ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 23 JUNE, 2015 … meeting of council 23 june, 2015 Council’s Fit for the Future Submission The Hills Shire Council can only submit a submission based

ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 23 JUNE, 2015

ITEM-5 FIT FOR THE FUTURE SUBMISSION DOC INFO

THEME: Proactive Leadership

OUTCOME: 2 Prudent management of financial resources, assets and people to deliver the community outcomes

STRATEGY: 2.2 Maintain a strong financial position that supports the delivery of services and strategies and ensures long term financial sustainability.

MEETING DATE: 23 JUNE 2015

COUNCIL MEETING

GROUP: GENERAL MANAGER

AUTHOR:

GROUP MANAGER -STRATEGIC PLANNING

MICHAEL EDGAR

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

CHANDI SABA

RESPONSIBLE OFFICER: GENERAL MANAGER

DAVE WALKER

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Over the past 4 years or so the NSW State Government has been reviewing the role, capacity and performance of Local Government. It has publically stated that the 152 Councils serving between 1,200 and 300,000 people are not working as well as they should be. It observes that over one third of Councils are facing financial problems and the multiple administrations of Sydney Councils adds to inefficiencies and a failure to adequately respond to population growth. It set up an Independent Local Government Review Panel (Independent Review Panel) which has handed down its findings. In response the “Fit for the Future” (FFF) process is the State Government’s blueprint for reform Every Council in NSW is required to respond to the FFF process and to demonstrate that they are financially sound, operating efficiently and in a strong position to guide, grow and deliver quality Local Government services into the future. Council must prepare a FFF submission by 30 June 2015. The NSW Government has outlined that a FFF Council is one that is “sustainable, efficient, effective, manages infrastructure and delivers services for communities and has the scale and capacity to engage effectively across the community, industry and government”. The Hills Shire Council is able to demonstrate that it is FFF and the purpose of this report is to form Council’s submission to IPART and its response to Local Government Reform in NSW. REPORT The NSW Government is intent on reforming the Local Government sector. In Sydney, the NSW Government says the 41 Councils add complexity, different levels of service and cost $1 billion in administration each year. A $22.5 million funding opportunity has

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ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 23 JUNE, 2015 been announced as an incentive for Councils in Sydney, Central Coast and the Lower Hunter to merge. Clearly, fewer Councils is a desired outcome. The FFF process is the NSW Government’s response to Local Government reform. All Councils in NSW are required to submit a proposal in response to the FFF reform process by 30 June 2015. The NSW Government has prepared 3 templates to help prepare proposals. Template 1 is for a Council who has not got the appropriate scale and capacity and is proposing a merger with another Council. Template 2 is for a Council that has appropriate scale and capacity and is proposing improvements and Template 3 is for rural Councils. In terms of each Council’s assessment of “scale and capacity”, the recommendation for that Council by the Independent Review Panel is the starting point. The Independent Review Panel recommended “No Change” to The Hills Shire Council. However, when looking at our neighbours it also suggested that part of the Shire south of the M2 (Oatlands, part of North Rocks, Northmead and Carlingford) be transferred to Parramatta City Council, a possible reconfiguration of boundaries around the North West Growth Centre and a possible long term merger with Hawkesbury City Council. The Hills Shire Council made a comprehensive submission and response to the Independent Review Panel’s findings given that The Hills Shire does have sufficient scale, capacity and resources. The Hills Shire Council’s submission does not involve full mergers with neighbouring Councils but does suggest boundary adjustments with Parramatta, Hornsby and Hawkesbury in order to achieve the Independent Review Panel’s overall recommendations and to deal with known existing community of interest issues. For The Hills Shire, our FFF submission requires completing the Improvement Template (Template 2). The Independent Review Panel’s Recommendations The Hills Shire Council has been ranked in the top 2 strongest Councils financially in the State and can demonstrate a very good track record in managing growth, delivery of infrastructure and working with State Government Departments. Council can demonstrate that it has the scale and capacity in its current form however it is able to expand the current boundaries of the Shire and remain sustainable to assist in the reform process. Council’s submission responding to the Independent Review Panel was, and is, proactive. It embraced the opportunity to improve the Local Government sector. The Hills Shire Council is able to take on more and its alternate proposal will, by and large, help deliver the outcomes of the Independent Review Panel’s recommendation. The NSW Government has given IPART the role of “Expert Panel” to assess each Council’s FFF submission. The Independent Review Panel made a few recommendations that affect The Hills Shire. Overall, the Panel did not find that The Hills Shire warranted a change but did suggest the following:- (a) Look at Resolving the Growth Centres’ Boundaries with Hawkesbury and

Blacktown Councils

The Hills Response Each Council has been undertaking their respective roles in land use planning in the Growth Centres. The Hills Shire Council and Blacktown City Council are well

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advanced with land use structure plans, zonings, development standards and contribution planning either being already finalised or well underway. In The Hills Shire the entire rezoning of the Growth Centre is gazetted. There is no need or benefit in making boundary adjustments purely around the Growth Centres in this area. Blacktown City Council is of a similar view and has said so in its FFF submission. Hawkesbury City Council has suggested it take over the Growth Centres to improve its scale and capacity. The Hills Shire Council’s submission does suggest an expansion of the boundary to the Hawkesbury River which will affect Hawkesbury City Council but not Blacktown City Council. This is discussed later in this report.

(b) Complete Future Amalgamation with Hawkesbury City Council The Hills Response Council’s submission did not support this suggestion and it was clearly not aimed at addressing the scale and capacity of The Hills Shire. Instead it appeared completely about addressing the future of Hawkesbury City Council. Hawkesbury City Council is totally opposed to this merger and so is The Hills Shire Council. It remains unclear as to the long term future of Hawkesbury City Council and instead of the Panel’s merger with The Hills Shire Council may instead be distributed to the adjoining Local Government area of Blue Mountains, Penrith and The Hills.

(c) Look to excise the LGA below (South) of the M2 and combine with an amalgamated Parramatta, Holroyd and Auburn Councils The Hills Response Again, the recommendation was not aimed at the current and future scale and capacity of The Hills Shire. Instead it was to strengthen the position of Parramatta City Council and cement it firmly as Sydney’s second CBD. It also appeared to be more about addressing the future of Holroyd City Council and Auburn City Council with an expanded second Sydney CBD. The Hills Shire believes the Independent Review Panel’s recommendation to be unnecessary and will remove a valuable rate base from The Hills Shire but, more importantly, will remove residents that have a long association and affinity with The Hills Shire. Fragmenting this community of interest is unnecessary and disruptive. The M2 is not a barrier to these communities as the M2 was “retro fitted” into those communities and, accordingly, has many areas of permeability that keeps communities intact. In terms of the rate base, this part of our Shire is a significant part of our urban population base that provides around $10.3 million in rate revenue or around 15% of the total rate income. The Hills Shire is 380 sq. km and the urban footprint is approximately 25% of the total footprint. There are approximately 10,500 hectares of urban land and approximately 30,000 hectares of land zoned rural. The vast majority of The Hills Shire is non-urban and the urban rate base provides capacity to support these rural communities and their needs. In terms of addressing Parramatta’s scale and capacity, an amalgamation with Auburn City Council and Holroyd City Council, as recommended by the Independent Review Panel, seems to address these respective Councils’ future along with the

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considerable planned changes in land use planning in Parramatta CBD. With Auburn and Holroyd, according to Metropolitan Plan data, the combined LGA would have a population of around 520,000 by 2031. A logical boundary between The Hills Shire Council and Parramatta City Council is Pennant Hills Road, James Ruse Drive and Old Windsor Road. This means that the part of Oatlands which is currently in The Hills Shire should be transferred to Parramatta City Council. However, it would mean the additional population in Northmead and Winston Hills would become part of The Hills Shire. Perhaps to offset this logical boundary change is for the parts of Carlingford and Epping that are within Hornsby Shire be incorporated into Parramatta and with Holroyd and Auburn would form a population base of around 532,000 by 2031.

(d) No Change As mentioned earlier, this is the predominant Independent Review Panel’s recommendation for The Hills Shire. The reasons for this are obvious. The Hills Shire is FFF in its own right and is among the few Council’s assessed as being financially strong and with a neutral outlook by Treasury. According to data supporting the Metropolitan Plan, The Hills Shire is expected to grow by around 103,000 people to a population of around 280,000 people by 2031. While the “no change” position is justified, in the context of addressing Local Government as an industry, The Hills Shire Council’s submission suggested it could do more. In essence, The Hills Shire Council’s submission was based on reducing current disruptive boundaries and choosing more logical boundaries based on geography and infrastructure and recommended the following:-

i. The boundary for The Hills Shire would continue north westwards along Windsor Road to South Creek and then follow South Creek to its junction with the Hawkesbury River. Part of Vineyard, Mulgrave and McGraths Hill, north of Windsor Road, would be within The Hills Shire and those parts south of Windsor Road within Hawkesbury. This would mean the towns of McGraths Hill, Scheyville, Pitt Town, Oakville, Maraylya and Cattai would be included within The Hills Shire.

ii. Extending The Hills Shire’s northern boundary along the Hawkesbury River to Berowra Creek. This would place all of Wisemans Ferry, Laughtondale, Singleton Mill, Maroota, Canoelands, Forest Glen, Glenorie, Fiddletown, Galston, Arcadia, Middle Dural, Dural, part Cherrybrook, Castle Hill, Glenhaven, West Pennant Hills, Berowra Creek, Berrilee into The Hills Shire.

iii. The boundary between The Hills and Hornsby runs from Berowra Creek to Pye Creek to its junction with New Line Road. It then follows New Line Road to Castle Hill Road and then to Pennant Hills Road to the M2. From there it follows the M2 to Beecroft Road at Epping. From there to Carlingford Road and back to Pennant Hills Road.

iv. Pennant Hills Road to James Ruse Drive then to Old Windsor Road. Oatlands would transfer to Parramatta City Council and Northmead to The Hills Shire Council.

