Our Council – Summer 2023 Edition

#02 | SUMMER | 2023

FREE

YOUR QUARTERLY EDITION OF COUNCIL NEWS

MAYOR’S MESSAGE UPDATE ON MAJOR PROJECTS POOL SAFETY FOR SUMMER GOING GREEN hornsby.nsw.gov.au

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Contents 06 01 Mayor’s Message

Welcome to the Summer edition of ‘Our Council’.

02 Update on Major Projects

The newly refurbished Galston Aquatic and Leisure Centre opens for everyone.

04 pool safety for summer 06 developer contributions

Are you and your pool ready for summer?

Debunking the myths about developer contributions.

12 08 a greener electricity plan

GreenPower is a great option for renters and people who can’t install roof top solar.

09 waste and recycling news

Making changes for a more sustainable festive season.

12 hello hornsby

The importance of social inclusion for seniors.

13 Your Councillors

Get in touch with your Councillors.

Cover image: Hawkesbury River

Hornsby Shire Council

Mayor’s

Message WELCOME TO ‘OUR COUNCIL’, OUR QUARTERLY PUBLICATION, BRINGING YOU NEWS OF WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING ACROSS HORNSBY SHIRE.

As your council, we are accountable to you, the community. Our Annual Report is one of the most important ways we report back about how we have delivered on our promises to you. Available now on our website, this year’s Annual Report outlines how we have navigated this year’s challenges, while achieving many important outcomes. From community-building events to arts and culture, initiatives to protect our unique environment and actions to build a strong financial future, we’ve focused on building a resilient and liveable community. For highlights from our Annual Report see Pages 10-11.

Other highlights outlined in the Report are updates on our major projects, including the Galston Aquatic and Leisure Centre which you can read about on Page 2.

As a long-time resident of the Shire, I am passionate about ensuring that Council meets the development demands that are put upon us while maintaining the special character for the Shire. For every development project you see taking place, you may be surprised to know that there are benefits to the community that come directly from developer contributions. Many of the parks, paths, roads and even the recent upgrades to Hornsby Library were paid for by these funds. Read more about this on Page 6.

Our Council – Summer 2023

The festive season is a time when we come together to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. It’s also a time when we may generate more waste, putting additional strain on our waste processing resources.

This year, I encourage you to make a few changes to help make yours a more sustainable holiday period.

We’ve outlined some tips on Page 9.

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very joyful and peaceful time these holidays. I hope you all enjoy time relaxing with family and friends and have a safe and prosperous New Year.

Philip Ruddock AO Mayor, Hornsby Shire Council

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I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT ENSURING THAT COUNCIL MEETS THE DEVELOPMENT DEMANDS THAT ARE PUT UPON US WHILE MAINTAINING THE SPECIAL CHARACTER FOR THE SHIRE.

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Welcome to our second edition of Our Council. We’ve been delighted with the response to our first edition, with residents telling us that they’ve enjoyed hearing more about what Council delivers for them. I hope you enjoyed it too.

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Update on

major projects GALSTON AQUATIC AND LEISURE CENTRE SET TO MAKE A SPLASH THIS SUMMER Excitement is building this summer as the Galston Aquatic and Leisure Centre (GALC) is set to open its doors once again, unveiling a stunning transformation that promises to make a splash. The revamped aquatic centre boasts a myriad of new features, a strong commitment to accessibility and an array of programs for swimmers of all ages and abilities.

A REVAMPED FACILITY WITH ENHANCED AMENITIES The new and improved GALC features an array of key additions and enhancements designed to provide visitors with an unforgettable experience. One notable highlight is the introduction of a large family changing room that’s been designed from the ground up to enhance accessibility.

This room not only offers better accessibility to change tables and showers but also provides an overall improvement in amenities. These changes have been implemented to facilitate easier access to the learn-to-swim pool, making it more convenient for families and swimmers of all ages.

GALC’s revamped layout has been meticulously crafted to cater to the diverse needs of everyone using the facility. This redesign ensures that visitors can enjoy their aquatic experience in a comfortable, family-friendly environment.

DID YOU KNOW? We’re hiring! Learn-to-swim teachers, lifeguards, and pool attendants.

If you’re interested in joining our team email hornsbyaquatic@hornsby.nsw.gov.au or phone 9847 6306

The new roof over the main pool

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Hornsby Shire Council

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DESIGNED TO PROVIDE VISITORS WITH AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE

A COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY Accessibility is a cornerstone of the GALC upgrade project. The facility now boasts a large multi-purpose changing area equipped with hoists and adult change tables. These features allow for unparalleled accessibility for individuals with disabilities or those undergoing rehabilitation. It’s not just about public swimming; the GALC aims to support squad training, rehabilitation, and every swimmer’s needs, making it an inclusive and welcoming community space.

