WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT FOR VITAL INFRASTRUCTURE
The
has
We
That’s
POPULATION OF SYDNEY CBD
TO BE SQUEEZED INTO 1KM
2 POCKET OF BELLA VISTA-KELLYVILLE
BELLA VISTA AND KELLYVILLE ARE ABOUT TO UNDERGO A MASSIVE TRANSFORMATION UNDER THE NSW GOVERNMENT’S TRANSPORT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT (TOD) PROGRAM, WITH 11,600 NEW HOMES SET TO BE BUILT IN THE PRECINCT.
This will bring a population larger than the Sydney CBD combined (18,818 people)— to live within a 1km2 area between Bella Vista and Kellyville Metro stations.
But while housing numbers surge, critical infrastructure is yet to be funded.
WHAT’S MISSING?
Despite the forecast 23,200 plus population boom, the NSW Government has yet to commit funding for:
• A new primary school and high school
• Additional sports fields
• Community facilities, including a potential library
• A flood study to ensure development is safe
The NSW Government has announced $520 million for transport and public spaces across eight TOD precincts— including Hornsby, Macquarie Park, Bankstown, Crows Nest, and Homebush—but has not revealed how, or if, Bella Vista and Kellyville will benefit.
A previously planned primary school for the area has no set timeline and will fall short of meeting demand.
COUNCIL FIGHTS FOR FAIRER FUNDING
The Hills Shire Council is calling on the NSW Government to invest in the infrastructure needed to support the Bella Vista and Kellyville precincts, including:
• Education: A primary and high school to meet future demand
• Sports and recreation: Two sports fields in Bella Vista
• Road upgrades: Widening Old Windsor Road and Windsor Road to three lanes each way
• Emergency services: Land allocation for an SES facility
• Transport connectivity: Improved walking and cycling links from Glenwood and Stanhope Gardens to Metro stations
• Public transport improvements: Bus priority measures for faster, more reliable services
Council is also calling for urgent upgrades to key intersections, including:
• Norwest Boulevard and Lexington Drive
• Windsor Road/Showground Road
• Showground Road, Victoria Avenue and Green Road
• Old Windsor Road at Celebration Drive, Balmoral Road and Samantha Riley Drive
GROWING PAINS PLAGUING BOX HILL
Box Hill is facing a significant funding gap for roads, parks, playgrounds and drainage infrastructure due to decisions made by consecutive NSW Governments.
Changes to developer contribution policies, unpaid funding commitments from the NSW Government to Council and increasing land and infrastructure prices has resulted in a $207 million infrastructure shortfall.
Without additional support, Box Hill residents could experience increased congestion, pressure on schools, and delays in key community projects such as libraries and recreational facilities.
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
The funding shortfall is mainly due to the NSW Government’s cap on developer contributions, which limited the amount Council could collect from developers to fund infrastructure. When this cap was implemented, the NSW Government promised to fund the difference between the capped rate and the actual certified rate. However, the Government has since failed to honour this commitment, leaving Council unable to recover these funds.
Additionally, the Government has enforced the use of undervalued estimates for land and infrastructure
costs in the Contributions Plan, which further reduces the amount Council can charge developers. These low estimates, combined with rising land and capital costs and decreased contribution rates recommended by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), have led to insufficient funding to meet the growing needs of the area.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
Council is actively exploring all available options, including applying for grants.
The NSW Government has suggested raising rates as one of the options to address a $207 million deficit. If Council were to use a Special Rate Variation, it could run for a maximum of seven years (if approved by the IPART). In this scenario, rates in Box Hill would need to increase by about 450 per cent to recover the funding gap. This would raise average residential rates from $1,100 per year to $5,900 per year.
Council believes that this approach is not fair, especially considering the demographics of Box Hill consists mainly of young families and we are currently facing a cost-of-living crisis.