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ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 23 JUNE, 2015 Council’s Fit for the Future Submission The Hills Shire Council can only submit a submission based on Template 2 “Council’s Improvement Proposal”. Template 2 is attached to this report and the following information is a brief overview of the submission. The essential areas of assessment in an Improvement Proposal are as follows:- 1. Current performance, issues facing the Council and the improvement strategies and

outcomes. 2. Scale and Capacity. 3. Performance against FFF benchmarks and how our Council can become and remain

FFF along with an Action Plan. 4. Other Actions considered. 1. Current performance

The Hills Shire Council is a leader in Local Government, with a strong strategic capacity and it can demonstrate that it can be FFF now and in the future. By any measure (financial, community or business) The Hills Shire Council is, and will remain, a top performing Council. It is able to attract the right talent and resources to meet its needs. The Hills Shire Council has demonstrated its capacity to manage a growing population and the needs of it. The Hills Shire Council has the technical and governance expertise to manage responsibly and sustainably. It has always attracted sufficient political and professional talent to meet its needs. Infrastructure required to accommodate around 103,000 people by 2031 has already been considered in the Balmoral Road, North Kellyville, Box Hill and the Box Hill North Contribution Plans. Regular updates to these Plans will ensure the appropriate level of infrastructure in these new release areas. Council has addressed its infrastructure backlog with the exception of stormwater.

2. Scale and Capacity

The Hills Shire, according to the NSW Government’s population statistics, had a population of 177,000 in 2011. It expects that population to grow by around 103,000 people by 2031 to around 280,000 people. Council has already zoned sufficient land to meet its housing and employment targets and, by any measure, will by 2031 be a Local Government area that is of sufficient scale and capacity to deliver the expected Local Government services to its population. By any performance measure, The Hills Shire Council is able to meet the current and future Local Government needs of its residents.

If the State Government were to agree with The Hills Shire Council’s proposal, it would:-

i. Resolve communities of interest; ii. Produce a Local Government area that represents the majority of North

Western Sydney; iii. Will reduce the number of Councils; iv. Will leave remaining Councils in a stronger more strategic and capable

position; v. Will improve Local Government as a sector.

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The Independent Review Panel recommended ‘No Change’ to The Hills Shire Council. However, when looking at our neighbours it also suggested that part of the Shire south of the M2 (Oatlands, part of North Rocks, Northmead and Carlingford) be transferred to Parramatta City Council, a possible reconfiguration of boundaries around the North West Growth Centre and a possible long term merger with Hawkesbury City Council.

This Council did formally write to Hawkesbury, Hornsby and Parramatta Councils to discuss The Hills Shire Council’s Preferred Option detailed below, but all three Councils declined the offer. • The Hills Shire Council declined the request from Hornsby Shire Council’s request

for a complete amalgamation. • Hawkesbury City Council did not meaningfully engage at all, but informed that

they will not consider a merger with the Hills.

The Hills Shire Council’s preferred option (detailed earlier in this report and again in Section (5) suggested boundary realignment which will not only result in a greater degree of financial sustainability and service delivery, but will greatly enhance representations in terms of communities of interest, growth, planning, infrastructure delivery and relations with government.

The net impact, if the alignment as per The Hills Shire Council’s preferred option was carried out, will see an increased population of approximately 59,000 over and above the projected population of 280,000 by 2031, increasing to approximately 339,000.

Other factors that needed to be addressed in order to prove that a Council has Scale and Capacity are as follows:

• Robust revenue base and increased discretionary spending. • Scope to undertake new functions and major projects. • Ability to employ a wider range of skilled staff. • Knowledge, creativity and innovation. • Effective regional collaboration. • Credibility for more effective advocacy. • Capable partner for State and Federal agencies. • Resources to cope with complex and unexpected changes. • High quality political and managerial leadership.

Attachment 1 Improvement Proposal details information supporting these criteria in detail.

3. Performance Against Fit For the Future Benchmarks and How Your Council

Becomes and Remains Fit For the Future, Along with an Action Plan Fit For the Future Benchmarks The Hills Shire Council can demonstrate that it can meet all the FFF criteria now and in the future as per projections detailed in Council’s Long Term Financial Plan and are detailed below.

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Measure/Benchmark 2016/17 (%)

2017/18 (%)

2018/19 (%)

2019/20 (%)

Achieves FFTF

benchmark?

Operating Performance Ratio (Greater than or equal to break-even average over 3 years)

2.11 3.33 3.21 3.6 Yes

Own Source Revenue Ratio (Greater than 60% average over 3 years)

68.03 71.15 73.5 75.73 Yes

Building and Infrastructure Asset Renewal Ratio (Greater than100% average over 3 years)

130.74 127.36 129.55 126.03 Yes

Infrastructure Backlog Ratio (Less than 2%)

1.59 1.56 1.51 1.45 Yes

Asset Maintenance Ratio (Greater than 100% average over 3 years)

107.20 107.16 107.61 107.79 Yes

Debt Service Ratio* (Greater than 0% and less than or equal to 20% average over 3 years)

0 0 0 0 No

Real Operating Expenditure per capita A decrease in Real Operating Expenditure per capita over time

58.84 58.04 57.52 56.44 Yes

*Debt Service Ratio

The revised methodology issued by IPART has indicated that they will consider a Council’s financial strength and whether the debt is necessary for the Council’s asset base and it is not required to be greater than zero.

Action Plan to Remain Fit for the Future

The FFF guidelines require Council to identify the specific actions which it will undertake to deliver its improvement objectives and the process which has been undertaken to develop the Improvement Action Plan.

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The Hills Shire Council can demonstrate that it has and will meet the FFF benchmarks by continuing to operate in the manner it has been in the past. Advice sought from the OLG and IPART indicate that even if a Council was meeting all the benchmarks, it needed to document what it’s currently doing. The key actions are detailed below:-

Operating Performance

• Continue to budget for operational surplus before Capital Grants and Gain /Loss

on disposal of assets as a high priority. • Continue to budget for Rates income limited to Rates Cap with Growth for new

release areas. • Continue to apply the Financial Charter when preparing the Budget. • Continue to give priority to infrastructure funding before all other services. • Continue to allocate from Recurrent Income funds for known future expenditure &

contingencies. • Continue to prepare budgets on a full costs basis and set fees and charges where

possible to recover costs. • Continue to operate cost neutral (full cost including overheads) services in waste,

child care and Aged & Disability Services. • Don’t provide services where grant funding is ceasing or changing. • Continue to generate income from entrepreneurial activities.

Infrastructure

• Continue to monitor and deliver infrastructure for new release areas. • Continue to borrow within Section 94 first, then Reserves to fund land

acquisitions in Contribution Plans where Section 94 Contributions are nil or negative (eg Box Hill Plan).

• Create a Stormwater (SW) Backlog Reserve to fund SW backlog when identified. • Continue to seek Grant Funding where possible for specific expenditure. • Continue to set aside funds for asset renewal equal or greater than Depreciation. • Continue to provide funds for Asset Maintenance greater than required

maintenance. • Continue to allocate from Recurrent Income funds for Plant & Equipment

replacement over 10 years.

Efficiency

• Continue to maintain or increase population to staff ratio. • Continue to implement new systems to get productivity gains (eg My DCP). • Undertake Priority Precinct Planning around NWR stations to support population

growth and job creation. • Continue to meet FFF Ratios & Benchmarks.

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ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 23 JUNE, 2015 4. Other Actions Considered

The Hills Shire Council has been ranked in the top 2 strongest Councils financially in the State and can demonstrate a very good track record in managing growth, delivery of infrastructure and working with State Government Departments when required. This Council believes that it has the scale and capacity to expand the current boundaries of the Shire as detailed above.

The Hills Shire Council has put forward an alternative recommendation that considers changes involving Hawkesbury City Council and Hornsby Shire Council and, to a smaller extent, Parramatta City Council. Attachment 2 details Council’s proposal outlining the reasons for this preferred option and is summarised below. This option is based on retaining the south of M2 with The Hills Shire Council and would result in the suburbs below the M2 including North Rocks, Carlingford, North Parramatta and Baulkham Hills remaining with the Hills and the boundary between The Hills Shire and Hawkesbury City Council should be Windsor Road to South Creek and then to the Hawkesbury River which provides a logical physical natural boundary. The proposed Hills Shire Council boundary extends from Thompsons Corner at West Pennant Hills southwards along Pennant Hills Road to the M2 Motorway at Carlingford. There it travels east along the M2 to Beecroft Road at Epping. It then turns southward along Beecroft Road until Carlingford Road where it turns east and runs the entire length to Pennant Hills Road, Carlingford incorporating Carlingford Court (from Hornsby Council). It turns left into Pennant Hills Road where it then continues in a south-westerly direction encompassing North Rocks and part of North Parramatta north of James Ruse Drive (including Lake Parramatta) (from Parramatta Council) until the junction of James Ruse Drive. It then turns right into James Ruse Drive (Cumberland Highway) and in a north-westerly direction encompassing Northmead. Continue along Brien’s Road into Old Windsor Road, encompassing Old Toongabbie, Winston Hills (from Parramatta Council) and in a northerly direction Baulkham Hills, Bella Vista and Kellyville until the junction of Windsor Road at Beaumont Hills. It continues north along Windsor Road encompassing Rouse Hill and Box Hill. The boundary continues through Oakville, McGraths Hill and to the township of Windsor (all from Hawkesbury Council) where it meets South Creek and then onto the Hawkesbury River at its junction. The boundary then follows the river in a north easterly direction and includes Pitt Town, the remainder of Cattai, South Maroota, Sackville North, Lower Portland, Leetsvale and then to Wisemans Ferry. Then it is proposed to follow Hawkesbury River south from Wisemans Ferry, including the suburbs of Laughtondale, Singleton Mill, Canoelands, the township of Berowra Creek into Berowra Creek waterway, including Fiddletown then to the township of Berowra Waters on Berowra Waters waterway, back onto Berowra Creek waterway, including Berrilee and Galston to Galston Gorge (all from Hornsby Council). It continues along Berowra Creek encompassing Dural until it meets the Berowra Valley Reserve, which skirts the northern side of Cherrybrook and the western side of the suburbs of Hornsby and Westleigh and then to Pyes Creek until it meets New Line Road. It turns left onto New Line Road and travels in a southerly direction until

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it meets Castle Hill Road. It turns left and continues to Thompson Corner at West Pennant Hills. Note that the proposed boundary adjustments incorporates the whole of Forest Glen, Glenorie, Arcadia, Middle Dural, Glenhaven and all of Castle Hill (all from Hornsby Council). Also North Parramatta, Bunnings at North Rocks and the part of Oatlands within the current Hills Shire would then be part of Parramatta Council under this proposal. While these are boundary adjustments, this will facilitate fewer Councils in the region. Council is of the view that uniting of divided suburbs will bring greater advantages to these suburbs especially when it comes to infrastructure delivery. The proposed borders utilise natural boundaries and reflect a sense of identity, planning relationships and strategic considerations within North West. It also contains relevant communities of interest. The Hills Shire Council’s Preferred Option will increase the population by 59,220 as per the following changes:-

Parramatta Council – Net Gain in Pop 12,338 • This would use Pennant Hills Road, James Ruse Drive and Old Windsor Road as a

boundary and would result in the divided suburbs of Northmead, Baulkham Hills, Carlingford and Winston Hills to The Hills Shire Council. This would mean Oatlands, and part of North Parramatta would be incorporated into Parramatta City Council’s boundaries.

