Article: A plan for delivery in Hunters Hill

A plan for delivery in Hunters Hill

After community consultation and following a recent IPART decision, Hunter’s Hill Council has a plan for delivery

With its tree-lined streets, beautiful harbour foreshores, open spaces and boutique village centres, Hunters Hill is a desirable place to live and work.

Many of its attractions are natural; others, most notably its beautiful sandstone and heritage architecture, centre on the built environment.

The setting provides a wealth of potential and also some challenges in maintaining and enhancing the local government area to a standard its residents and ratepayers expect and deserve.

In consultation with the community, Hunter’s Hill Council is finalising its plans for delivery in the year ahead and for the longer term.

The Council is seeking feedback on a range of strategic documents that will guide the aspirations and needs of the Hunters Hill community over the next one to 10 years.

These capture the community’s vision for the future and outline expected levels of service, financial responsibilities, and the ability to respond to future opportunities and challenges. MAJOR PROJECTS, SUPPORTED BY STATE AND FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING INCLUDE: • Activation of Figtree Park, financed through a NSW Public

Spaces Legacy Program grant of $4.75million. • A new community and sporting facility at Boronia Park

to service district-level sport, recreational users and the broader community; and • Upgrades to the playing fields and amenities at Gladesville Reserve. Works and services will provide connected and accessible infrastructure, protect and sustain outdoor spaces, and help neighbourhoods and village centres thrive. Other key goals focus on supporting the Hunters Hill community, providing safe and inclusive experiences and places, and carrying is a desirable out Council business in an open and transparent way. place to live Hunters Hill Mayor Zac Miles said the essential services, facilities, programs and work and projects set out in Council’s strategic planning documents was informed by community feedback. “We have been hearing throughout this term of Council about what is important to our community,” he said. “Priorities highlighted by many of our residents and ratepayers include ensuring we are getting it right when it comes to the traditional business of local government, such as our road and footpath network and public spaces. “Maintenance and presentation to a standard our community expects and deserves is so important. “So too is making the best use of these places, be it through optimising pedestrian, traffic and parking

FIGTREE PARK IS AMONG THE MAJOR PROJECTS HUNTER’S HILL COUNCIL IS UNDERTAKING.

The NSW Government has allocated $4.75 million in funding to the Council, as part of the NSW Public Spaces Legacy Program, for the embellishment of Figtree Park.

Concept plans for the park include an inclusive playspace featuring ‘seed pod’ tree houses, timber boardwalks, basket swings, climbing nets, nature play and more, which is set to feature alongside an accessible amenities block, pathways, plantings, and other enhancements.

The project aims to increase public use of the space and improve connections to adjoining streets through improved traffic and pedestrian outcomes.

The endorsed concept plans reflect community feedback received as part of a multi-phase public consultation process.

conditions, or ensuring the best use of our outdoor spaces for organised sport and general recreation.”

Community feedback for the strategic planning documents was gathered through an independent telephone survey of 400 residents, social and print media, online notice boards, letters, emails, phone calls and dropin sessions. THE AREAS THE COMMUNITY ASKED THE COUNCIL TO PRIORITISE INCLUDED: • Footpaths • Roads • Traffic management • Managing development and the development application process • Managing parks, playgrounds and open spaces • Innovation in sustainability • Managing financial sustainability • Library services.

These priorities are reflected in the Council’s draft strategic planning framework.

Clr Miles said revitalisation of village centres was also a priority, to support local business and enhance public enjoyment of these locations.

“We delivered a night-time activation festival in April that brought people to Hunters Hill Village after dark to enjoy the great evening cuisine on offer at our local restaurants and cafes.

“With street performers and live music added to the mix, it created a great atmosphere.”

“We’ve also seen the successful launch of new businesses in this precinct in recent months, which is a really promising sign that our local economy is starting to recover following the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021.”

Like many other councils, Hunters Hill faces the challenge of balancing community expectations with future financial sustainability.

The program for how the Council operates and what it will deliver for the community is underpinned by its budget.

A decision of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART), announced in May, means a special variation to rates will apply from 2022-23 and beyond. This IPART decision makes up a component of the funding mix for Council to deliver balanced budgets.

As well as improving long-term financial sustainability, it also means that the Council can complete its capital works program and reduce its asset backlog.

IPART Chair Carmel Donnelly said the conditions for the special variation approvals required Council to spend the additional income on the specific purposes outlined in its application.

Council is also required to report to the community about how its additional revenues are spent. Improvements to roads, footpaths, environmental management, playgrounds, kerbs and gutters, seawalls and parks and reserves will be delivered.

For more information and to view the draft budget and other strategic documents, go to the Council’s website: www.huntershill.nsw.gov.au/participate.