Another option recommended by the NSW Government and IPART is to raise the rates for the entire Shire. This would result in an increase of 31 per cent,
raising average rates from $1,233 to $1,614 per year. However this approach contradicts that existing suburbs paid their contributions, and new suburbs are expected to do the same.
Other alternatives proposed include borrowing money externally. Council has been debt-free for 23 years due to a long-standing position to not saddle our ratepayers with interest charges. The interest on a $207 million borrowing would be borne by ratepayers for many years to come - money that could be better spent on services.
The NSW Government must play a critical role in ensuring that necessary infrastructure is delivered. Without additional funding, essential projects may face significant delays, cost more in the future or may not proceed at all.
WHAT’S AT RISK?
Kellyville
Bella Vista
What’s coming under the NSW Government’s Transport Oriented Development program:
HILLS ROADS NEED URGENT UPGRADES
THE
Council is actively seeking the NSW Government’s support to upgrade 46 major roads and intersections across the region to keep residents, workers, and businesses moving.
The NSW Government’s approval of 11,600 new apartments between Kellyville and Bella Vista will add to the pressure, particularly in an area that only has one major arterial road running through the centre.
Old Windsor Road/Windsor Road are critical transport links, connecting residents to Norwest Business Park, Blacktown, Hawkesbury, and
Parramatta. This road is surrounded by a population larger than the ACT’s (estimated to be 466,566).
On top of this, around 65 per cent of our residents commute outside The Hills for work each day, with many more using these roads for school drop-offs, to access shops, hospitals, the Metro and much more.
The future influx of 23,200 residents in the TOD precincts - and other areas earmarked for growth - will put additional strain on an already congested stretch of Old Windsor Road, between Celebration Drive and Windsor Road. This crucial route has
not been expanded since the area was predominantly farmland and market gardens.
Unfortunately, the NSW Government’s plans for additional housing have not been accompanied by the necessary investment in the regional road network.
This section of road is already at a standstill before a single one of the 11,600 new homes has been built. Urgent action is needed now.
For the full list of Hills Shire roads that require critical upgrades, visit fairerhillsfuture.com.au
THE MOST OVERCROWDED SCHOOLS IN THE STATE
An overwhelming 46 per cent of Hills Shire schools are over the enrolment cap by more than 100 students.
The NSW Government has designated The Hills Shire as the fastest growth council in the state - with a target of 23,300 new homes to be completed in the next five years. Based on the Government’s published projections, 328,600 people are predicted to call The Hills Shire home by 2041. This is an increase of almost 140,000 people.
There is inadequate school infrastructure planned and available for the current population living within The Hills Shire, let alone what will be required when this population almost doubles.
With only one new school in Gables budgeted for – Council is concerned that the current overcrowding could reach breaking point.
That is why Council is urging the NSW Government to act now and build the schools before the problem worsens.
Already Castle Hill High School ranks
as the third-largest high school in NSW, with a staggering 2,028 students.
Over 50 demountable classrooms have overtaken sporting fields, leaving students with little to no space to play.
Meanwhile, four local public schools— Matthew Pearce, Rouse Hill, Castle Hill, and North Kellyville—are among the 20 largest primary schools in the state.
Some families in the Hills district are being forced to drive up to 45 minutes to reach a school because they cannot access their local options. This situation is particularly evident in Box Hill, where many families are unable to enrol their children in nearby schools and must keep them at their old school due to a lack of available places.
New schools are urgently needed at Hills Showground, Kellyville-Bella Vista and Box Hill to alleviate the pressure on local families. We also need the Government to start taking action to ensure the additional new schools that will be required to service the next wave of planned growth over the next 10 years are also in the pipeline.
WHERE ARE SCHOOLS NEEDED IN THE HILLS?
CASTLE HILL/ CHERRYBROOK 2 primary schools and 1 high school
BELLA VISTA/ KELLYVILLE 1 primary school and 1 high school
FUND OUR SPORTS FIELDS
Thousands of children in The Hills could miss out on playing competitive sports unless urgent assistance is provided by the NSW Government.