Hawkesbury Council – Net Gain in Pop 8,261 • This would utilise Windsor Road as The Hills Shire’s boundary to South Creek and

from South Creek to its junction with the Hawkesbury River.

• It would mean the divided suburbs with Hawkesbury Council (Cattai and Maraylya) will be wholly within The Hills Shire Council.

• The Hills Shire Council would gain the suburbs of Pitt Town, Scheyville, Oakville and part Vineyard, Mulgrave and McGrath Hills from Hawkesbury Council.

Hornsby Council – Net Gain in Pop 38,621 • It would align the divided suburbs with Hornsby Council Castle Hill, Glenhaven,

West Pennant Hills, Carlingford, Dural, Middle Dural, Glenorie, Maroota and Wisemans Ferry with The Hills Shire Council.

• The Hills Shire Council would gain part of Carlingford, Beecroft and Epping (alternatively, if this was incorporated into Parramatta City Council, the net gain from Hornsby City Council would reduce by around 12,692 persons with the boundary becoming Pennant Hills Road to Thompsons Corner).

• The Hills Shire Council would gain whole of Galston, Arcadia, Berrilee, Fiddletown, Canoelands, Singletons Mill and Laughtondale, Berowra Creek, Forest Glen from Hornsby Council.

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ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 23 JUNE, 2015 Public Exhibition of Council’s Proposals Council adopted response to Local Government reform was unanimous and united. It has taken an active role in the debate. Council has been a vocal supporter of Local Government reform and has promoted its vision for a larger Council via local, metropolitan and social media since it was adopted by Council in June 2013. With regard to FFF, Council embarked on a community consultation campaign via local media outlets including The Hills Shire Times, The Hills News, The Rouse Hill Times and the Rouse Hill Courier. This campaign was also largely driven via social media, specifically Council’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. People living in The Hills Shire Council and in surrounding Local Government areas including Hornsby Shire, Parramatta City and Hawkesbury City were encouraged to take part in an online survey that asked residents age, location, how long they had lived in the region and their preference for Local Government reform. Three options were offered to respondents:- • Option One – The Hills Minus was the option suggested by the Independent Local

Government Review Panel which included the current Hills Shire Council boundaries minus all suburbs south of the M2 motorway including parts of Baulkham Hills, Winston Hills, Northmead, North Parramatta, Oatlands, North Rocks and Carlingford.

• Option Two – The Hills AND was an option foreshadowed by The Panel which included all The Hills Shire Council minus all suburbs south of the M2 but merged with all of the current Hawkesbury City Council boundaries.

• Option Three – The Hills Plus is Council’s unanimously supported position. It was made clear to respondents that this is the option unanimously supported by The Hills Shire Council.

Overwhelmingly, all respondents voted in favour of Option Three. Of the 1208 respondents, 894 (74%) supported Option Three as the best way forward for local government in the region. Option Three was strongly supported by residents who identified as currently living in The Hills Shire Council, with 80.5% voting in favour of it. Option Three was also strongly supported by residents who identified as currently living within Hornsby Shire Council’s boundaries, with 65% of the vote. 48% of Hawkesbury residents supported Option Three, however the support for Option Two (a fuller merger with Hawkesbury) was significantly higher among Hawkesbury residents, with 27.6% supporting the option. Therefore 75.87% of Hawkesbury residents would like significant boundary adjustments with The Hills Shire Council. Option Three was also narrowly the most supported Option from respondents who identified as Parramatta residents, with 46.6% supporting Option Three and 43.8% supporting Option One. Supporters of Option Three cited Old Northern Road as an inappropriate boundary, a desire to remain a part of a Council with strong finances, strong communities of interest, uniting divided suburbs and excellent parks, Reserves and bushland.

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Inquiry into Local Government NSW The NSW Legislative Councils General Purpose Standing Committee No. 6 is currently conducting an inquiry into Local Government in NSW. In general terms, the terms of reference appear to be quite negative and not necessarily pro-reform which is overdue and needed in New South Wales. It is proposed not to respond to the individual terms of reference on a point by point basis. As The Hills Shire Council is not only FFF in all aspects but has for a long period of time been pro-reform. The submission that is being lodged with IPART in regard to Council’s position in terms of FFF and reform be forwarded to the General Purpose Standing Committee as an indication of this Council’s positive stand in regard to the reform process. Without this Local Government reform, many Councils face an uncertain future in terms of sustainability, efficiency, effectiveness and the capacity to manage and deliver infrastructure and services in the future. IMPACTS Financial Council is FFF now and can demonstrate that it will continue to be fit in the long term. The financial impacts of the reform process are difficult to quantify unless it was a full Merger Proposal as the Councils were not willing to engage in meaning full exchange of information. If the Independent Review Panel’s recommendation for The Hills Shire prevails, which is “No Change”, Council’s current Delivery Program and LTFP are unaffected. Should Council lose its rate base below the M2, approximately $10.3 million

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ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 23 JUNE, 2015 or 15% of the rate revenue will be lost. This would substantially affect Council’s financial sustainability, delivery and maintenance of infrastructure and will result in reduced levels of service to the community. The Hills Shire Council opposes this option. The Hills Future - Community Strategic Plan The Hills Shire Council remains committed to ensuring Council is financially secure and is able to sustainably manage its assets, services and functions into the future. RECOMMENDATION 1. This report and the completed Template 2 – Improvement Proposal in Attachment 1

(along with supporting documentation namely Annual Report FY 13/14, Hills Shire Plan FY 15/16, Community Survey 2014 and the NSW T Corp Assessment) be adopted and forwarded to IPART for consideration.

2. Council advises IPART that it does not agree to losing its rate base below the M2 to Parramatta City Council, other than the Oatlands area if Council’s preferred option is adopted.

3. This Council reaffirms its position in regard to the need for reform of Local Government in New South Wales and the consideration of fewer Councils in Sydney.

4. A copy of this report with its recommendations be referred under cover of correspondence from the Mayor to the NSW Legislative Councils General Purpose Standing Committee No. 6, inquiry into Local Government NSW.

ATTACHMENTS 1. Improvement Proposal (Template 2) (35 pages) 2. Council’s Preferred Option and map adopted 25 June 2013 (18 pages)

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f the

key

poi

nts

of y

our P

ropo

sal i

nclu

ding

cur

rent

per

form

ance

, th

e is

sues

faci

ng y

our c

ounc

il an

d yo

ur p

lann

ed im

prov

emen

t str

ateg

ies

and

outc

omes

.

Cu

rren

t P

osit

ion

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il is

a le

ader

in lo

cal G

over

nmen

t, w

ith

a st

rong

str

ateg

ic c

apac

ity

and

it c

an d

emon

stra

te t

hat

it ca

n be

“Fi

t fo

r th

e Fu

ture

” no

w a

nd i

n th

e fu

ture

. W

hile

out

side

of

this

tem

plat

e fr

amew

ork,

The

Hill

s Sh

ire

belie

ves

that

thi

s Cou

ncil

can

take

its

effic

ient

an

d ef

fect

ive

man

agem

ent

to a

wid

er L

ocal

Gov

ernm

ent

area

and

con

trib

ute

tow

ards

NSW

Gov

ernm

ent’s

age

nda

tow

ards

few

er a

nd

mor

e su

stai

nabl

e fu

ture

Loc

al G

over

nmen

t ar

eas.

Cou

ncil’

s su

bmis

sion

res

pond

ing

to t

he i

ndep

ende

nt p

anel

is

proa

ctiv

e, w

ill t

ake

on

mor

e an

d w

ill b

y la

rge,

del

iver

the

out

com

es o

f th

at r

evie

w.

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il is

cur

rent

ly 3

80 s

quar

e km

s w

ith

arou

nd 1

77,0

00 p

eopl

e. B

eing

par

t of

the

Nor

th W

est

grow

th c

entr

e, t

he H

ills

Shi

re h

as b

een

prov

idin

g ho

usin

g an

d jo

bs t

o ac

com

mod

ate

Syd

ney’

s gr

owth

and

ove

r th

e pa

st 3

0 ye

ars,

has

bee

n am

ong

the

fast

est

grow

ing

Loca

l G

over

nmen

t Are

a’s

in t

he s

tate

. By

2031

, Th

e H

ills

Shi

re C

ounc

il is

exp

ecte

d to

acc

omm

odat

e at

lea

st a

noth

er 1

03,0

00

resi

dent

s pr

ovid

ing

a m

inim

um o

f 47

,000

job

s.

The

Hill

s Shi

re h

as l

earn

t fr

om i

ts p

ast.

In

the

late

198

0’s,

Cou

ncil

was

in

a pe

rilo

us s

tate

. H

owev

er,

sinc

e th

at t

ime,

Cou

ncil

has

been

di

scip

lined

and

str

ateg

ic in

its

serv

ice

and

oper

atio

n, a

nd is

now

one

of

the

best

per

form

ing

Cou

ncil’

s in

the

Sta

te.

Fi

nan

cial

Pos

itio

n

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il’s

curr

ent

finan

cial

pos

ition

is

stro

ng,

debt

fre

e an

d is

pre

dict

ed t

o re

mai

n ov

er t

he n

ext

10 y

ears

in

acco

rdan

ce

with

Cou

ncil’

s cu

rren

t lo

ng t

erm

fin

anci

al p

lan.

Cou

ncil

has

also

rec

orde

d co

nsec

utiv

e op

erat

ing

surp

luse

s fo

r m

ore

than

16

year

s. T

his

Cou

ncil

is o

ne o

f th

e tw

o Cou

ncils

ass

esse

d by

TCor

p as

hav

ing

a “S

tron

g” F

inan

cial

Pos

ition

. Th

e H

ills

Shi

re C

ounc

il m

eets

all

the

Fit

for

the

Futu

re b

ench

mar

ks w

ith

the

exce

ptio

n of

the

deb

t se

rvic

e ra

tio.

By

any

mea

sure

, Th

e H

ills

Shi

re i

s fit

for

the

fut

ure

and

we

are

prep

ared

to

do m

ore.

In

201

3/20

14 p

rope

rty

deve

lopm

ent

activi

ties

have

hel

ped

furt

her

secu

re C

ounc

il’s

finan

cial

fut

ure.