The main entrance

A MODERN AND IMPRESSIVE EXPERIENCE When asked about what excites him the most about the new GALC, Council’s Manager of Aquatics and Brickpit, Andrew Jackson said: “The modern feel and all the new additions to the changing areas will be great. The pool deck which will allow us to hold larger swimming carnivals and swim education programs. And the new timber beams over the pool are rather impressive!”

The facility’s modern design elements create a fresh and inviting atmosphere that enhances the overall experience for visitors.

Interior

A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS AND CLASSES GALC will offer a diverse range of programs and classes to cater to the varied interests and abilities of the community. From learn-to-swim programs for beginners to junior squads for those looking to develop their skills, the centre’s new facilities and features also seek to help strengthen the Galston Swim Club.

The team looks forward to welcoming you to the new centre this summer.

For more information about this project visit: hornsby.nsw.gov.au/galc

Exterior roof details Our Council – Summer 2023

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lifestyle

pool safety ARE YOU AND YOUR POOL READY FOR SUMMER? As we approach another scorching summer, now is the time to check the safety of your pool and make sure your water safety skills are up to date.

Follow the check list below to make sure your pool fence meets the requirements: Check your pool fence and gate. Is it secure and

in good working order? Your pool gate must self-close and self-latch, from any position, including resting on the latching mechanism.

NEVER prop or leave your gate open.

Check the area around the pool fence. Is it clear

of any climbable objects? Things like vegetation, chairs, BBQs, pot plants and dog kennels.

Check your safety signs. Do you have a current

Resuscitation Sign displayed prominently in the pool area? Make sure it isn’t faded or broken, or blocked by any items. Ensure the sign is dated after 2018, and includes the wording “Young children should be actively supervised when using this swimming pool”.

Check your pump, grates and suction fittings.

Ensure that no fitting is broken or missing, and grates and covers are securely in place.

Check the height of your pool fence. It should be

be a minimum 1200mm high, measured on the outside of the pool area.

For more information, scan the QR code or visit: hornsby.nsw.gov.au/pools

DID YOU KNOW? Council is available to do a pool fence safety check at your house.

Book your visit now at hornsby.nsw.gov.au/pools

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Hornsby Shire Council

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NOW IS THE TIME TO CHECK THE SAFETY OF YOUR POOL AND MAKE SURE YOUR WATER SAFETY SKILLS ARE UP TO DATE

ARE YOUR WATER SAFETY SKILLS UP TO DATE? NSW, ACT and Tasmania still suffer the highest rates of drowning in the country, and regional areas record drowning rates nearly double the rates of metropolitan areas. The record drownings experienced last summer were tragic losses, and how we prepare for this summer will be crucial.

Whether you travel to the beach or enjoy your local waterway or private pool, we all have a role to play to ensure our communities are ‘swim-ready’.

Royal Life Saving has created a Summer-Ready checklist designed to help you, your friends and your family ensure a safer summer. Now is the perfect time to: Learn the risks. Understanding the risks and

knowing how to assess danger will help your family make smarter choices around water.

Chat with your doctor. Consult your doctor before

getting back in the water, especially if you have any medical or mobility issues. Know your physical limitations.

Learn how to save a life. Make sure your first aid

and CPR is up to date so you’re prepared if an accident happens. This is particularly important in remote and rural areas where help may be far away.

Get active. The health and social benefits are

there for us to enjoy – our entire lives.

Our Council – Summer 2023

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Developer contributions

explained SHAPING GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Have you recently explored the new shared paths along Peats Ferry Road or enjoyed a peaceful moment in our newly renovated Hornsby Library? If so, you’ve experienced the direct impact of local infrastructure contributions.

Local infrastructure contributions – or “developer contributions” – are at the heart of shaping the growth and development of our Hornsby Shire community. These vital financial mechanisms play a crucial role in providing the necessary funding for essential amenities and facilities such as parks, community centres, local roads, footpaths, stormwater drainage, and traffic management.

MORE HOUSING = MORE SERVICES There’s always a need for more housing to accommodate our growing population. However, it’s equally important to ensure that the residents of these new developments receive the additional support services they require, including improved road infrastructure, open spaces, and community facilities.