The Hills region currently lacks enough sports fields to serve its rapidly growing population, which is projected to increase by an additional 140,000 people by 2041.
This growth is due to the significant supply of housing coming in our growth centres, including Box Hill and North Kellyville, and around our stations, including Kellyville and Bella Vista.
BOX HILL 3 primary schools and 2 K-12 schools (one to be delivered by private education)
GABLES 1 primary school
NORWEST/HILLS SHOWGROUND
2 primary schools and 1 high school
To meet the demands of this expanding population, The Hills Shire requires an additional 40 playing fields, equivalent to 70 hectares of public parkland.
Currently, 31 sports fields have partial funding, while another nine fields across Cherrybrook, Castle Hill, Norwest, Bella Vista, Kellyville, Rouse Hill, and Baulkham Hills have no funding at all. Without Government funding, children may miss out on organised sports at a time when families are moving to apartments or homes with smaller backyards.
DR MICHELLE BYRNE
MAYOR OF THE HILLS SHIRE
0427 451 201 mayor.byrne@thehills.nsw.gov.au
You will notice this edition of Hills Focus is heavily focused on Council’s infrastructure campaign: ‘Fight for a Fairer Hills Future.’
It was a decision of Council last year to launch this campaign with the aim of getting the NSW Government to commit to funding the essential infrastructure that we need, such as road upgrades, more schools and sports fields that our community deserves.
The Hills Shire is one of the fastest growing local government areas in NSW. Over 328,000 people are expected to call The Hills home by 2041, and our roads, schools and sports fields are already buckling under the pressure of our current population. Box Hill alone faces a funding shortfall of $207 million, and key projects in the area are at risk.
This situation is a direct result of decisions made by successive governments. Policies that have resulted in the capping of developer contributions and a 35 per cent increase of our housing target.
As a Council, we’ve done our part to address the housing crisis. From 2019 – 2024, 11,369 homes were completed, the second highest in the Greater Sydney region. We also already have land zoned for at least 50,000 more houses. Yet we’ve been given the highest housing targets in NSW on top of this – 23,300 new homes are planned for The Hills in the next five years. The Bella Vista and Kellyville precincts near the Metro stations have been targeted as Transport-Oriented Development zones with an additional 4,600 homes coming to the area. The previously planned number of dwellings in the Castle Hill Showground Precinct has been raised from 5,000 homes to 9,500 homes – yet a site for a school within the precinct hasn’t been identified. We have done our part in addressing the housing crisis and have more than planned for our incoming population, but the NSW Government hasn’t provided a plan for how it will help support this rapid growth. We need at least 14 new schools. We need 40 new playing fields. We need major road upgrades, especially around Box Hill and North Kellyville, and we need Rouse Hill Hospital to be built. The full list of infrastructure we’re asking for is available at fairerhillsfuture.com.au.
Your voice is crucial – we need 20,000 signatures for our infrastructure crisis to be debated in NSW Parliament. If you or
someone you know is struggling with traffic on the commute to work, feeling uncertain about where to send your kids to school, or are part of a growing sports team that needs more fields, then we need your signature. Help us fight for a fairer Hills future where the standard of our facilities caters for our rapid population growth –that is all we are asking for.
To sign the petition, visit fairerhillsfuture. com.au.
CLR FRANK DE MASI
DEPUTY MAYOR OF THE HILLS SHIRE, WEST WARD 0439 013 343 clr.demasi@thehills.nsw.gov.au
Addressing Sydney’s Waste Crisis: Exploring Sustainable Solutions By 2030, Sydney is projected to have no remaining landfill sites to accommodate the 1.1 million tonnes of waste its residents generate each year. Currently, much of Sydney’s waste is transported to transfer stations, loaded onto trains, and sent to landfill facilities in Goulburn.
Adding to this challenge, the NSW Government has mandated the introduction of the Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) program by 2030. Under this system, all food waste must be separated and placed in the green bin alongside garden waste, with weekly collection expected. This will be introduced by this Council within the next five years.