The

26

hect

ares

of

land

on

Withe

rs

Roa

d, K

elly

ville

was

sub

divi

ded

into

83

sing

le r

esid

ential

lot

s an

d ei

ght

med

ium

den

sity

sites

rea

lisin

g a

net

prof

it o

f m

ore

than

$40

M.

1

PAGE 117


Aro

und

the

sam

e tim

e Cou

ncil

mov

ed t

o a

new

Cou

ncil

build

ing

follo

win

g ne

arly

32

year

s on

the

cor

ner

of S

how

grou

nd R

oad

and

Car

ring

ton

Roa

d, C

astle

Hill

. Th

e m

ove

clea

rs t

he w

ay f

or t

he c

onst

ruct

ion

of t

he N

orth

Wes

t Rai

l Li

nk’s

Sho

wgr

ound

sta

tion

. Th

is n

ew

faci

lity

has

enab

led

Cou

ncil

to m

eet

the

need

s of

the

gro

win

g co

mm

unity

and

earn

in e

xces

s of

$1m

in r

ecur

rent

leas

e in

com

e.

Ass

et M

anag

emen

t Cou

ncil

is t

he c

usto

dian

of

$4 b

illio

n w

orth

of

com

mun

ity

asse

ts.

Cou

ncil

has

cont

inue

d to

red

uce

its

infr

astr

uctu

re b

ackl

og t

o ze

ro w

ith

the

exce

ptio

n of

sto

rm w

ater

. Th

is h

as b

een

achi

eved

witho

ut t

he n

eed

to b

orro

w o

r ad

d sp

ecia

l va

riat

ions

to

rate

s. I

n 20

13,

Cou

ncil'

s in

fras

truc

ture

man

agem

ent

was

ass

esse

d as

"st

rong

" by

the

Offic

e of

Loc

al G

over

nmen

t. I

n th

e la

st fiv

e ye

ars

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il ha

s sp

ent

$85

mill

ion

on u

pgra

ding

roa

ds,

foot

path

s, p

arks

, dr

ains

and

com

mun

ity

build

ings

acr

oss

the

Shi

re.

It i

s ex

pect

ed t

o sp

end

a fu

rthe

r to

tal i

n ex

cess

of $

200m

in t

he L

ong

Term

Fin

anci

al P

lan

over

the

nex

t 10

yea

rs.

Ser

vice

Del

iver

y It

is a

lso

impo

rtan

t to

not

e th

at C

ounc

il’s

com

mun

ity

surv

ey r

esul

ts (

96%

Dec

201

4) c

onsi

sten

tly

plac

e C

ounc

il in

the

hig

hest

cat

egor

y in

th

e Sta

te w

hen

benc

hmar

ked

agai

nst

resu

lts

from

oth

er C

ounc

ils.

Com

pare

d to

201

2 th

ere

has

been

a s

igni

fican

t in

crea

se i

n re

side

nt

satisf

action

for

13

of t

he 4

7 de

liver

y ar

eas,

whi

lst

29 r

emai

ned

the

sam

e. C

ounc

il’s

oper

atin

g pe

rfor

man

ce m

eets

with

the

expe

ctat

ion

of

the

com

mun

ity

it s

erve

s. C

ounc

il ha

s be

en d

eliv

erin

g a

reco

rd l

evel

of

infr

astr

uctu

re i

n th

e re

cent

yea

rs,

and

is a

ver

y ca

pabl

e pa

rtne

r fo

r bo

th S

tate

and

Fed

eral

Gov

ernm

ent

agen

cies

. Le

ader

ship

& W

orkf

orc

e

The

Shi

re p

osse

sses

ded

icat

ed,

expe

rien

ced

and

skill

ed w

orkf

orce

with

stro

ng lea

ders

hip

skill

s at

bot

h th

e po

litic

al a

nd o

pera

tion

al le

vel

who

dri

ves

inno

vation

to

mee

t th

e an

tici

pate

d ne

eds

of t

he b

usin

ess.

Ove

r tim

e, t

he c

ounc

il ha

s pr

oven

res

ilien

t an

d ad

apta

ble

to

chan

ging

nee

ds.

Cou

ncil

is v

ery

succ

essf

ul i

n ad

voca

ting

for

its

res

iden

ts a

nd i

ts a

lway

s pl

easi

ng t

hat

whe

n go

vern

men

t de

part

men

ts

and

med

ia w

ant

a lo

cal g

over

nmen

t pe

rspe

ctiv

e –

the

Hill

s Shi

re is

sou

ght.

For

som

e tim

e no

w,

The

Hill

s Shi

re h

as b

een

appr

oach

ed b

y bo

th lo

cal a

nd m

etro

polit

an m

edia

for

its

view

s on

Loc

al G

over

nmen

t m

atte

rs im

pact

ing

the

Nor

th W

est.

Cou

ncil

also

has

in p

lace

an

Ente

rpri

se A

gree

men

t w

hich

aim

s to

impr

ove

cust

omer

ser

vice

out

com

es;

mai

ntai

n be

st p

ract

ice

wor

kpla

ce,

heal

th a

nd s

afet

y; im

prov

e or

gani

sation

al p

erfo

rman

ce s

tand

ards

; an

d im

prov

e pr

oduc

tivi

ty.

Des

pite

the

cha

lleng

es w

e fa

ce,

we

rem

ain

com

mitte

d to

del

iver

ing

exem

plar

y se

rvic

es f

or o

ur v

ibra

nt c

omm

unity

, so

tha

t al

l ca

n co

ntin

ue t

o em

brac

e an

d en

joy

the

rich

and

rew

ardi

ng li

fest

yle

The

Hill

s Shi

re o

ffer

s.

PAGE 118


Issu

es f

acin

g t

his

Co

un

cil

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il m

ade

a co

mpr

ehen

sive

sub

mis

sion

and

res

pons

e to

the

Ind

epen

dent

Rev

iew

Pan

el’s

fin

ding

s gi

ven

that

The

Hill

s Shi

re d

oes

have

suf

ficie

nt s

cale

, ca

paci

ty a

nd r

esou

rces

. Th

e H

ills

Shir

e su

bmis

sion

doe

s no

t in

volv

e fu

ll m

erge

rs w

ith

neig

hbou

ring

Cou

ncils

but

doe

s su

gges

t bo

unda

ry a

djus

tmen

ts w

ith P

arra

mat

ta,

Hor

nsby

and

Haw

kesb

ury

to d

eal

with

know

n ex

istin

g co

mm

unity

of

inte

rest

issu

es.

Cou

ncil’

s su

bmis

sion

res

pond

ing

to t

he I

ndep

ende

nt R

evie

w P

anel

was

, an

d is

, pr

oact

ive.

It

embr

aced

the

opp

ortu

nity

to

impr

ove

the

Loca

l Gov

ernm

ent

sect

or.

The

Hill

s Shi

re is

abl

e to

tak

e on

mor

e an

d its

alte

rnat

e pr

opos

al w

ill,

by a

nd la

rge,

hel

p de

liver

the

out

com

es

of t

he I

ndep

ende

nt R

evie

w P

anel

’s r

ecom

men

dation

. Cou

ncil’

s pr

efer

red

option

is d

etai

led

in S

ection

3.5

.

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il pr

efer

red

option

sug

gest

ed b

ound

ary

real

ignm

ent

whi

ch w

ill n

ot o

nly

resu

lt i

n a

grea

ter

degr

ee o

f fin

anci

al

sust

aina

bilit

y an

d se

rvic

e de

liver

y bu

t w

ill g

reat

ly e

nhan

ce r

epre

sent

atio

ns i

n te

rms

of c

omm

uniti

es o

f in

tere

st,

grow

th,

plan

ning

, in

fras

truc

ture

del

iver

y an

d re

latio

ns w

ith g

over

nmen

t. I

t w

ill a

lso

help

del

iver

few

er C

ounc

ils w

ith t

he b

alan

ce o

f H

orns

by S

hire

, Ku-

ring

-ga

i and

Ryd

e fo

rmin

g an

am

alga

mat

ed C

ounc

il.

The

net

impa

ct,

if th

e al

ignm

ent

as p

er T

he H

ills

Shi

re C

ounc

il pr

efer

red

option

was

car

ried

out

, w

ill s

ee a

n in

crea

sed

popu

latio

n of

ap

prox

imat

ely

59,0

00 o

ver

and

abov

e th

e pr

ojec

ted

popu

latio

n of

280

,000

by

2031

( C

urre

nt P

opul

atio

n 17

7,00

0 pl

us i

ncre

ased

po

pula

tion

due

to N

orth

Wes

t G

row

th s

ecto

r 10

3,00

0 )

incr

easi

ng t

o w

ell o

ver

339,

000.

Pla

nn

ed im

pro

vem

ent

Act

ion

s

Infr

astr

uctu

re r

equi

red

to a

ccom

mod

ate

the

103,

000

peop

le b

y 20

31 h

as a

lrea

dy b

een

cons

ider

ed in

the

Bal

mor

al R

oad,

Nor

th K

elly

ville

, Box

Hill

and

the

Box

Hill

Nor

th C

ontr

ibut

ion

Plan

s. R

egul

ar u

pdat

es t

o th

ese

Plan

s w

ill e

nsur

e th

e ap

prop

riat

e le

vel

of I

nfra

stru

ctur

e in

th

ese

new

rel

ease

are

as.

Cou

ncil

has

alre

ady

zone

d su

ffic

ient

lan

d to

mee

t its

hous

ing

and

empl

oym

ent

targ

ets

and,

by

any

mea

sure

, w

ill b

y 20

31 b

e a

Loca

l Gov

ernm

ent

area

tha

t is

of

suffic

ient

sca

le a

nd c

apac

ity

to d

eliv

er t

he e

xpec

ted

Loca

l Gov

ernm

ent

serv

ices

to

its

popu

latio

n.

PAGE 119


1.2

Scal

e an

d C

apac

ity

Doe

s yo

ur c

ounc

il ha

ve th

e sc

ale

and

capa

city

bro

adly

con

sist

ent w

ith th

e re

com

men

datio

ns o

f the

Inde

pend

ent

Loca

l Gov

ernm

ent R

evie

w P

anel

? Ye

s

(i.e.

, the

Pan

el d

id n

ot re

com

men

d yo

ur c

ounc

il ne

eded

to m

erge

or b

ecom

e a

Rur

al C

ounc

il).