For every approved development, developers are mandated to pay development contributions. The contributions come in two main forms and are designed to make sure that the costs and benefits of development are shared fairly to encourage responsible growth. Some contributions are used when there’s a clear link between a development and the infrastructure it needs. Others charge developers a percentage of the estimated development cost, opening the funds to a more versatile array of applications.

DID YOU KNOW? YOUR SAY HORNSBY is a website dedicated to all the projects that require input from the community.

To learn more and sign up, scan the QR code, or visit: yoursay.hornsby.nsw.gov.au

Heritage steps

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Hornsby Shire Council

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THESE VITAL FINANCIAL MECHANISMS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN PROVIDING THE NECESSARY FUNDING FOR ESSENTIAL AMENITIES AND FACILITIES

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BENEFITS TO HORNSBY SHIRE These contributions have been instrumental in financing various new facilities including the upgrades to Hornsby Library, the new community centre at Storey Park, enhancements to Peats Ferry Road and improvements to Waitara Park.

Storey Park Community Centre

They’ve also played a pivotal role in the expansion and enhancement of our tracks and trails, as well as the successful completion of 30,000 trees planted along our streets and green spaces.

Local infrastructure contributions play a significant role in progressing the ever-evolving amenity of our communities. They help us to plan for a sustainable future and ensure that development is not just growth, but progress, that benefits everyone.

Waitara Park

Hornsby Library Our Council – Summer 2023

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a greener

electricity plan MAKE THE SWITCH SUPPORT RENEWABLE ENERGY Have you considered switching to a GreenPower electricity plan? It’s the only government-accredited and audited green energy program and is a way to support renewable energy without installing solar panels.

Switching to GreenPower is likely to be the single most impactful action you can do for the planet.

Surprisingly, it can be done in as little as 10 minutes and it doesn’t matter if you’re a homeowner or a renter.

If you want the Australian energy sector to produce more electricity from wind and sun, you can vote with your electricity plan. Join over 360,000 Australians who have switched their electricity plan to GreenPower, today.

HOW TO SWITCH TO GREENPOWER Call your current provider to see if they can

switch you to a GreenPower plan. If they quote you a much higher price, use the Energy Made Easy Comparison tool to find the cheapest prices on offer.

Check out the Green Electricity Guide, an

independent, unbiased ranking of all electricity providers where you can find out about company ethics.

You can also get cheap deals by comparing prices

from all companies using Energy Made Easy. It’s an accurate and independent service operated by the Australian Energy Regulator, and you can compare the current deals from all providers in one go.

To learn more, scan the QR code or visit: hornsby.nsw.gov.au/greenpower

DID YOU KNOW? In Hornsby, 52% of greenhouse gas emissions come from electricity. GreenPower helps get more electricity from wind and sun made in Australia. Beware of carbon neutral electricity plans – they don’t help grow Australia’s renewable energy sector.

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Hornsby Shire Council

waste and

recycling news HAVE A MERRY SUSTAINABLE CHRISTMAS The Christmas break can be a whirlwind − between choosing gifts, preparing menus, organising family and friends, and finding time to enjoy yourself! It can also be a wasteful time, with many of us sending extra waste to landfill over the holidays.

We’ve put together a list of our favourite ways to have a more affordable and low-waste Christmas.

GIFT-GIVING Organise a Secret Santa with your family or

friends. This can reduce the number of gifts you have to buy, saving you money and stress, and reduce over-purchasing unnecessary items.

Try gifting an experience rather than an item.

Movie vouchers, restaurant gift card, or booking a fun activity such as kayaking or a painting class.

FOOD PREPARATION If you’re hosting a gathering, create and stick to a

meal plan to save the stress of last minute planning and impulse buying at the supermarket.

DECORATING Get creative and make natural decorations. Make

a table centrepiece of small branches or flowers from your garden or bake some orange slices and thread them onto string to replace plastic tinsel.

Check out your local op shop for some fun and

unique decorations rather than buying new.

OTHER HANDY TIPS Choose wrapping paper labelled ‘Recyclable’ or

one that looks and feels like regular paper. Or better yet, get creative and use old newspaper or fabric!

Aluminium foil can be recycled, just ball it up so

it’s the size of a golf ball or larger so it doesn’t get lost in the recycling machinery.

Excess cardboard or paper packaging that does

not fit in your yellow-lid recycling bin can be taken to the Thornleigh Community Recycling Centre.

