Team meetings are an important way we communicate throughout the Council. It’s an opportunity for staff to bring matters forward to the attention of all and an opportunity for leaders to communicate what’s happening from their work perspective. We have a template for conducting team meetings and I would expect that teams meet at least monthly, but more often as needed.
We all know meetings can either be the best use of our time, or a waste of time. The difference? A little planning and a lot of purpose. Well conducted team meetings promote collaboration, productivity, problem solving, as well as an opportunity for sharing important information and making sure our goals and objectives remained aligned. Hopefully it makes you feel part of the team and you can see how your work and ideas contributes to our purpose for being here.
Here’s what makes a meeting worth showing up for:
• if we’re meeting, it’s because there’s something important to share, decide, or solve. No purpose = no meeting
• share the agenda early so everyone knows what’s coming. It keeps us on track and stops those “what are we doing here?” moments
• invite the people who need to be there, respect everyone’s time
• start on time, finish on time
• every meeting should end with clear actions - who’s doing what, and by when
• team meetings should not go for more than 2 hours and should be timed to place minimal disruption to work and no intrusion into lunch breaks
• record the minutes and actions in ECM
• everyone should contribute.
You can find the team meeting template on the staff portal - click here.
Here we are again – the end of another year
As 2025 ends, we celebrate a year of growth, challenges, and achievements across The Hills Shire. Our teams are performing some great work each day and I am so proud of our Council.
Our population surge brings both opportunity and responsibility, demanding new infrastructure, asset renewal, and service scaling to support over 200,000 residents.
Our growth presents opportunities that many other councils do not enjoy. I attended the annual LGNSW Conference and am blown away by the problems some of the State’s councils are grappling with. Our growth is a privilege, and an opportunity to stay focused on improvement, financial sustainability, and operational excellence. Technology and AI will bring both challenges and opportunities.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication to making The Hills Shire a great place to live and work. Let’s keep showing up fresh, positive, and ready to contribute to an outstanding workplace that is built on our values of Honesty, Integrity, Loyalty, Leadership, and Safety.
Welcome to 2026 Staff BBQ
Let’s kick off the new year together at our annual Staff BBQ Breakfast on Wednesday 28 January 2026. It’s a great opportunity to reconnect and celebrate as one team. See page 12 for details.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
However you spend the festive season, I wish you joy, peace, and good health. Have a very merry Christmas, enjoy time with loved ones and enjoy a well-deserved break. Stay safe and happy and see you in 2026.
Michael Edgar
General Manager
The Hills Shire Council
IT NEWS
Strong passwords
A strong password is one the bad guys can’t guess. Even long passwords can be cracked if they follow common patterns like ‘Something12345’. The best approach is to avoid consecutive numbers, use multiple words, and include something that isn’t in the dictionary.
With Hello for Business, you’ll use your long password less often. You can sign in quickly and securely with a PIN, fingerprint, or facial recognition: not just for Windows, but also for many apps and websites in your browser.
Set secure passphrases | Cyber.gov.au
Quick tip to make Intramaps work smarter for you!
Experiencing a ‘time out’ when zooming in and using the Information tool? There’s a faster, more reliable way to get the details you need:
1. use the selection tool instead!
2. expand the list of selection layers by clicking the arrow
3. switch between layers easily and view the information you need, without the frustration of timeouts.
Give it a try and streamline your workflow today!
Creating recurring meetings - Microsoft best practice
It’s important to follow best practices when scheduling recurring meetings in Microsoft Outlook or Teams. Below are some great tips to achieve clarity and efficiency:
• make sure the meeting series has a clear objective
• choose a frequency that fits your team’s needs and goals
• Add a detailed agenda to the invite and update it before each meeting
• use clear subject lines, avoid generic titles like ‘Weekly Meeting’, make the topic specific
• set an end date and don’t let the series run forever - limit to a maximum of 12 months
• review regularly and check if the series is still relevant. If needed, create a new one after the end date
• start fresh, don’t extend old series. Create new ones to keep things organised and avoid confusion.
Don’t get scammed this Christmas!
’Tis the season for some shopping … and scams. Don’t let a fake ‘holiday deal’ turn into a real headache. Stay alert, watch out for delivery-text scams, check URLs, and shop only on trusted sites.
Copilot training
We’re excited to announce that Copilot training has officially started! This marks an important step in equipping our organisation with the skills and knowledge to make the most of Copilot’s capabilities.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be rolling out training sessions more broadly so that everyone can benefit. Please keep an eye out for further updates and invitations to upcoming sessions.