If N

o, p

leas

e in

dica

te w

hy y

ou a

re n

ot p

roce

edin

g w

ith a

vol

unta

ry m

erge

r or

cre

atio

n of

a R

ural

Cou

ncil

as

reco

mm

ende

d by

the

Inde

pend

ent P

anel

and

dem

onst

rate

how

you

r co

unci

l has

sca

le a

nd c

apac

ity (

up to

500

w

ords

).

Dea

ling

wit

h t

he

Ind

epen

den

t R

evie

w P

anel

’s R

ecom

men

dat

ion

s

The

Inde

pend

ent

Rev

iew

Pan

el m

ade

a fe

w r

ecom

men

dation

s th

at a

ffec

t Th

e H

ills

Shi

re.

Ove

rall,

the

Pan

el r

ecom

men

ded

’No

Cha

nge”

bu

t di

d su

gges

t th

e fo

llow

ing:

-

(a)

Look

at

Res

olv

ing

th

e G

row

th C

entr

es’ B

ou

nd

arie

s w

ith

Haw

kesb

ury

an

d B

lack

tow

n C

oun

cils

Ea

ch C

ounc

il ha

s be

en u

nder

taki

ng t

heir

res

pect

ive

role

s in

lan

d us

e pl

anni

ng i

n th

e G

row

th C

entr

es.

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il an

d Bla

ckto

wn

City

Cou

ncil

are

wel

l ad

vanc

ed w

ith

land

use

str

uctu

re p

lans

, zo

ning

s, d

evel

opm

ent

stan

dard

s an

d co

ntri

butio

n pl

anni

ng

eith

er b

eing

alr

eady

fin

alis

ed o

r w

ell un

derw

ay.

In T

he H

ills

Shi

re t

he e

ntir

e re

zoni

ng o

f th

e G

row

th C

entr

e is

gaz

ette

d. T

here

is

no

need

or

bene

fit i

n m

akin

g bo

unda

ry a

djus

tmen

ts p

urel

y ar

ound

the

Gro

wth

Cen

tres

in

this

are

a. B

lack

tow

n City

Cou

ncil

is o

f a

sim

ilar

view

and

has

sai

d so

in

its

FFF

subm

issi

on.

Haw

kesb

ury

City

Cou

ncil

has

sugg

este

d it t

ake

over

the

Gro

wth

Cen

tres

to

impr

ove

its

scal

e an

d ca

paci

ty.

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il’s

subm

issi

on d

oes

sugg

est

an e

xpan

sion

of

the

boun

dary

to

the

Haw

kesb

ury

Riv

er w

hich

will

affec

t H

awke

sbur

y City

Cou

ncil

but

not

Blac

ktow

n City

Cou

ncil.

Thi

s is

dis

cuss

ed la

ter

in t

his

repo

rt.

1

PAGE 120


(b)

Com

ple

te F

utu

re A

mal

gam

atio

n w

ith

Haw

kesb

ury

Cit

y C

oun

cil

Cou

ncil’

s su

bmis

sion

did

not

sup

port

thi

s su

gges

tion

and

it

was

cle

arly

not

aim

ed a

t ad

dres

sing

the

sca

le a

nd c

apac

ity

of T

he H

ills

Shi

re.

Inst

ead

it a

ppea

red

com

plet

ely

abou

t ad

dres

sing

the

fut

ure

of H

awke

sbur

y City

Cou

ncil.

Haw

kesb

ury

City

Cou

ncil

is t

otal

ly

oppo

sed

to t

his

mer

ger

and

so i

s Th

e H

ills

Shi

re C

ounc

il. I

t re

mai

ns u

ncle

ar a

s to

the

lon

g te

rm f

utur

e of

Haw

kesb

ury

City

Cou

ncil

and

inst

ead

of t

he P

anel

’s m

erge

r w

ith

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il m

ay in

stea

d be

dis

trib

uted

to

the

adjo

inin

g Lo

cal G

over

nmen

t ar

ea o

f Blu

e M

ount

ains

, Pe

nrith

and

The

Hill

s.

(c)

Look

to

exci

se t

he

LGA

bel

ow (

So

uth

) of

th

e M

2 a

nd

com

bin

e w

ith

an

am

alg

amat

ed P

arra

mat

ta,

Ho

lroy

d a

nd

Au

bu

rn

Cou

nci

ls

Aga

in,

the

reco

mm

enda

tion

was

not

aim

ed a

t th

e cu

rren

t an

d fu

ture

sca

le a

nd c

apac

ity

of T

he H

ills

Shi

re.

Inst

ead

it w

as t

o st

reng

then

the

pos

itio

n of

Par

ram

atta

City

Cou

ncil

and

cem

ent

it fir

mly

as

Syd

ney’

s se

cond

CBD

. It

als

o ap

pear

ed t

o be

aim

ed a

t ad

dres

sing

the

fut

ure

of H

olro

yd C

ity

Cou

ncil

and

Aub

urn

City

Cou

ncil

with

an

expa

nded

sec

ond

Syd

ney

CBD

.

The

Hill

s Shi

re b

elie

ves

the

Inde

pend

ent

Rev

iew

Pan

el’s

rec

omm

enda

tion

to

be u

nnec

essa

ry a

nd w

ill r

emov

e a

valu

able

rat

e ba

se

from

The

Hill

s Shi

re b

ut,

mor

e im

port

antly,

will

rem

ove

resi

dent

s th

at h

ave

a lo

ng a

ssoc

iatio

n an

d af

finity

with

The

Hill

s Shi

re.

Frag

men

ting

thi

s co

mm

unity

of int

eres

t is

unn

eces

sary

and

dis

rupt

ive.

The

M2

is n

ot a

bar

rier

to

thes

e co

mm

uniti

es a

s th

e M

2 w

as

“ret

ro fitte

d” in

to t

hose

com

mun

ities

and

, ac

cord

ingl

y, h

as m

any

area

s of

per

mea

bilit

y th

at k

eeps

com

mun

ities

inta

ct.

In t

erm

s of

the

rat

e ba

se,

this

par

t of

our

Shi

re is

a s

igni

fican

t pa

rt o

f ou

r ur

ban

popu

latio

n ba

se t

hat

prov

ides

aro

und

$10.

3 m

illio

n in

rat

e re

venu

e or

aro

und

15%

of

the

tota

l rat

e in

com

e. T

he H

ills

Shi

re is

380

sq.

km

and

the

urb

an f

ootp

rint

is a

ppro

xim

atel

y 25

%

of t

he t

otal

foo

tpri

nt.

Ther

e ar

e ap

prox

imat

ely

10,5

00 h

ecta

res

of u

rban

lan

d an

d ap

prox

imat

ely

30,0

00 h

ecta

res

of l

and

zone

d ru

ral.

The

vast

m

ajor

ity

of Th

e H

ills

Shi

re is

no

n-ur

ban

and

the

urba

n ra

te ba

se pr

ovid

es ca

paci

ty to

su

ppor

t th

ese

rura

l co

mm

uniti

es a

nd t

heir

nee

ds.

In t

erm

s of

add

ress

ing

Parr

amat

ta’s

sca

le a

nd c

apac

ity,

an

amal

gam

atio

n w

ith

Aub

urn

City

Cou

ncil

and

Hol

royd

City

Cou

ncil,

as

reco

mm

ende

d by

the

Ind

epen

dent

Rev

iew

Pan

el,

seem

s to

add

ress

the

se r

espe

ctiv

e Cou

ncils

’ fu

ture

alo

ng w

ith

the

cons

ider

able

ch

ange

in

land

use

pla

nnin

g in

Par

ram

atta

CBD

. W

ith

Aub

urn

and

Hol

royd

, ac

cord

ing

to M

etro

polit

an P

lan

data

, th

e co

mbi

ned

LGA

wou

ld h

ave

a po

pula

tion

of a

roun

d 52

0,00

0 by

203

1.

A l

ogic

al b

ound

ary

betw

een

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il an

d Pa

rram

atta

City

Cou

ncil

is P

enna

nt H

ills

Roa

d, J

ames

Rus

e D

rive

and

Old

W

inds

or R

oad.

Thi

s m

eans

tha

t th

e pa

rt o

f O

atla

nds

whi

ch i

s cu

rren

tly i

n Th

e H

ills

Shi

re s

houl

d be

tra

nsfe

rred

to

Parr

amat

ta C

ity

Cou

ncil.

How

ever

, it w

ould

mea

n th

e ad

ditio

nal

popu

latio

n in

Nor

thm

ead

and

Win

ston

Hill

s w

ould

bec

ome

part

of

The

Hill

s Shi

re.

PAGE 121


Perh

aps

to o

ffse

t th

is l

ogic

al b

ound

ary

chan

ge i

s fo

r th

e pa

rts

of C

arlin

gfor

d an

d Ep

ping

tha

t ar

e w

ithi

n H

orns

by S

hire

be

inco

rpor

ated

into

Par

ram

atta

and

with

Hol

royd

and

Aub

urn

wou

ld for

m a

pop

ulat

ion

base

of ar

ound

532

,000

by

2031

.

(d)

No

Ch

ang

e As

men

tion

ed e

arlie

r, t

his

is t

he p

redo

min

ant

Inde

pend

ent

Rev

iew

Pan

el’s

rec

omm

enda

tion

for

The

Hill

s Shi

re.

The

reas

ons

for

this

ar

e ob

viou

s. T

he H

ills

Shir

e is

Fit f

or t

he F

utur

e in

its

own

righ

t an

d is

am

ong

the

few

Cou

ncil’

s as

sess

ed a

s be

ing

finan

cial

ly s

tron

g an

d w

ith

a ne

utra

l out

look

by

Trea

sury

.

Acc

ordi

ng t

o da

ta s

uppo

rtin

g th

e M

etro

polit

an P

lan,

The

Hill

s Shi

re is

exp

ecte

d to

gro

w b

y ar

ound

103

,000

peo

ple

to a

pop

ulat

ion

of

arou

nd 2

80,0

00 p

eopl

e by

203

1.