While FOGO is a step toward improved waste management, a more comprehensive solution is needed. One alternative, widely adopted overseas, is Waste-toEnergy (WTE) facilities. These facilities sort waste, recycle as much as possible, and incinerate the remaining material to generate energy—all with minimal emissions.
In 2023, I personally funded a tour of a Waste-to-Energy facility in Singapore to observe its operations firsthand. In that facility, 10 per cent of the energy produced powers the plant itself, while the remaining 90 per cent is fed back into the grid. Such facilities operate successfully worldwide, and Australia has recently completed its first WTE plant in Perth.
With landfill space running out, waste processing costs rising, and the introduction of FOGO adding new complexities, I firmly believe we are facing a waste crisis. As a Council, we recognise these challenges now and will continue to advocate for innovative solutions, including the development
of Waste-to-Energy facilities within the Sydney metropolitan area. These facilities could offer an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective way to manage waste while preventing unnecessary financial burdens on residents. It’s time for the State Government to explore all viable options for Sydney’s waste future.
Fundraising Events in May
In May, there are three major community events that I am involved with by being part of the fundraising community and as Chair of The Hills Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal. There are many in our community that suffer from domestic violence, homelessness, cancer, the cost of living crisis and addictions to name a few. I encourage you all either participate or contribute as much as you can to these worthy fundraising events:
• Domestic Violence and Women Over 50 Homelessness Fundraiser (date and location to be advised)
• 17 - 18 May 2025: The Hills Relay for Life, Castle Hill Showground
• 24 – 25 May 2025: The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal
CLR ROSEMARIE BONEHAM WEST WARD 0400 551 435 clr.boneham@thehills.nsw.gov.au
Bio: Rosemarie has lived in northwest Sydney for 28 years and feels honoured to be serving her second consecutive term on Council. She believes The Hills is an exceptional part of the world that offers opportunities for different lifestyles with its traditional quarter acre blocks to its rural enterprises and everything in between. Rosemarie believes that family is the core of society, and this drives her support for the needs of Hills families. She would like to see more activities for teenagers in our open spaces, community centres and libraries –especially during school holidays, affordable access for young, possibly isolated mothers to community venues where they can create new networks and friendships and enhance life skills. Rosemarie wants to connect with more community groups during this term to see how she can assist in any way. Rosemarie will work hard to protect our bushland and oppose the drive for overdevelopment. Where development needs to occur, she believes there should be strict design standards that ensure that buildings are functional as well as visually pleasing and will work for this purpose. Rosemarie is a small business owner with
her husband, a long-time volunteer in marriage and parent education, an SRE teacher, been involved in pastoral care and managed sports teams. She is the mother of a large family, and feels her greatest achievements are having a happy marriage and being a mum and grandmother. In her spare time, Rosemarie enjoys discussing ideas about anything and everything, reading, gardening, making bread and spending time with family and friends.
She is looking forward to serving the Hills on Council and meeting with many members of the community throughout the new term.
CLR IMMANUEL SELVARAJ WEST WARD 0400 223 546
clr.selvaraj@thehills.nsw.gov.au
Bio: Immanuel has been a Hills Shire resident for 17 years and was elected to The Hills Shire Council for the first time in September 2024.
He has actively served the community by supporting the success of small businesses and serving as president of The Hills District Toastmasters. Immanuel has held executive positions in the digital sector for 25 years and is also a small business owner. Since 2019, he has been the President of the Greater Cumberland Chamber of Commerce and through this role has continued to support small businesses in the Greater Western Sydney area.
During his term, Immanuel aims to act as a voice for local small businesses. He also wants to advocate for much needed infrastructure improvement, explore strategies to ease traffic congestion, organise events to improve reading habits of school kids and to explore effective ways to improve residents’ physical and mental health. Immanuel has a Master of Business Administration and Master of Information Systems.