HR and Wellbeing Corner
Health & Wellbeing Expo
The Health and Wellbeing Expo on 12 November was a celebration of self-care and healthy living. Employees embraced the opportunity to recharge and learn, with heart health checks, sleep and lifestyle consultations, and a dynamic core stability class drawing plenty of interest. The mental health strategies seminar sparked great conversations, while the rejuvenating seated massages were a crowd favourite. Let’s not forget the healthy snacks stall - it was a runaway success, proving that nutritious can be delicious!
Thank you to everyone who joined in and made the day such a success.
Mid-year check-ins
Mid-year Wellbeing and Performance Planning check-ins are now available and must be completed by 31 January 2026.
What to do:
• Access the task in ‘My Tasks’ on CiAnywhere. Review and update:
• respond to questions on development goals and work-fromhome arrangements
• complete common goals: attendance – sick leave, annual and variable leave
• remember: evidence for safety/process improvement initiatives will be required at the final check-in scheduled for May 2026. Once finished, click ‘Submit’ to your manager/coordinator. They will schedule a one-on-one to discuss progress and wellbeing.
Christmas shutdown
Christmas is quickly approaching. As per EA No.6, unless a manager specifically requests you to work, all employees are required to take leave between the public holidays of Christmas and New Year. This leave may include variable leave, rostered days off, special contract leave, annual leave, or long service leave.
Click here for Council’s operating hours during this period.
Delegation letters
– review and signing
In the coming days, staff with delegations will receive a letter for review and signature. Delegations of authority allow decisionmaking powers to be exercised efficiently without full Council approval, ensuring compliance and reducing risk.
Please review, sign, and return your letter to your Manager by the end of December 2025. Signed letters will be recorded in the Employee Index and Delegation Subject Index.
Moving forward, delegation letters will be reviewed and signed annually to keep your authority current and aligned with your responsibilities. If you require additional delegations, consult your Manager.
Meet Michelle Bird
Resource Recovery Education Officer
“Michelle believes one person’s trash is another’s treasure, and she has built her career proving it.”
Our passionate Resource Recovery Education Officer, Michelle is helping the community see the value in waste.
Michelle, how long have you been with Council, and what do you do in your role?
I joined Council a year ago. My role is all about helping people feel confident to live more sustainably. I run childcare workshops on composting and worm farming, organise community events like clothing swaps or clean-up days, and help introduce new recycling initiatives for residents such as the Recycling Wall Hub.
What inspires you about sustainability?
I love finding fun and creative ways to engage the community in waste education. Sustainability can be positive and achievable, and I enjoy showing people that small changes can make a big difference.
What’s one of your proudest achievements?
Helping to establish Council’s Recycling Wall Hub. It’s a convenient drop-off point where community members can recycle tricky items like batteries, coffee pods, and oral care products. Seeing people use it and reduce waste makes me proud.
What’s something people might not know about your work?
I love to ‘trash talk’ – but not in the way you think! My enthusiasm for sustainability shines through
everything I do, from teaching kids about composting to facilitating community-wide events that make waste reduction fun and accessible.
Top tips from Michelle
Want to live more sustainably? Start small with these easy steps:
• compost at home – even a small worm farm can make a big difference
• reduce food waste - plan meals, freeze ingredients or leftovers
• use the Recycling Wall Hub – drop off tricky items like batteries and coffee pods instead of binning them
• think before you throw – can something be reused, repurposed, or donated
• reduce before you recycle - recycling is great, but using less is even better. Choose reusable items (bottles, bags, containers) and avoid single-use plastics where possible
• cut energy use at home - switch to led bulbs, unplug devices when not in use.
We welcome referrals for this column. If you or a colleague would like to be featured, contact: nvanders@thehills.nsw.gov.au
Far left to right: Michelle at the Recycling Wall Hub in Council’s at Columbia Court; Holding a kids worm farming workshop with the Mayor.
Right: Resource Recovery stall at NAIDOC Week with Lydia Mottram
Left: Michelle in hi vis ready for a workshop.
Meet our new staff
Welcome to new staff who joined us in November. No matter what team you’re in, your work helps make our community a better place to live, work and visit.