Whi

le t

he “

no c

hang

e” p

ositio

n is

jus

tifie

d an

d in

the

con

text

of

addr

essi

ng L

ocal

Gov

ernm

ent

as a

n in

dust

ry,

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il’s

subm

issi

on s

ugge

sted

it

coul

d do

mor

e. I

n es

senc

e, T

he

Hil

ls S

hir

e C

ou

nci

l p

refe

rred

op

tio

n i

s d

etai

led

in

Sec

tio

n

3.5

. O

ther

fac

tors

th

at s

up

po

rt t

hat

Th

e H

ills

Sh

ire

Co

un

cil

has

th

e S

cale

an

d C

apac

ity

are

as f

ollo

ws:

Rob

ust

rev

enu

e b

ase

and

incr

ease

d d

iscr

etio

nar

y sp

end

ing

- R

ef:

LTFP

FY

15

/16

• N

SW

Tre

asur

y C

orp

Fina

ncia

l Sus

tain

abili

ty R

atin

g ch

ange

d fr

om :

“Sou

nd”

Posi

tive

to

“Str

ong”

Neu

tral

•

Unr

estr

icte

d Cur

rent

Rat

io in

crea

sed

from

9.6

5 in

FY

12 t

o 12

.56

in F

Y 14

( R

ef F

inan

cial

Sta

tem

ents

FY

14)

• O

pera

ting

Sur

plus

es o

ver

the

last

16

year

s (

Ref

Fin

anci

al S

tate

men

ts )

•

App

licat

ion

of a

dopt

ed F

inan

cial

Cha

rter

res

ultin

g in

acc

umul

ated

Cas

h Res

erve

s >

$ 1

00m

( R

ef F

inan

cial

Sta

tem

ents

FY

14 )

•

Fund

ed i

nfra

stru

ctur

e ba

cklo

g of

$ 3

7 m

in

the

last

3 y

ears

witho

ut b

orro

win

g or

inc

reas

ing

Gen

eral

Rat

es o

ver

and

abov

e th

e Rat

es C

ap.

( R

ef F

inan

cial

Sta

tem

ents

)

• In

crea

sed

allo

catio

n of

fun

ds for

Ass

et r

enew

al $

8.9

m in

FY

11 t

o $1

6.3m

in F

Y 15

•

New

initi

ativ

es s

uch

as B

io B

anki

ng,

Leas

ing

of A

ir S

pace

etc

. ge

nera

ting

new

inco

me

each

yea

r (

Ref

LTF

P in

com

e )

Sco

pe

to u

nd

erta

ke n

ew f

un

ctio

ns

and

maj

or p

roje

cts:

•

Maj

or P

roje

cts

unde

rtak

en –

(Ref

Ann

ual R

epor

t FY

14

Page

s 8-

11 )

•

Rec

ent

Prop

erty

dev

elop

men

t ac

tivi

ties

gene

rating

mor

e th

an $

40m

pro

fit (

Ref

Ann

ual R

epor

t FY

14

Page

9)

•

Rel

ocat

ion

of C

ounc

il Adm

inis

trat

ion

Cen

tre

$ 51

m (

Ref

Ann

ual R

epor

t FY

14

Page

10

)

PAGE 122


• D

eliv

ery

of la

rge

capi

tal W

orks

pro

gram

s ov

er $

51m

in F

Y 14

(Ref

Ann

ual R

epor

t FY

14

Page

8 )

•

Plan

ning

for

Nor

th W

est

Sec

tor

Gro

wth

Eg

Box

Hill

, N

orth

Kel

lyvi

lle

• Pl

anni

ng for

Nor

th W

est

Rai

l (Ref

Ann

ual R

epor

t FY

14

Page

9 )

Ab

ility

to

em

plo

y a

wid

er r

ang

e o

f sk

illed

sta

ff:

• Ski

ll ba

se e

xcee

ds lo

cal g

over

nmen

t ex

pect

atio

ns,

evid

ence

by

low

est

staf

f to

pop

ulat

ion

ratio

in t

he I

ndus

try

• Cou

ncil

is a

n at

trac

tive

em

ploy

er e

vide

nce

by S

taff r

eten

tion

rat

e of

92.

02 (

Ann

ual R

epor

t FY

14

Page

41

) •

Cou

ncil

has

a so

lid r

eput

atio

n an

d st

rong

tra

ck r

ecor

d in

adv

ocac

y, r

egio

nal

part

ners

hips

, cr

eativi

ty,

inno

vation

and

com

mun

ity

lead

ersh

ip w

hich

dem

onst

rate

s th

e di

vers

e hi

gh le

vel o

f sk

ills

withi

n th

e or

gani

sation

•

Day

s lo

st t

o un

plan

ned

abse

nces

red

uced

fro

m 7

.9 d

ays

in F

Y 13

to

6.73

in F

Y 14

(Ann

ual R

epor

t FY

14

Page

41)

•

Loss

tim

e in

jury

fre

quen

cy 9

.45

in F

Y 14

(Ann

ual R

epor

t FY

14

Page

41

)

Kn

owle

dg

e, c

reat

ivit

y an

d in

nov

atio

n:

• D

evel

opm

ent

of t

he f

irst

Bio

Ban

king

agr

eem

ents

gen

erat

ing

inco

me.

• D

evel

opm

ent

and

appl

icat

ion

of N

PV b

ased

Dev

elop

er C

ontr

ibut

ions

. (

Onl

y Cou

ncil

in N

SW

app

lyin

g th

is m

etho

dolo

gy )

•

Sum

mer

Ser

ies

Even

ts a

ttra

ctin

g ov

er 8

8,00

0 vi

sito

rs t

o th

e H

ills

Shi

re C

ounc

il (

Hill

s Shi

re P

lan

FY 1

5/16

Pag

e 8)

•

Intr

oduc

tion

of a

Kno

ck D

own

Reb

uild

Ini

tiativ

e to

rej

uven

ate

exis

ting

are

as(

Hill

s Shi

re P

lan

FY 1

5/16

Pag

e 8)

Ad

van

ced

ski

lls in

str

ateg

ic p

lan

nin

g a

nd

pol

icy

dev

elop

men

t:

• Ski

lled,

eng

aged

and

pro

active

Wor

kfor

ce

• Str

ateg

y &

Bus

ines

s Im

prov

emen

t ha

ve a

gre

at lo

cal s

trat

egy,

long

ter

m c

omm

unity

plan

•

Hav

e w

ell r

esea

rche

d po

licie

s on

ach

ievi

ng p

opul

atio

n gr

owth

•

Cap

able

of pl

anni

ng a

nd d

eliv

ery

criti

cal i

nfra

stru

ctur

e •

One

of th

e fir

st c

ompr

ehen

sive

sta

te-w

ide

LEP

• Com

plet

e in

tegr

atio

n w

ith M

etro

str

ateg

y Ef

fect

ive

reg

ion

al c

olla

bo

rati

on:

• Th

e H

ills

Shi

re

Cou

ncil

has

dem

onst

rate

d sk

ill

and

capa

city

to

en

gage

w

ith

neig

hbou

ring

Lo

cal

Gov

ernm

ent

area

s,

and

Gov

ernm

ent

Age

ncie

s to

mee

t th

e ne

eds

of r

egio

nal

issu

es.

Cou

ncil

unde

rsta

nds

its

regi

onal

con

text

and

is

part

of

the

Cen

tral

W

est

Sub

Reg

ion

and

is in

act

ive

part

ners

hip

to d

eliv

er M

etro

polit

an S

trat

egie

s.

C

red

ibili

ty f

or m

ore

effe

ctiv

e ad

voca

cy:

• Cou

ncil

is c

urre

ntly

wor

king

tow

ards

rej

uven

atin

g its

curr

ent

tow

n ce

ntre

s lik

e Bau

lkha

m H

ills,

Cas

tle

Hill

and

Rou

se H

ill t

o en

sure

th

ey r

emai

n at

trac

tive

pla

ces

for

peop

le t

o liv

e, w

ork

and

play

.

PAGE 123


• Cou

ncil

also

has

bee

n lo

bbyi

ng t

he S

tate

Gov

ernm

ent

for

addi

tiona

l co

mm

uter

car

par

king

. Cou

ncil

rece

ntly

with

the

assi

stan

ce

from

the

Sta

te G

over

nmen

t co

nstr

ucte

d th

e To

rrs

Str

eet

Car

Par

k in

Bau

lkha

m H

ills

whi

ch r

esul

ted

in a

n ad

ditio

nal

178

car

spac

es.

• Cam

paig

ning

for

ligh

t ra

il to

con

nect

to

the

sout

hern

sub

urbs

like

Car

lingf

ord

to E

ppin

g, M

acqu

arie

Par

k an

d Pa

rram

atta

.

• G

ood

trac

k re

cord

of

part

neri

ng w

ith

gove

rnm

ent

(Tor

rs S

t Car

park

, RH

R C

entr

e, T

rans

port

Upg

rade

, N

orw

est

Bou

leva

rd,

Sho

wgr

ound

Roa

d).

• G

ood

trac

k re

cord

of

wor

king

with

loc

al b

usin

esse

s to

sup

port

gro

wth

in

jobs

.(TH

SC f

ram

ewor

k fo

r Ec

onom

ic D

evel

opm

ent

HSP

15/1

6 Pg

. 40

) •

Oth

er C

omm

uter

Par

king

initi

ativ

es.

(Hill

s Shi

re P

lan

FY

15/1

6 Pa

ge 3

1)

• Bau

lkha

m H

ills

Tow

n Cen

tre.

(H

ills

Shi

re P

lan

FY 1

5/16

Pag

es 1

9,31

& 3

3)

• Car

lingf

ord

to E

ppin

g Li

ght

Rai

l neg

otia

tions

. (H

ills

Shi

re P

lan

FY 1

5/16

Pag

e 19

)

Cap

able

par

tner

for

Sta

te a

nd

Fed

eral

Ag

enci

es:

• Fi

nalis

ing

the

Str

ateg

y fo

r N

orw

est

Bou

leva

rd T

raffic

Lig

hts.

(H

ills

Shi

re P

lan

FY

15/1

6 Pa

ge 3

1)

• N

egot

iating

Con

stru

ctio

n of

Tra

ffic

Lig

hts

at G

lenh

aven

Rd

and

Old

Nor

ther

n R

oad.

(H

ills

Shi

re P

lan

FY 1

5/16

Pag

e 19

) •

Neg

otia

ting

fun

ding

to

prov

ide

mor

e Com

mut

er C

ar P

arki

ng (

Hill

s Shi

re P

lan

FY 1

5/16

Pag

e 19

) •

Lobb

ing

to c

hang

e le

gisl

atio

n re

latin

g to

Ju

st T

erm

s C

ompe

nsat

ion

Act

for

land

acq

uisi

tions

. (H

ills

Shi

re P

lan

FY 1

5/16

Pag

e 19

) •

Nor

th W

est

Rai

l Lia

ison

Gro

up (

Ann

ual R

epor

t FY

14

Page

9 )

•

Upg

rade

of

Sho

wgr

ound

Roa

d (H

ills

Shi

re P

lan

FY 1

5/16

Pag

e 31

) •

Suc

cess

ful l

obby

ing

resu

lting

in N

SW

Gov

ernm

ent,

Tra

nsur

ban

and

Wes

t Li

nk M

7 to

del

iver

the

Nor

thCon

nex

mot

orw

ay.

