildings for the Glenorie Pony Club.

The plan also provides over $25,000 worth of support for volunteer organisations in North Ward including $8,000 for the Rotary Club of Kenthurst, $7,500 for the Dural and Round Corner Chamber of Commerce, $3,400 for the Rouse Hill Rhinos and $1,250 for the Annangrove Progress Association.

I believe the draft Hills Shire Plan delivers for the community while maintaining a disciplined financial approach. If you want to view the plan or make a submission, please visit Council’s website.

nORThCLR MARK TAYLOR

nORTh

CLR PETER GANGEMI

0419 200 [email protected]

0419 618 [email protected]

0419 429 [email protected]

The Hills Shire Council is poised for an historic era of growth and development. As a Council our financial position remains extremely strong. We have been debt free since 2002 and our reserve funds now exceed $125 million. This is a position much envied by many other Councils throughout NSW – one that we should be very proud of and which demonstrates Council’s commitment to prudence, discipline and excellence in the way we manage our business.

Council’s Draft Hills Shire Plan has recently been on public exhibition. The Plan details our blueprint for the next four years, during which we aim to deliver in excess of $160 million by way of infrastructure across the Shire.

In Central Ward I am delighted to note very practical plans to renew (and create new) infrastructure that will make a significant difference for our residents. Over the next year almost $900,000 will be spent on renewing buildings in key precincts such as Ted Horwood Reserve and Alfred Henry Whaling Reserve. In particular, I am looking forward to the construction of the new $250,000 amenities building for the Base-ball Fields at Fred Caterson Reserve. (Cur-rently our year round Baseball participants need to dash quite a way to the Soccer or Cricket fields to make use of amenities, so I imagine this new building will be very welcomed indeed!)

This coming financial year, Central Ward res-idents will benefit from almost $3.5 million in road rehabilitation and renewal, includ-ing much needed improvements to Gilbert Road. Also this coming year we will invest up to $1 million dollars for footpaths and walkways throughout Central Ward, which will include the construction of a footpath on Aminya Place (from Cook Street to the end) – a project which has been close to my heart from the beginning of my term, and which will be much welcomed by the residents of the Aminya Village Aged Care Facility.

And last but not least, on behalf of the many Central Ward Mums, Dads and Car-ers, I am thrilled to see that we will soon be completely replacing the playgrounds at McBurney Reserve and Mercer Street Reserve, making them more inviting and user-friendly.

I greatly look forward to seeing the planned Capital Works come to life over the next year – indeed four years – and recommend the Draft Hills Shire Plan to you with great pride.

Welcome to the winter edition of Focus – your magazine.

Council has been very busy recently and now settled in to our new chambers. There were a few technical teething issues, but the fan-tastic staff were able to fix those relatively quickly.

The first weekend of May I enjoyed my 24 hour non-stop Relay For Life walk at Centenary of ANZAC Reserve, and it was so good to see the community get into the spirit of the day/night, especially as it was so cold and poured with rain from about 0230 until 0530 – but that didn’t dampen your spirits! As a community you kept it going all night and day and helped raise much needed funds.

I did want to share some of the best kept se-crets of central ward in this addition, as I am sure my colleagues will discuss the budget etc. So here is secret number 1. Bidjigal Reserve located in Central Ward – worth a look and a walk around. The volunteers do a great job of maintaining the natural bushland of this area and if you want somewhere to just sit and contemplate, then this place is for you.

Second secret in Central Ward – Castle Hill Bowling Club – it’s located in Castle Street behind the RSL and has to be the friendliest little club in NSW - if not the country! It’s also where I recently learnt how to play lawn bowls and that’s addictive!! Give them a call on 9634 2192 to learn about barefoot bowls or other packages you can do with your staff (at work), your neighbours or just a bunch of friends.

Stay warm and safe this winter – remember to also look in on your neighbours especially if they are adding on a few more years than me!

nORThCLR ROBYN PRESTON

CEnTRalCLR DR JEFF LOWE

CEnTRalCLR TONY HAY OAM

CEnTRal

CLR YVONNE KEANE

0419 553 [email protected]

0419 821 [email protected]

0422 508 [email protected]

The Hills Shire is divided into four wards - North, Central, East and West, and each Ward is represented by three Councillors.

You can contact your local Councillor direct to discuss any issues you may have about your Ward.

Information about ward boundaries, Councillors, council meetings and latest news can be found on Council’s website www.thehills.nsw.gov.au – click on the ‘About Council’ tab at the top of the home page.

tRaFFIC lIGHtS - GlENHaVEN ROaD INtERSECtION

Are you a local who, like me, avoids the Glenhaven Road/Old Northern Road Glenhaven intersection at peak hour? The traffic is banked back, delays are a certainty and you take your life into your own hands each time you negotiate the intersection.

Well, I am delighted to announce that Council will install traffic lights at a cost of $3.6 million. The work will commence by the end of the year and will take around 6 months to complete. This intersection is the only major arterial road in the Hills that isn’t covered by a round a bout or a set of traffic lights.

Whilst Glenhaven Road is a ‘Council’ road, Old Northern Road actually is the responsibility of the State Government (Roads and Maritime Services or RMS) and Hornsby Council has a third share in the ownership of the intersection, but so far The Hills Shire Council is the only body to stump up the cost of the installation.

Rather than waiting for joint funding, we as a Council have taken the initiative to install these lights and we are appealing to the State Government to part fund the project retrospectively. This was a project I promised at the last Local Government election and I have pursued this relentlessly.

COMMUNIty FOOtPatH PROJECtS

The demand for footpaths around North ward far exceeds Council’s budget and manpower.

Did you know that Council can assist community volunteers to install footpaths?Council will arrange for the excavation work, supply the materials and signage in accordance with OH&S requirements and then volunteers complete the job.

A great example of a footpath project built by volunteers with Council’s assistance is the 2.5 metre wide cycleway stretching 4 kilometres along Kenthurst Road from Pellitt Lane, Dural to Pitt Town Road, Kenthurst. If you would like to get involved in a footpath project, please contact me.

The Hills Shire Council Hills Focus14 15

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