New staff
Prakash Khadka
Engineering Coordinator, Subdivision and Development Certification
Hershini Abeygunawarena Senior Systems Analyst, Information Technology
Iman Farag Lodgement and Enquiry Officer, Customer Service
Willem Smith
Customer and Information Officer - Casual, Customer Service
Media and Communication Assistant - Casual, Communications and Marketing
Belinda Namnoum
Digital Media and Content Creator, Communications and Marketing
Jaryd Lewis
Parking Officer, Regulatory Services
Internal appointments
Cindy Gross
Customer Information Officer; Venue Bookings Officer, Customer Service, Community Venues
Ashkan Denhari Senior Design Engineer, Survey and Design
Daniel Misbrener Team LeaderEarthmoving and Haulage, Civil Works
Sophie Ryu Early Childhood EducatorDiploma, Children’s Services
Evelyn Tiska Customer and Information Officer - Casual, Customer Service
Alexa Pan Strategic Asset Officer, Asset Management
Best wishes to all who departed Council during November
Harmann Singh Lodgement and Enquiry Officer
Rashmi Ravindran Digital Media and Content Creator
Kim Dali Customer Information Officer
Olivia Miller Principal CoordinatorWorkplace Relations
A proud moment:
Alana Dunn and Council shine at
Jobsupport Awards
For the past 14 years, Alana Dunn has been a valued member of Council through the Jobsupport Program, which provides meaningful employment opportunities for people who benefit from workplace support.
This program has been running for 40 years, and today supports around 870 Australians in workplaces across the country, including Council and major employers such as Woolworths, Coles, Bunnings, and Westpac.
On Wednesday 19 November, Alana was honoured with a 10-Year Service Award at a ceremony held at Revesby Workers Club. Council was also proud to receive an Employer Award in recognition of our commitment to inclusive employment.
“The best part of my job at Council is being surrounded by a close-knit, supportive team.” said Alana.
Michael Spence says, “Alana is a dedicated, polite and conscientious team member who takes great pride in her work. Her role is essential in keeping our operations running smoothly, she manages key filing tasks and ensures materials are efficiently distributed across the building, helping everything stay organised and on track.”
Almitra Hirst and Michael Spence attended the event along with Alana’s parents, who expressed their heartfelt appreciation for Council’s ongoing support, which has enabled Alana to grow, thrive, and contribute meaningfully to her community.
Deadline: Wednesday 7 January 2026
Celebrating excellence:
We’re proud to announce that our Customer Service and Venues team has received a Highly Commended Award in the National Local Government Customer Service Network Team of the Year category for 2024-25. This recognition highlights the incredible work our staff do, whether on the phones, at the counter, managing portals, business information, mail room, NAR, back office, or RIM projects. No other council matches the breadth and quality of service delivered.
Although the team narrowly missed out on the Innovation of the Year award, the judges praised their submissions for impact and creativity:
• DA processing timeframe reduction – commended for agility and leadership in reducing processing times and backlogs
• NAR clean up project – recognised for improving data integrity and service reliability through strong project management
• Multi-channel learning approach – applauded for innovative workforce training and maintaining service continuity during system upgrades.
Highly Commended Award for our Customer Service and Venues Team
Congratulations to everyone involved for shining on the national stage!
DOUBLE DEMERITS APPLY
From 12am 24 December 2025 to 11.59pm 4 January 2026
The double demerit point scheme applies for the following offences:
• speeding
• illegal use of mobile phones
• not wearing a seatbelt or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt
• driving with a passenger not wearing a seatbelt or approved restraint, or with a passenger incorrectly wearing a seatbelt or restraint
• riding without a helmet.
Gifts and Benefits
During your work, you might meet people or organisations who offer gifts, benefits, or hospitality, especially around the festive season. These could be anything from small tokens to gala invitations or travel. Accepting them can create conflicts of interest and harm public trust. To keep things fair and transparent, the Model Code of Conduct for NSW Local Councils says: Council officials must never use their position for personal gain.
You can find the gifts and benefits disclosure form on the staff portal at The Hills - Sydney’s Garden Shire - Forms (nsw. gov.au)
For more details, refer to the Code of Conduct Policy 2/2021-2024
What to do when you GO ON LEAVE
With Christmas holidays approaching Council will have many staff members on leave.
To maintain services during periods of absence, please make sure you check off the following list!
ensure Pathway and ECM task bars are covered
have a meaningful out of office message
phones divert to an appropriate officer – not the contact centre
mobiles have a meaningful voicemail message
tidy your workspace
dispose of perishables from fridges and kitchen
make sure your leave is approved and recorded in the system
submit any outstanding timesheets before heading off
check deadlines for invoices, reimbursements, and procurement requests to avoid delays over the break.
Look after your mental health and wellbeing
The holiday season can be stressful, remember that support is always available:
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support is available 24/7 and provides free, confidential counselling for staff. beyondblue.org.au lifeline.org.au
Take time to rest, recharge, and connect with loved ones.