(Ann

ual

Rep

ort

Page

9)

• Adv

ocat

e fo

r th

e re

serv

atio

n of

a c

onst

ruct

ion

corr

idor

lin

king

the

M7

and

M1

Roa

d w

ays

to e

nabl

e th

e co

mpl

etio

n or

bita

l lin

k.

(Hill

s Shi

re P

lan

FY

15/1

6 Pa

ge 3

1)

R

eso

urc

es t

o c

ope

wit

h c

omp

lex

and

un

exp

ecte

d c

han

ge

• Cas

h Res

erve

s to

talli

ng >

tha

n $

100

m a

vaila

ble.

•

Con

ting

ency

fun

ds t

o de

al w

ith

disa

ster

s an

d em

erge

ncie

s.

• Em

erge

ncy

and

disa

ster

rec

over

y pl

ans

in p

lace

. •

Bus

ines

s co

ntin

uity

pla

ns in

pla

ce.

• Bes

t pr

actice

ris

k m

anag

emen

t sy

stem

s an

d pr

oced

ures

to

min

imis

e po

tent

ial e

vent

. •

Cur

rent

ly e

mpl

oys

a w

ide

rang

e of

ski

lled

and

qual

ified

sta

ff w

ith

tran

sfer

able

ski

lls.

Hig

h q

ual

ity

pol

itic

al a

nd

man

ager

ial l

ead

ersh

ip

•

Lead

ersh

ip p

rogr

ams,

indu

ctio

n an

d tr

aini

ng in

pla

ce for

ele

cted

rep

rese

ntat

ives

and

sta

ff.

• Str

ateg

ic P

lann

ing

Wor

ksho

ps w

ith

Sen

ior

Sta

ff a

nd C

ounc

illor

s.

• M

onth

ly W

orks

hops

with

elec

ted

mem

bers

to

disc

uss

vari

ous

issu

es p

rior

to

Cou

ncil

Mee

ting

s.

PAGE 124


2. Y

our c

ounc

il’s c

urre

nt p

ositi

on

2.1

Abo

ut y

our l

ocal

gov

ernm

ent a

rea

Exp

lain

the

key

cha

ract

eris

tics

of y

our

loca

l gov

ernm

ent

area

, yo

ur c

omm

unity

’s g

oals

and

prio

ritie

s an

d th

e ch

alle

nges

you

face

in th

e fu

ture

(up

to 5

00 w

ords

). Y

ou s

houl

d re

fere

nce

your

Com

mun

ity S

trate

gic

Pla

n an

d an

y re

leva

nt d

emog

raph

ic d

ata

for t

his

sect

ion.

K

ey C

har

acte

rist

ics

Loca

ted

in S

ydne

y’s

nort

h-w

est,

abo

ut 3

0 ki

lom

etre

s fr

om t

he S

ydne

y CBD

, Th

e H

ills

Shi

re o

ccup

ies

an a

rea

of m

ore

than

380

squ

are

kilo

met

res,

and

is d

ivid

ed in

to 2

9 su

burb

s. T

he S

hire

's b

ound

arie

s st

retc

h fr

om O

atla

nds

in t

he s

outh

to

Wis

eman

s Fe

rry

in t

he n

orth

.

Our

Eco

nom

y co

ntin

ues

to g

row

and

rec

ent

repo

rts

estim

ate

the

econ

omic

Hea

dlin

e G

ross

Reg

iona

l Pr

oduc

t (G

RP)

for

30

June

201

4 at

$9

.14B

. Th

e H

ills

Shi

re is

the

ext

rem

ity

of S

ydne

y’s

Glo

bal e

cono

mic

arc

tha

t co

ntri

bute

s 2.

59%

to

the

GRP

of S

ydne

y.

Our

tot

al n

umbe

r of

job

s as

of

June

201

4 re

ache

d 74

,944

, co

mpa

red

to 6

4,76

5 in

200

6. O

ur m

ajor

bus

ines

s pr

ecin

cts

are

wel

l su

ited

to

a va

riet

y of

offic

e, l

ight

ind

ustr

ial,

rese

arch

and

com

mer

cial

use

s. T

hey

hous

e a

dive

rse

arra

y of

spe

cial

ist

and

adva

nced

ind

ustr

ial

com

pani

es g

aini

ng t

he r

egio

n an

exc

elle

nt r

eput

atio

n as

a c

entr

e fo

r fin

ance

, in

form

atio

n te

chno

logy

and

ph

arm

aceu

tica

l ind

ustr

ies.

Th

e H

ills

Shi

re i

s pr

edom

inan

tly r

esid

ential

with

rur

al a

reas

in

the

nort

hern

are

as o

f th

e Shi

re,

agri

cultur

e, n

atio

nal

park

s, a

s w

ell

as

sem

i-ru

ral a

nd r

ural

- re

side

ntia

l liv

ing.

The

sou

ther

n ar

eas

of t

he S

hire

fea

ture

wel

l-es

tabl

ishe

d re

side

ntia

l and

com

mer

cial

are

as a

s w

ell

as n

ew r

elea

se a

reas

of

resi

dent

ial a

nd e

mpl

oym

ent

deve

lopm

ent.

Ther

e ar

e 20

,000

bus

ines

ses

in t

he S

hire

. Cur

rent

ly t

here

are

7 E

mpl

oym

ent

land

zon

es .

The

wor

ld c

lass

Nor

wes

t Bus

ines

s Pa

rk h

as g

row

n to

acc

omm

odat

e m

ore

than

20,

000

empl

oyee

s w

ith

expa

nsio

n ex

pect

ed t

o in

crea

se c

apac

ity

to m

ore

than

35

,000

em

ploy

ees.

2

PAGE 125


Ther

e ar

e cu

rren

tly

in 5

Res

iden

tial

Zon

es b

eing

dev

elop

ed i

n th

e Shi

re r

angi

ng f

rom

Nor

th t

o Sou

th.

In t

he l

ast

20 y

ears

, si

gnifi

cant

dev

elop

men

t ha

s oc

curr

ed i

n su

burb

s su

ch a

s Bea

umon

t H

ills,

Gle

nhav

en,

Kel

lyvi

lle,

and

Rou

se H

ill.

Ove

r th

e ne

xt

20 y

ears

thi

s gr

owth

will

be

focu

sed

in K

elly

ville

and

Box

Hill

as

wel

l as

the

rem

aini

ng a

reas

of

Rou

se H

ill,

in c

onju

nctio

n w

ith

new

dev

elop

men

t ar

eas

in n

eigh

bour

ing

Bla

ckto

wn

City.

Our

pop

ulat

ion

of 1

77,0

00 is

exp

ecte

d to

incr

ease

to

280,

000

by 2

031.

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il em

ploy

s 57

6 fu

ll tim

e eq

uiva

lent

sta

ff in

a r

ange

of

serv

ices

suc

h as

eco

nom

ic d

evel

opm

ent,

libr

ary

serv

ices

, bu

sh

care

, ch

ild c

are,

age

d ca

re,

com

mun

ity

faci

litie

s hi

re,

civi

c ev

ents

, ru

ral

fire

serv

ices

, re

gula

tory

ser

vice

s, a

nd w

aste

man

agem

ent

serv

ices

.

Cou

ncil

mai

ntai

ns 3

12 B

uild

ings

, 94

4 km

s of

loc

al r

oads

, 57

2 km

s of

foo

tpat

hs a

nd c

ycle

way

net

wor

ks,

20 b

ridg

es a

nd S

torm

wat

er

asse

ts c

onta

inin

g 27

,000

pits.

Our

ope

n sp

ace

wel

l ex

ceed

s th

e tr

aditi

onal

pla

nnin

g re

quirem

ents

and

has

330

par

ks a

nd r

eser

ves

form

ing

a to

tal o

f 13

20 h

ecta

res

for

active

rec

reat

ion.

Tot

al a

sset

val

ue o

f $

4bill

ion.

The

2011

Cen

sus

reve

als

that

32.

6% o

f Th

e H

ills

Shi

re r

esid

ents

wer

e bo

rn o

vers

eas,

and

29%

spe

ak a

lan

guag

e ot

her

than

En

glis

h. T

he la

ngua

ges

mos

t fr

eque

ntly

spo

ken

(aft

er E

nglis

h) a

re C

anto

nese

, M

anda

rin,

Kor

ean,

Ara

bic,

Hin

di a

nd I

talia

n.

Com

mu

nit

y G

oals

an

d P

rior

itie

s Th

e H

ills

Shir

e Cou

ncil’

s Str

ateg

ic D

irec

tion

det

aile

d in

“H

ills

Futu

re”

has

been

pre

pare

d af

ter

exte

nsiv

e Com

mun

ity

cons

ulta

tion

and

it en

sure

s th

at t

he o

rgan

isat

ion

has

a cl

ear

dire

ctio

n w

hich

gui

des

the

allo

cation

of

reso

urce

s ov

er t

he l

ong,

med

ium

and

sho

rt t

erm

to

fulfi

l the

Com

mun

ity

Goa

ls a

nd P

rior

ities

.

Ever

y tw

o ye

ars,

Cou

ncil

unde

rtak

es a

Com

mun

ity

Sat

isfa

ctio

n Sur

vey

in o

rder

to

prov

ide

feed

back

on

serv

ices

and

fa

cilit

ies

prov

ided

by

Cou

ncil,

to

exam

ine

com

mun

ity

attit

udes

on

a br

oad

rang

e of

iss

ues

and

to g

athe

r in

form

atio

n on

w

hat

resi

dent

s se

e as

the

mos

t im

port

ant

prio

ritie

s fo

r th

e co

unci

l for

the

nex

t th

ree

year

s. T

he m

ost

rece

nt S

urve

y w

as

cond

ucte

d in

Nov

embe

r 20

14 a

nd 9

6% o

f re

side

nts

wer

e “s

omew

hat

to v

ery

satisf

ied”

with

Cou

ncil

whi

ch i

s on

e of

the

hi

ghes

t sc

ores

rec

eive

d co

mpa

red

to o

ther

Cou

ncils

. (R

efer

ence

Com

mun

ity S

urve

y R

esul

ts D

ecem

ber

2014

)

PAGE 126


Ch

alle

ng

es in

th

e fu

ture

• Pl

anni

ng t

o pr

ovid

e fo

r th

e po

pula

tion

grow

th t

hat

is e

xpec

ted,

in

the

alre

ady

esta

blis

hed

area

s, o

f th

e Shi

re d

ue t

o th

e N

orth

W

est

Rai

l Lin

k (N

WRL)

. N

orth

Wes

t Rai

l is cu

rren

tly u

nder

con

stru

ctio

n an

d w

ill d

eliv

er a

tra

in s

yste

m li

ke n

o ot

her

in N

SW

. Th

ere

will

be

no t

imet

able

with

a t

rain

arr

ivin

g ev

ery

4 m

inut

es.

