TOWARDS HILLS
2050
Hills Shire Plan 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Hills Shire Council
How to read
The Hills Shire Plan Towards Hills 2050 Community Strategic Plan This document reflects the community’s vision and aspiration for the Hills Shire. All of the related documents set out below are informed by the community strategic plan.
4 year Delivery Program The Delivery Program is based on the CSP objectives. It is a statement of commitment of each new Council to the community - how it will deliver on the CSP priorities during its term. It details the principal activities (actions, projects, services) of council, driven by strategic goals and service levels developed with the community i.e., what’s achievable and supported by the Resourcing Strategy, partnerships, and grant funding.
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Annual Operational Plan
10 Year Resourcing Strategy
Operational Plan outlines the actions Council will carry out in the coming year to bring us closer to achieving the objectives and long-term goals in our 10-year Community Strategic Plan and 4-year Delivery Program. The Operational Plan also explains how we will fund these actions with a detailed annual budget, along with Council’s Statement of Revenue Policy, which includes the proposed rates, fees, and charges for that financial year. It’s a road map for Council and considers and integrates relevant elements of the Resourcing Strategy
Council’s Resourcing Strategy supports the Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Program and Operational Plan by detailing how Council can help achieve the community’s goals in terms of time, money, assets, and people over the long term. The Resourcing Strategy is reviewed every 4 years. It incorporates: • Long Term Financial Plan • Asset Management Strategy • Workforce Management Strategy
The Executive Summary The Executive Summary of Towards Hills 2050 summarises the Hills Shire Plan Delivery Program actions and provides a Budget Snapshot.
Annual Fees and Charges This document is an annual listing of all fees associated with: • chargeable services • requests • applications • approvals • licences • hire bookings • memberships These fees are set by local councils each year and help support the provision of services and facilities.
Executive Summary 2025-26 | Hills Shire Plan 2025-2029
Towards Hills 2050 snapshot
WISEMANS FERRY
LEETSVALE LOWER PORTLAND
The Executive Summary of the Towards Hills 2050 summarises the Hills Shire Plan Delivery Program Actions and provides a Budget Snapshot. For more detailed information please refer to the complete Towards Hills 2050 document available on Council’s website.
MAROOTA SACKVILLE NORTH
SOUTH MAROOTA
CATTAI
GLENORIE
MARAYLYA WINDSOR GABLES
MIDDLE DURAL KENTHURST
NELSON
VE RO NG NA AN
BOX HILL
NORTH KELLYVILLE
ROUSE HILL M
HORNSBY
GL EN HA VE N
M
BEAUMONT HILLS M
DURAL
KELLYVILLE NORWEST
M M BELLA VISTA
CASTLE HILL M M
Metropolitan Rural Areas M
BAULKHAM HILLS
WEST PENNANT HILLS
BLACKTOWN NORTH ROCKS PARRAMATTA
M Sydney Metro Strategic Centres Village/Town Centres Motorway (M2/M7) Hawkesbury River
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The Hills Shire Council
Our community Who we are
218,264
People living in The Shire 2025
326,725
4.36%
115,081 new residents, or 54.37% growth, between
only 2.77% for Greater Sydney
Population growth 2022-23
Forecast population by 2046
2024 and 2046
Volunteers
13.7%
proportion of residents who do some form of voluntary work - higher than the Greater Sydney average
9th
The Hills Shire’s position in the Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage (SEIFA) for all NSW LGAs.
Employment
in 2023-24
The Hills Shire is changing rapidly, with new homes, workplaces, and shops being established. The North West Growth Area, a 10,000-hectare greenfield site, will eventually house 70,000 homes and create 30,000 jobs. Urban areas will densify around centres like Castle Hill, Norwest, and Rouse Hill, especially near Sydney Metro Northwest. With more residents moving into apartments, it’s essential to manage transport options—roads, Metro services, buses, and pedestrian or bike pathways—to tackle the
Households
52.1%
couples with children much higher than the Greater Sydney average of 34.4%
Average no. of people per household
Local jobs
88,518
Only about 30% of The Shire is urban, while the remaining 70% features rural land, bushland, and natural beauty, all bordered in the north by the Hawkesbury River. As Greater Sydney’s population grows, these areas face increasing pressure, highlighting the need to balance preservation and urban development.