MITCHELL
clr.blue@thehills.nsw.gov.au
It’s well known the population of The Hills is increasing. Council is under considerable pressure from the NSW Government to meet housing targets. With this comes the need for new and upgraded infrastructure such as roads, schools and playing fields.
The NSW Government’s Transport Oriented Development strategy and Low and Mid-Rise
Housing reforms don’t include sufficient infrastructure to support this growth. Infrastructure in Box Hill is at risk due to a complex Contributions Plan issue.
The biggest concern I hear from residents is traffic congestion. More populated parts of The Hills are serviced by the Metro, but many of our residents can’t park or get to these stations. I’m keen to explore Metro shuttle buses, which are available in other local government areas.
But this isn’t going to fix the issue - our network wasn’t designed for the population boom. Our major roads are overrun, pushing traffic onto our local roads. Take Windsor and Old Windsor Roads or New Line Road for example, which are at a standstill during peak times.
Council can’t solve this issue on its own. It’s been suggested by residents that we should stop further development. Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple. We have NSW Government targets to meet, planning legislation to follow and density uplift imposed like the TODs and Low and Mid-Rise reforms. The current system for infrastructure delivery is to collect developer contributions after residents move into new areas. It’s a broken model, but we must work with what we have.
Council’s planning controls and decisions are also increasingly overridden by the NSW Government. Very little decisions are made locally now, and if they are, the Government proceeds down its own path regardless, which is incredibly frustrating. We know our area best – we know what our residents need and when it needs to be delivered.
I’m not just going to blame some other level of government. It’s our job as Councillors to be part of the solution and we need to collaborate with our state counterparts. Council is embarking on a significant campaign to advocate for better infrastructure for The Hills, and we need your support.
CLR JACOB JACKSON PSM NORTH WARD 0428 924 211 clr.jackson@thehills.nsw.gov.au
As I return as your local councillor following the 2024 election, I am excited for the term ahead. I have always felt it is a huge privilege to serve a community that cares so deeply about each other and our shared future, and I’m eager to get back to work to make The Hills Shire a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
The Christmas and New Year period provided a valuable opportunity to reconnect with family, recharge, and reflect on the
year that was. It also reinforced what makes this community so special - the way we come together in celebration, in support, and in spirit. Whether it was the spectacular Chinese New Year festivities, which showcased our region’s growing cultural diversity, or the Australia Day events that highlighted our shared identity and honoured our local heroes, these moments remind us of the strong community bonds we enjoy here in The Hills. These connections are what make our area unique, and they are something we must continue to nurture as our region grows.
With 2025 underway, we must also turn our focus to the challenges that come with growth. The Hills has long been one of Sydney’s most desirable places to live, and with that comes increasing demand for housing, infrastructure, and essential services. While development creates opportunities, it also places significant pressure on our roads, public spaces, and local amenities. Key transport routes such as Windsor Road, Old Windsor Road, Kenthurst Road, Annangrove Road, and New Line Road are already feeling the strain, with congestion and accessibility concerns growing each year. Infrastructure has already started to lag behind development. That is why I am focused on ensuring that we receive our fair share of State Government funding for critical road upgrades, improved public transport options, and better parking facilities - so that our region remains accessible, efficient, and connected. At the same time, as our community expands, we must prioritise maintaining and improving our open spaces. Parks, reserves, and recreational areas are vital to our way of life, providing essential places for families, children, and seniors to relax, exercise, and connect with nature. With growing demand for land, it is easy for these spaces to be overlooked, but I firmly believe that no matter where you live in The Hills, you should have access to quality green spaces. That is why I will continue advocating for upgrades to local parks, more sports and recreational facilities, and the expansion of our green space.
Looking ahead, I am excited about the opportunities this new term presents. I encourage all residents to stay engaged - whether by attending community events, reaching out with concerns or ideas, or participating in discussions about our future. Your voice matters, and by working together, we can ensure The Hills continues to thrive as a vibrant, connected, and well-planned community.