To learn more, scan the QR code or visit: hornsby.nsw.gov.au/waste

Our Council – Summer 2023

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Annual Report 2022-23

highlights

2.96KM

new paved footpaths constructed

2,057KL

$4.8M

spent on local footpath improvements and shared paths

37.19

stormwater harvested for reuse systems

tonnes soft plastics collected at Community Recycling Centre

2,465

$1.07M

home library visits

income from Development Applications

2,550

potholes repaired

61,923

565,371 visits to Hornsby Shire libraries

40,000

customers dropping off items to Community Recycling Centre

attendees at major community events

437

34 days

swimming pools inspected under the Swimming Pool Barrier Inspection Program

average time for determination of Development Applications

Galston and Aquatic Centre Starting Blocks

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Hornsby Shire Council

AS A COUNCIL, OUR MAIN FOCUS IS TO DELIVER RESULTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. HERE ARE JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TANGIBLE WAYS IN WHICH WE ARE CREATING A MORE LIVEABLE AND RESILIENT SHIRE FOR NOW AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.

$58,342

expenditure on graffiti on Council’s assets

337

reported illegal dumping incidents

3,667

metres of tracks, boardwalks and bridges constructed or upgraded

Our Council – Summer 2023

39,138

incoming calls to Customer Service

37,678

tonnes domestic waste to landfill (red bin and bulky clean-up)

115,374

walkers recorded on five monitored bushland walking tracks

31,899

native plants distributed for planting in the Shire

960

609

companion animals registered by Council

1,776

Development Applications determined

new Australian citizens conferred

326,937

38,977

visits to Hornsby Aquatic and Leisure Centre

social media followers

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hello

hornsby SOCIAL INCLUSION FOR SENIORS

Launched in 2022, Hello Hornsby has made a significant impact, connecting with over 2,500 people across the Shire in a range of events catering for attendees’ different needs and circumstances.

Highlights have included boat trips on the Hawkesbury, comedy shows, art therapy, talks, grandparents’ days out and a trip to an orchard.

DID YOU KNOW? According to the National Institute on Aging, the health risks of prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Social isolation and loneliness have even been estimated to shorten a person’s life span by as many as 15 years.

With an ageing population, it’s important to ensure that all Hornsby Shire residents are catered for.

Social isolation can become a real problem as we get older. Taking that first step to get out socially can be daunting, and Hello Hornsby provides people with the opportunity to do so in a safe and friendly environment with like-minded people.

It’s been pleasing to see such a strong response to the program, bringing joy and camaraderie to many people. Some attendees said they had not been anywhere in two years, aside for medical appointments, but have now made new connections and friendships.

Feedback from attendees has been overwhelmingly positive. People cited the opportunity to connect, network, relax, talk and try new things as some of the things they enjoyed most.

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THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT, NETWORK, RELAX, TALK AND TRY NEW THINGS

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Council’s Hello Hornsby initiative promotes social inclusion for seniors through a program of regular free activities, outings, events, information sessions and workshops for Hornsby Shire residents aged 60+ years.

Helen from Galston thanked Council and spoke of her enriching experience.

“Thanks very much – to you, Hornsby Shire Council for providing such a lovely day on the Hawkesbury.

The event was truly appreciated by all and presented a wonderful opportunity to not only feel part of the beautiful environment but, where possible, have a chat or connect with others, physically and emotionally.”

Hello Hornsby event

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For more information about Hello Hornsby and for details of forthcoming events visit: hornsby.nsw.gov.au/hellohornsby Hornsby Shire Council

your

councillors WHICH WARD IS YOURS?

MAYOR The Honourable Philip Ruddock AO (02) 9847 6666 pruddock@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

To find out which ward you live in, scan the QR code.

A WARD COUNCILLORS Cr Tania Salitra 0435 434 233 tsalitra@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

Cr Nathan Tilbury 0403 227 560 ntilbury@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

Cr Warren Waddell 0499 004 861 wwaddell@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

Cr Monika Ball 0468 374 611 mball@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

Cr Sallianne McClelland Cr Janelle McIntosh 0418 554 238 0413 251 055 smcclelland@hornsby.nsw.gov.au jmcintosh@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

B WARD COUNCILLORS

C WARD COUNCILLORS Cr Verity Greenwood Cr Emma Heyde 0420 960 250 0403 589 722 vgreenwood@hornsby.nsw.gov.au eheyde@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

Our Council – Summer 2023

Cr Sreeni Pillamarri 0499 116 664 spillamarri@hornsby.nsw.gov.au

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Council recognises the Traditional Owners of the lands of Hornsby Shire, the Darug 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.