Unemployment
2.7% in 2024
0.76 jobs to worker ratio – this means fewer
The Hills LGA 3.11 Greater Sydney average 2.68
Dwellings
74,776 in 2025
jobs than resident workers, with the biggest divergence in knowledge industries.
Bachelor or higher degree
40.5%
Our economy
of residents
Greater Sydney average 33.4%
Country of birth
40.4%
of residents were born overseas, with a large proportion of these people born in India and China
Language
residents speak a language 38.8% ofother than English at home
Businesses
24,755 in 2023
Economic output
Economy (GRP)
$14.86b billion in 2023
a 2% contribution to the state’s overall GSP
$24,851.6m
construction ($6,184m) the highest contributor
All data from .idCommmunity and .id forecasts (https://profile.id.com.au/the-hills) and based on ABS Census and National Institute of Economic and industry Research (NIEIR) data
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Executive Summary 2025-26 | Hills Shire Plan 2025-2029
Managing our money
Total income 2025-26 (Statutory format)
$313M
Rates and annual charges
20%
Grants and contributions - capital
50%
7%
Grants and contributions - operating User charges and fees
6%
Interest and investment revenue
6% 11%
Other revenue
Budget by strategic direction
Enriched lifestyles Strategic directions:
EL1. A vibrant community $47.6M EL2. A valued and nurtured environment $75.0M
Connected people and places Strategic directions:
CPP1. A growing shire and economy $13.7M CPP2. Timely provision and maintenance of infrastructure $113.4M
Proactive leadership and governance Strategic direction:
PLG1. Proactive leadership $10.9M
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The Hills Shire Council
Enriched lifestyles EL1. A vibrant community
$47.6M
18.3% of total expenditure budget of $260.7M
$9.0 million
Aged and disability
$7.2
$1.4
million Communications & marketing
$2.2
million Providing child care services
million Community venue hire
$9.6 million
$7.2 million
Library Services
$5.9
million SES and bushfire operations
$2.2
million Community events
Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre
$1.6
million Community services and donations
$1.4
million Pensioner subsidy
New actions EL1.1.11
EL1.1.12 EL1.1.13 EL1.2.2
EL1.4.2 EL1.4.3
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Estimated completion
Provide a briefing to councillors on more options to engage with young people in the Shire by working with youth stakeholders and Hills PAC along with any financial impacts
25-26
Investigate locations for a new library, funding model and update Council’s Library Strategy and provide a briefing to councillors
25-26
Undertake a review of Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre operations and provide a briefing to councillors
25-26
Investigate emergency dashboard requirements and functionalities for an emergency dashboard, analyse costs and benefits, and provide a briefing to Council
25-26
Review of the Purple Flag program and if applicable to areas within the Shire, present findings to a councillor workshop
25-26
Review the current CCTV network and coverage and partner with local policing authority to implement a CCTV surveillance network around high traffic areas such as metro stations and shopping centres
25-26
Executive Summary 2025-26 | Hills Shire Plan 2025-2029
Enriched lifestyles
EL2. A valued and nurtured environment
$75.0M
28.8% of total expenditure budget of $260.7M
$47.7 million
Waste and recycling
$2.4
million Environmental sustainability
$2.9
million Environmental public health and monitoring
$7.2 million
Regulatory services
$8.8
million Development assessment
$6.0
million Subdivision and development certification
New actions EL2.5.7
EL2.2.3 EL2.2.4
Estimated completion
Investigate a potential grant funded project along with neighbouring councils to support a reuse, repair, redesign, and recycling hub for the region at Hawkesbury’s Waste Management Facility and provide a briefing to a future councillor workshop
28-29
Investigate and report to Council a water quality monitoring and testing program for waterways in The Shire
25-26
Investigate and report to Council on a biodiversity strategy to guide and enable strategic growth and development while conserving biodiversity values
25-26
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The Hills Shire Council
Connected people and places CPP1. A growing shire and economy
$13.7M
5% of total expenditure budget of $260.7M
$5.2 million
Land use and developer contributions planning
$7.7 million
$ $0.7
million Promote economic and business growth
Infrastructure planning
New actions CPP1.4.2
Undertake assessment of existing bus services, focusing on linkages to Metro Stations and advocate as appropriate
25-26
Council to advocate the NSW State Government to plan the road corridor between Richmond Road and the Central Coast with a commitment to fund this project in the short to medium term