Christmas and New Year Operating Hours
COUNCIL’S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRE
Council’s Customer Service Centre will close at 4.30pm on Wednesday 24 December 2025 and reopen at 8.30am on Friday 2 January 2026.
Council’s After-Hours Call Centre will operate during this period to provide limited customer services for customer requests and escalate emergencies according to Council’s normal after-hours operating procedures. Potholes, unauthorised activities, noise, safety and other concerns can be reported via Council’s website, www.thehills.nsw.gov.au by searching for ‘Report it to Council’.
COUNCIL’S LIBRARIES
Date
COUNCIL’S CHILD CARE CENTRES
Council’s Child Care Centres will close from Friday 19 December 2025 and reopen on Tuesday 6 January 2026.
HILLS
COMMUNITY CARE
Hills Community Care will operate until 4.30pm on Wednesday 24 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026.
Throughout the entire Christmas/ New Year period, client support will be provided upon request and emergency contact numbers will be available.
WAVES FITNESS AND AQUATIC CENTRE
Date
Tuesday 23 December 2025 6am-9pm
Wednesday 24 December 2025 6am-5pm 7am-5pm
Thursday 25 December 2025
Friday 26 December 2025 8am-6pm 8am-6pm
Saturday 27 December 2025 7am-7pm 7am-5.30pm
Sunday 28 December 2025 7am-7pm 7.30am-5.30pm
Monday 29 December 2025 6am-9pm 7am-7pm
Tuesday 30 December 2025 6am-9pm 7am-7pm
Wednesday 31 December 2025 6am-5pm 7am-5pm
Thursday 1 January 2026 8am-6pm 8am-6pm
Friday 2 January 2026 6am-8pm 7am-7pm
Saturday 3 January 2026 7am-7pm 7.30am-5.30pm
*Waves Cafe is not operated by Council.
Days/times subject to change. For more information, visit www.thehills.nsw.gov.au
Book of the month
Legacy, the latest Aussie blockbuster by Chris Hammer
1 December 2025 - 28 February 2026
Challenge yourself to read more over summer and explore new genres, authors, and ideas.
Grab a bingo card from any Hills Shire Library, pick your books, and let the reading begin!
Martin Scarsden is being targeted, they bomb his book launch and shoot up his hometown. Fleeing for his life, he learns that nowhere is safe, not even the outback. The killers are closing in, and it’s all he can do to survive. But who wants to kill him and why? Gripping, atmospheric, and full of shocking twists, Legacy is Chris Hammer at his electrifying best. 15 Nov14 Dec 2025
Bring back the books, help those in need and have your fines waived!
Environmental Education Dec/Jan
WORKSHOPS
FREE WORKSHOPS FOR HILLS RESIDENTS
Join our free, interactive workshops on environmental education and sustainability, held year-round. Limited spots, bookings essential!
Stay updated
Subscribe to our mailing list for the latest events, workshops, and programs in The Hills.
Make your own recycled Christmas wreath
Tuesday 9 December | 4.30pm - 6.30pm
3 Columbia Court, Norwest
Join us to make your own recycled Christmas Wreath with items found around your home and garden!
Bookings and more information
Urban Gardens: Christmas Kokedama Workshop
Thursday 4 December | 10am - 12pm Castle Hill Library
Join our Christmas Kokedama Workshop to create a beautiful moss ball plant with a seasonal twist. Register for waitlist here
The 12 tips for a waste-free Christmas and make your own reusable gift wrap
Friday 12 December | 6pm - 8pm
3 Columbia Court, Norwest enjoy hands-on activities like making foraged decorations and reusable gift wrapping.
Bookings and more information
Youth Kokedama Workshop 10+ years
Wednesday 14 January | 10am12pm | Learning in The Hills, Turner Building 4, Balcombe Heights Estate
Learn this Japanese planting technique and take home your new plant. Free. Bookings and more information
Making sustainable presents
Thursday 13 November | 6pm - 8pm
3 Columbia Court, Norwest
Make your own sustainable presents in our hands-on workshop!
Bookings and more information
School Holidays Seed Bomb Workshop 8+ years
Wednesday 21 January | 10am12pm | Learning in The Hills, Turner Building 4, Balcombe Heights Estate
Learn this Japanese planting technique and take home your new plant. Free. Bookings and more information
Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December
Castle Hill Showground 9am - 3.30pm
Dispose of paint, pesticides, herbicides, poisons, solvents, household cleaners, fluorescent globes and tubes, motor oils, fuels and fluids, batteries, gas bottles, fire extinguishers, pool chemicals, acids and alkali’s, hobby chemicals, and x-ray films.
For more information, including a full list of acceptable items and how to prepare them, click on the link below.
