Following extensive community consultation for its Community Strategic Plan, Hornsby Shire Council last night detailed its future plans for the community as it endorsed its draft 2022-2026 Delivery Program, including the Operational Plan 2022/23, plus the budget for the year ahead, for public exhibition.
Despite the impacts of COVID-19, Council has adapted to a rapidly changing environment, continuing its commitments to the community and maintaining current levels of service while building a more resilient Shire. It presents a well-balanced budget with a moderate surplus, leaving it well prepared to respond to potential shocks that may occur over the financial year.
The Delivery Program sets out the roadmap for how Council will deliver on goals identified by residents in its 10-year Community Strategic Plan Your Vision I Your Future 2032.
"In preparing this Delivery Program and Operational Plan (DPOP), Council has carefully considered the impacts of recent shocks, including COVID-19 and extreme weather, and how we can best support the community,' said Hornsby Shire Mayor Philip Ruddock.
"This Delivery Program and Operational Plan sets out in detail the many steps Council will take to make Hornsby Shire a more resilient community, working with our community toward environmental sustainability, and maintaining our beautiful natural environment even as we provide for essential development."
Key initiatives for 2022/23 include:
- Undertaking detailed designs and commencing improvements at Hornsby Park ($21 million)
- Undertaking detailed designs and commencing upgrades at Westleigh Park ($1.7 million)
- Beecroft Town Centre Improvements ($600,000)
- Asquith to Mount Colah Public Domain Improvements ($3.5 million)
- Local Road Improvements ($3.8 million)
- Footpath Improvements ($500,000)
- Completion, exhibition and adoption of the Hornsby Town Centre Review.
"Council's sound financial management continues with a carefully planned and considered budget in line with essential services and what the community told us they need and want," Mayor Philip Ruddock continued.
The DPOP will be on public exhibition for community feedback until 16 May.
Also endorsed for public exhibition was the draft Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2021-2025. The plan has been developed following in-depth community consultation to ensure Council achieves its goal of being a resilient and inclusive community. It outlines how Council will make mainstream services and community facilities more accessible to people with disability, enabling people living with disability and their carers to participate in community life.
Other items of note at last night's meeting included:
- Council received and noted a report on Councillor representation on external and internal committees and determined Councillor representation on the Hornsby Aboriginal & Torres Strait Island Consultative Committee and the Hornsby Shire Heritage Advisory Committee
- Council adopted the draft Dual Naming and/or Renaming of Council Facilities Policy
- Council endorsed a Mayoral Minute acknowledging the many services to the community of the late Mr Edward David (Ted) Angelo
- Council noted a report on the impacts of an IPART proposal to regulate NSW councils' Domestic Waste Management Charges and endorsed a submission to IPART raising concerns about their Draft Decisions, with a copy to go to relevant Government stakeholders.
- In response to the disaster in Lismore, when over 30,000 items in Lismore Library were destroyed in the floods, Council resolved to donate $5000 to the Richmond Tweed Regional Library Service to assist in rebuilding their collections.
- Council resolved to write to all local members to ask them to advocate to Transport for NSW for the permanent return of the large Berowra Waters Ferry following its repair and encouraged community members to do so also.
The full agenda of the meeting, along with details of each item discussed, can be found at hornsby.nsw.gov.au. The video recording of the meeting will be available from tomorrow afternoon.