25-26
Prepare a concept plan and cost estimates for the future transport connection between Windsor Road and Carrington Road, in accordance with Council's adopted Norwest Precinct Plan, to assist with advocating TfNSW for funding as well as applying for relevant grants and provide a briefing to councillors
25-26
Review and update Council’s Integrated Transport and Land Use Strategy as part of the Local Strategic Planning Statement. The review of the statement should also include strategies to encourage modal shift and improve walkable catchments, connections to transport nodes and enhanced public transport priorities. Provide a briefing to councillors
27-28
CPP1.5.4
Advocate for solutions to address the Box Hill Contribution Plan funding gap
26-27
CPP1.6.2
Include a review of parking needs and requirements in the Bella Vista Master Plan update and provide a briefing to councillors
25-26
Council to prepare a signage strategy addressing potential advertising opportunities, including sponsorship advertising signage by clubs and Council on open space land
25-26
CPP1.4.3
CPP1.4.4
CPP1.4.5
CPP1.6.3
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Estimated completion
Executive Summary 2025-26 | Hills Shire Plan 2025-2029
Connected people and places
$113.4M
CPP2. Timely provision and maintenance of infrastructure 43.5% of total expenditure budget of $260.7M
Big ticket items
$1.4 million Fred Caterson Reserve upgrade & refurbishment
$5.8 million
Mount Carmel Drive/Old Pitt Town Road /Valetta Drive, Box Hill - signalised intersection
$5.5 million
Terry Road/George Street, Box Hill roundabout
$10.8 million
$4.7 million Various parks
$13.8 million
Acquiring land for open space embellishment
New and renewal of existing roads
$2.4 million
$4.6 million
$1.1 million
$17.0 million
$1.2 million
$4.4 million
$5.3 million
$8.8 million
$14.7 million
$0.7 million
Traffic facilities
Shire presentation and public place cleaning
New footpaths, cycleways and bridges
Maintain existing parks and bushland
Bridges
Stormwater and waterways
Purchase of plant and equipment
Maintain existing roads
$4.2 million
Maintain community buildings
Infrastructure design and project management
%
Castle Mall improvements
$3.0 million Street lighting
$4.0 million
Community buildings capital renewal
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The Hills Shire Council
Proactive leadership and governance PLG1. Proactive leadership
$10.9M 4.2% of total expenditure budget of $260.7M
$10.9 million
Governance activities
New actions PLG1.3.4
PLG1.6.5
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Estimated completion
Investigate and provide a briefing to councillors on future new website solutions, along with the viability and financial implications of developing a Council App
26-27
Provide a report to Council on changing Council’s rating structure for consideration to implement by July 2026
25-26
Executive Summary 2025-26 | Hills Shire Plan 2025-2029
Financial highlights
•
Unrestricted current ratio will remain well above benchmarks over the long-term, indicating sound liquidity.
•
Rates and annual charges income represents 50% of total income. The general rate increase for FY25-26 of 6.2% equates to $2.10 per week for an average residential assessment of around $1,295 per annum.
•
High priority given for capital infrastructure spending of $69.9M
•
Sufficient asset renewal spending to maintain assets at acceptable standards.
•
Operating surplus of $23.4M and this trend is forecast to continue.
Looking ahead This budget drives actions now for our Shire’s future. It provides the infrastructure and services to meet our future challenges. It outlines a commitment to retaining our quality of life through projects and planning that foster continued business and population growth.
$23.4M
•
Operating surplus
•
Financial sustainability is strong and expected to continue.
•
Unrestricted current ratio will remain well above benchmarks over the long term indicating sound
•
Council is debt free and has been since 2002.
•
Asset renewal ratio well above industry standards indicating we are renewing our assets, relative to
liquidity.
the rate they are depreciating.
Our assets and liabilities as at 30 June 2024
Assets
$549M Cash & investments
$52M
Debtors prepayment inventory
$5,876M
Equity
Liabilities
-
$166M Creditors Employee entitlements
-
$6,310M
Infrastructure
What we have
What we owe
Net worth 11
The Hills Shire Council
www.thehills.nsw.gov.au 3 Columbia Court Norwest NSW 2153 PO Box 7064, Norwest 2153 P +61 2 9843 0555 E council@thehills.nsw.gov.au If you do not speak English and need an interpreter, contact the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to call Council on 9843 0555.
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