Wishing you all a safe, successful, and prosperous 2025. I look forward to working with you and delivering the improvements our community needs in infrastructure, development, and recreational spaces.
COUNCILLORS COMMENTS COUNCILLORS COMMENTS
CLR DR MILA KASBY NORTH WARD
0400 597 538
clr.kasby@thehills.nsw.gov.au
Council is currently preparing the new Community Strategic Plan which will be open for you to “Have Your Say” before the middle of the year.
This plan hopes to bring our community’s future aspirations to life, positively shaping the place we call home - even though much (including transport, health and education) is beyond Council’s direct control.
The need for more meaningful social connection is crucial and something many people speak to me about. We know that communities with strong social networks, shared knowledge, and compassion deal better in challenging times.
People want to live in a connected and supported multicultural community - more community hubs, safe shared spaces for young and old, inclusive programs and support services, engaging art and cultural events, connected and accessible footpaths, cycleways and pedestrian areas and a greater focus on people and planet.
Our planning and infrastructure must be designed for hotter conditions (heatwaves kill more Aussies than any other natural hazard) and the choices we make now will influence whether our community thrives in the face of change. Homes, businesses, and suburbs must be cool, energy efficient safe havens that reduce running costs and emissions. Helping our community to live sustainably, increasing shade and tree canopy cover, protecting natural green space and biodiversity, and improving the health of waterways has never been so important.
It is clear we face many challenges, but there are also many opportunities for positive change. If you’d like to share your ideas for a future Hills, please email me, I’d love to hear from you – or look out for the Community Strategic Plan when it goes out on consultation and be sure to ‘Have Your Say’.
CLR JANE GREVTSEVA EAST WARD 0437 938 380
clr.grevtseva@thehills.nsw.gov.au
to live, work, and raise a family. With our community growing rapidly, now is the time to invest in the infrastructure needed to support our future.
Council is launching a campaign to advocate for vital improvements, including upgraded public transport and enhanced community facilities. We know that congestion is a major concern for residents, and we are committed to working with state and federal governments to secure the funding needed to ease traffic flow, road safety and improve connectivity across the Shire.
Equally important are our parks, playgrounds, and recreational spaces. These areas contribute to our quality of life, and we strongly support initiatives to upgrade existing facilities and create new open spaces for families to enjoy.
Recent achievements include the renewal of playgrounds at Bundara Way Reserve, Baulkham Hills, and Coolong Reserve, Castle Hill, as well as the completion and official opening of Stringer Road Reserve in North Kellyville. We have also converted a dual-use court for netball and basketball at Arnold Avenue Reserve, Kellyville.
Our role as Councillors involves forming important partnerships with various stakeholders to drive these projects forward. By collaborating with local businesses, community groups, and government agencies, we can ensure that our Shire continues to thrive and meet the needs of its residents.
We are pleased to announce new funding approved from the State Government for several key projects. This includes the renewal of the dog ring amenities building and refurbishing the external pavilion at Castle Hill Showground, the renewal of Gooden Drive Reserve, Baulkham Hills, and the Castle Hill Public School redevelopment.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Council staff and leadership team for their hard work and dedication in making these projects a reality. Their efforts are instrumental in driving the progress and development of our community.
We encourage all residents to stay engaged and support Council’s campaign for better infrastructure. Your voice matters, and together, we can ensure that The Hills continues to thrive.
If you have any thoughts or concerns, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s build a stronger, more connected future for our community.
CLR SAMUEL UNO EAST WARD 0436 481 369
clr.uno@thehills.nsw.gov.au
During this term of Council, I will be focusing on the following objectives when making decisions in the best interest of our residents.
Fiscal Responsibility
Continue the strong fiscal responsibility and management of Council’s budget. Ensuring we operate within our means and that The Hills’ residents continue to pay some of the lowest rates in Sydney.
Connectivity
Advocate for better connectivity between our major transportation hubs and employment centres, while promoting infrastructure development to cater for more flexible modes of transport (including on demand buses, bicycles, e-bikes and scooters).
Continuous Improvement
Use data and insights to drive Council’s standards and interactions with residents. Whether that be raising a request to repair a footpath or submit a development application to Council, we need to strive for greater transparency and improved interactions.
Measured Development
Supporting developments and planning proposals where they meet the long-term objectives of Council and our residents’ expectations. Thus, ensuring that our Shire is protected from over development and excessive burden on our public amenities.
Local Jobs
Ensuring that we protect our industrial and commercial zoned land for future job creation, while constantly looking for opportunities to reduce red tape and irrelevant compliance to promote business and wealth creation in The Hills.
Traffic Woes
CLR ALAN HASELDEN EAST WARD 0437 144 392
clr.haselden@thehills.nsw.gov.au
Our daughter recently hailed a driverless taxi in Los Angeles and, whilst initially a little nervous, found the experience comfortable and seemingly safe. It got me thinking about our local transport issues. Not a council meeting or briefing passes without reference to, and usually vigorous discussion about, transport. As the population of the nation, the
city and our local government area grows, more and more cars jostle for space on the roads, in car parks and kerbside. The Metro, our world class mass transit system, is now running quite noticeably near full at peak times and, with the connection through to Sydenham, finding a seat is no longer guaranteed. Parking around Metro stations is becoming an even more pressing issue and Councillors are very aware of the challenges which commuters are facing. Unfortunately, there are no simple or inexpensive solutions but evolving technologies such as small driverless electric buses may assist in providing future relief. We continue to urge Transport for NSW to heed our residents’ concerns.
Waste to Energy
Landfill of household and commercial waste is no longer viewed as a proper solution to disposal and across the world has been replaced by an incineration process known as Waste to Energy where the heat from incineration is used to cleanly and safely generate electricity for our increasingly vulnerable grid. Whereas we all aspire to recycling our waste, the practical realities of contamination and an enormous complexity of products in waste, mean that attempts at sorting and recycling continue to face significant engineering and economic challenges. Waste to Energy is an option which needs considered public debate encouraged by State departments unfettered by ideology. The Mayor’s recent Mayoral Minute was framed around this issue and received overwhelming support from Councillors. Practical solutions should always trump ideology, and I hope that wise heads in State Government will come to appreciate that a focus solely on recycling cannot solve the landfill problem.
Our Volunteers
Attending the annual awards event for our SES earlier this year reminded me of how much we rely on the volunteers who venture forth in times of adversity and offer their time and skills to the community, often in dangerous situations. Whether it is the SES, the RFS or any other of our volunteer groups and community organisations, The Hills is immeasurably enriched by our volunteers and our gratitude should know no bounds.
CLR REENA JETHI CENTRAL WARD 0412 341 161
clr.jethi@thehills.nsw.gov.au
The Hills has been a high-growth area for many years. There have been enormous changes to our Shire throughout that period.
Many of those changes have been very positive, bringing homes for people to live in, a world-class Metro that connects us to the city and destinations like Rouse Hill Town Centre and Norwest that give our residents much more to do in their spare time. Hills residents are very fair. They have carried the burden for much of Sydney’s housing growth for many years. But now our residents have had enough.
There simply has not been enough investment in our roads, schools and public spaces from the NSW Government.
The lack of progress on Rouse Hill Hospital has been quite alarming and our schools are almost at breaking point.
Housing has been declared a major issue for the Federal Government, but we are yet to see anywhere near enough Federal investment in local infrastructure.
That’s why Council is pushing ahead with its campaign for better roads, parks, schools and sports fields to accommodate our booming population.
We have the highest housing targets in the state. They are set by the NSW Government. Now they need to set a budget to match that target.
I encourage residents to jump on board and support the petition if they want to see positive change in our Shire.
Please visit fairerhillsfuture.com.au for more information.
CLR JEROME COX CENTRAL WARD 0400 499 157 clr.cox@thehills.nsw.gov.au
As a Councillor, my focus is:
• Fiscal discipline and prudence
• Minimising the size of Council and regulation
• Avoiding mission creep
• Good governance
• Conservative values
As a Councillor I have fought against reducing your red bin pick up from weekly to fortnightly with an increase (but not a doubling) of the size of the red bin. If implemented this would negatively affect the quality of life of many residents - particularly families. The motion was successful but only with the Mayor breaking the tie with a casting vote.
During the voice referendum Council was approached for its stance by several residents and also received media enquiries. There were also campaigns and communications from state and federal ministers that encouraged Council to take
a stand or at least favour one side of the debate. In response I moved a motion which ensured Council’s position was that we had no vote, our residents can make up their own minds and it would be inappropriate for the Council to take a position. This was a strong rebuke to other councils that had taken a stance, which I believe is inappropriate - we are not elected to use Council resources to influence our own voters in other elections. In this term, under the strong leadership of Mayor Byrne, Council is continuing to push hard against the TOD overdevelopments the State Government is imposing on our Shire. In addition to this we are pushing for serious planning reform to protect us all from inappropriate development. The final area we are focusing on is the third ‘R’ of local government - rubbish. We are pushing for serious action to be taken to ensure we deal with our own waste in an affordable and appropriate way rather than shipping our waste to the rural areas. We are also pushing the NSW Government to account for the waste levy that accounts for a significant portion of your waste levy and appears to not been allocated to its intended purpose.
CLR TINA CARTWRIGHT CENTRAL WARD 0477 645 950
clr.cartwright@thehills.nsw.gov.au
I have been advocating for improved local infrastructure, safer roads and level crossings. On that note, there has been a recent upgrade to the raised level crossing on Foxall Road in North Kellyville that was much needed and provides a safer crossing for school children and families, particularly during the busy peak periods. I believe there are a number of school kiss and drop zones that need to be improved to avoid road congestion and make safer designated school zones.
Alongside some of my fellow Councillors, I recently attended a Waste Management Symposium on how we manage organics and compost, which will be rolled out to every household within The Hills by 2027. I’m also advocating for local bus services to Metro stations that will avoid the parking build up we currently have and to reduce overall general traffic congestion on our local roads.
The NSW Government has rolled out draft changes to the Council Meeting Code of Practice. I think the live streaming of Council meetings should be incorporated into the code to provide greater transparency and to enable our residents and particularly those that may not be able to physically attend Council meetings to be engaged and informed.
PLACES AVAILABLE AT LONG DAY CHILD CARE CENTRES
The Hills Shire Council owns and operates five not-for-profit long day care centres:
BALCOMBE HEIGHTS CHILD CARE CENTRE, BAULKHAM HILLS
CASTLE GLEN CHILD CARE CENTRE, CASTLE HILL
ELLERMAN CHILD CARE CENTRE, DURAL
EURAMBIE PARK CHILD CARE CENTRE, WEST PENNANT HILLS
EXCELSIOR AVENUE CHILD CARE CENTRE, CASTLE HILL
For more information about our centres or to enquire, scan the QR code.
WHY CHOOSE ONE OF OUR CHILD CARE CENTRES?
FOR CHILDREN AGED SIX WEEKS TO FIVE YEARS
OPEN 7AM - 6PM MONDAY TO FRIDAY
SMALL, BOUTIQUE CENTRES WITH ONLY 40 PLACES AVAILABLE QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED EDUCATORS
NUTRITIOUS MEALS COOKED ONSITE DAILY
ACTIVE AND INCLUSIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WITH SHADED OUTDOOR PLAY AREAS
JOIN PHILIP PROBETS AND BECOME A VOLUNTEER DRIVER
Flexible hours available from 8am - 4pm, Monday to Friday. To learn more about Philip's experience with volunteer driving, scan the QR code.