The

Nor

th W

est

Rai

l Li

nk i

s $9

Bill

ion

of s

tate

inf

rast

ruct

ure

that

will

pr

ovid

e al

tern

ativ

e to

roa

d tr

ansp

ort

that

will

not

onl

y as

sist

mov

emen

t of

our

res

iden

ts t

o th

e gl

obal

arc

, bu

t al

so t

rans

port

co

mm

uniti

es t

hrou

gh u

s an

d w

ithi

n us

. Th

e co

rrid

or is

a c

ritic

al s

trat

egic

pla

nnin

g in

itiat

ive

that

nee

ds t

o pl

ace

the

righ

t la

nd u

ses

arou

nd s

tation

s to

tak

e ad

vant

age

of t

he s

ervi

ce,

but

to c

reat

e vi

bran

t, s

afe

orig

ins

and

dest

inat

ions

. It

is

hope

d th

e N

WRL

will

ta

ke s

ome

pres

sure

off

our

roa

ds,

and

will

del

iver

rel

iabl

e pu

blic

tra

nspo

rt f

or t

his

grow

ing

popu

latio

n.

•

Prov

idin

g su

stai

nabl

e dw

ellin

g an

d em

ploy

men

t gr

owth

, th

at

bala

nces

th

e ne

eds

of

the

econ

omy,

co

mm

unity

and

envi

ronm

ent.

• W

e ne

ed a

bout

36,

000

mor

e ho

uses

pre

dom

inan

tly f

or f

amili

es.

Our

cen

ters

aro

und

railw

ay s

tation

s w

ill b

ecom

e de

nser

. It

is

critic

al t

hat

Cou

ncil

is a

ble

to e

nsur

e ho

usin

g st

ocks

in

high

den

sity

are

as t

o pr

omot

e a

viab

le l

ivin

g ch

oice

for

fam

ilies

to

evol

ve.

Thes

e co

mm

unitie

s ar

e di

vers

e, n

on-t

rans

ient

and

hav

e a

sens

e of

pla

ce,

belo

ngin

g w

ith a

hig

h qu

ality

of lif

e.

• M

anag

ing

the

futu

re r

ecre

atio

nal n

eeds

of a

grow

ing

Glo

bal C

ity.

PAGE 127


2.2

Key

cha

lleng

es a

nd o

ppor

tuni

ties

Stre

ngth

s W

eakn

esse

s •

Sca

le a

nd S

trat

egic

cap

acity

to g

over

n ef

fect

ivel

y

• N

SW

Fi

nanc

ial

Sust

aina

bilit

y ra

ting

“S

tron

g”

and

outloo

k “N

eutr

al”

• In

fras

truc

ture

Aud

it R

atin

gs -

Ass

et R

atin

g “S

tron

g”

Infr

astr

uctu

re b

ackl

og p

er c

apita

ratin

g re

duce

d fr

om $

342

to

$ 8

4 as

at

30 J

une

2015

. (

Top

Ban

d )

• M

ost

asse

ts w

ithi

n Con

ditio

n 2

& 3

• D

ebt

free

with

subs

tant

ial C

ash

Res

erve

s

• Abi

lity

to d

eliv

er m

ajor

pro

ject

s

• Res

ourc

es t

o co

pe w

ith

com

plex

and

une

xpec

ted

chan

ge

• Abi

lity

to e

mpl

oy &

ret

ain

suitab

ly q

ualif

ied

staf

f •

Abi

lity

to d

eliv

er q

ualit

y se

rvic

es a

nd in

fras

truc

ture

•

Abi

lity

to in

fluen

ce S

tate

and

Fed

eral

gov

ernm

ent

deci

sion

s to

ac

hiev

e lo

cal a

nd r

egio

nal

tran

spor

t &

hou

sing

nee

ds

• M

ore

robu

st

reve

nue

base

an

d in

crea

sed

disc

retion

ary

spen

ding

•

Abi

lity

to u

nder

take

ent

repr

eneu

rial

act

iviti

es

• Adv

ance

d sk

ills

in s

trat

egic

pla

nnin

g, F

orw

ard

Plan

ning

and

po

licy

deve

lopm

ent

•

Abi

lity

to p

repa

re s

ound

pla

ns t

o ac

com

mod

ate

the

incr

ease

d po

pula

tion

(For

ecas

t Po

pula

tion

grow

th 2

80,0

00 b

y 20

31)

•

Abi

lity

to u

nder

take

joi

nt m

ajor

inf

rast

ruct

ure

proj

ects

with

Sta

te a

nd F

eder

al b

odie

s •

Str

ateg

ical

ly i

nviti

ng i

n re

venu

e st

ream

s th

at a

re n

ot r

ates

an

d gr

ants

• Rat

e Le

gisl

atio

n.

Rat

es

are

a ta

x an

d it’s

no

t se

t in

ac

cord

ance

with

Taxa

tion

law

s of

equ

ity,

effic

ienc

y, s

impl

icity

and

sust

aina

bilit

y. E

g Apa

rtm

ents

, cu

rren

t ra

tes

exem

ptio

ns,

pens

ione

r co

nces

sion

s.

•

Res

tric

tion

s on

var

ious

sta

tuto

ry f

ees,

pre

vent

s re

cove

ring

th

e fu

ll co

st o

f pr

ovid

ing

that

ser

vice

.

• Cou

ncils

hav

e no

con

trol

ove

r ce

rtai

n co

st i

ncre

ases

suc

h as

Sta

tuto

ry

Cha

rges

in

crea

sing

gr

eate

r th

an

the

Loca

l G

over

nmen

t C

ost

Inde

x.

•

Just

Ter

ms

Com

pens

atio

n Act

req

uiri

ng p

urch

ase

of l

and

in

new

rel

ease

are

as,

befo

re r

ecei

ving

dev

elop

er c

ontr

ibut

ions

.

• Age

ing

wor

kfor

ce

•

Cos

t sh

iftin

g -

Loca

l G

over

nmen

t be

ing

expe

cted

to

expa

nd

serv

ices

suc

h as

Str

eet

light

ing,

Briga

de L

evy,

RFS

& S

ES

Levy

, En

viro

nmen

tal P

lann

ing

Levy

etc

.

•

Del

ay i

n pr

ovid

ing

Sta

te G

over

nmen

t in

fras

truc

ture

to

new

re

leas

e ar

eas.

(H

ospi

tals

, Sch

ools

, Tr

ansp

ort)

2

PAGE 128


Opp

ortu

nitie

s Th

reat

s

• G

ener

ate

othe

r so

urce

s of

inc

ome

and

less

rel

ianc

e on

Rat

es

Rev

enue

•

Focu

s on

impr

ovem

ent

rath

er t

han

com

plia

nce

• Sup

port

loca

l job

s an

d ec

onom

ic g

row

th

• M

eet

dive

rse

need

s of

diff

eren

t gr

oups

•

Loca

l Gov

ernm

ent

Ref

orm

•

Influ

ence

Sta

te a

nd F

eder

al g

over

nmen

t de

cisi

ons

to a

chie

ve

loca

l and

reg

iona

l tr

ansp

ort

& h

ousi

ng n

eeds

•

Res

ourc

e sh

arin

g w

ith

othe

r co

unci

ls

• Kno

wle

dge

crea

tivi

ty a

nd in

nova

tion

•

Esca

latin

g la

nd p

rice

s

• Fu

ndin

g D

efic

its

that

ar

e ca

used

by

Sta

te

Gov

ernm

ent

capp

ing

Dev

elop

er C

ontr

ibut

ions

• Fu

ndin

g of

lan

d ac

quis

ition

s pr

ior

to r

ecei

ving

Dev

elop

er

Con

trib

utio

ns

• Abi

lity

to

prov

ide

appr

opri

ate

Infr

astr

uctu

re

outs

ide

of

“Non

Ess

ential

“ w

orks

ide

ntifi

ed b

y IP

ART

in n

ew r

elea

se

area

s.

• Po

litic

al d

ecis

ions

reg

ardi

ng i

ssue

s su

ch a

s co

st s

hift

ing

and

rate

peg

ging

.

• Fl

uctu

atio

ns

in

inte

rest

ra

tes,

in

flatio

n,

fuel

pr

ices

, ex

chan

ge r

ates

.

• Te

rror

thr

eats

• Age

ing

stor

m w

ater

inf

rast

ruct

ure

built

to

stan

dard

s th

at

are

no lo

nger

rel

evan

t

PAGE 129


2.3

Perf

orm

ance

aga

inst

the

Fit f

or th

e Fu

ture

ben

chm

arks

Sust

aina

bilit

y M

easu

re/

benc

hmar

k 20

13

/ 20

14

perf

orm

ance

A

chie

ves

FFTF

be

nchm

ark?

Fo

reca

st

2016

/

2017

pe

rfor

man

ce

Ach

ieve

s FF

TF

benc

hmar

k?

Ope

ratin

g Pe

rfor

man

ce

Rat

io

(Gre

ater

th

an

or

equa

l to

br

eak-

even

av

erag

e ov

er

3 ye

ars)

10.4

%

Yes

2.1%

Ye

s

Ow

n So

urce

Rev

enue

R

atio

(G

reat

er

than

60

%

aver

age

over

3 y

ears

) 61

.2%

Ye

s 68

.0%

Ye

s

Bui

ldin

g an

d In

fras

truc

ture

As

set

Ren

ewal

R

atio

(G

reat

er

than

10

0%

aver

age

over

3 y

ears

)

161.

7%

Yes

130.

7%

Yes

In r

espe

ct o

f th

e lo

ng t

erm

Sus

tain

abili

ty o

f th

e Cou

ncil

our

key

obse

rvat

ions

are

:

● Cou

ncil

is f

orec

asting

an

oper

atin

g su

rplu

s ea

ch y

ear

of t

he f

orec

ast

peri

od,

whe

n ca

pita

l gr

ants

and

con

trib

utio

ns a

re e

xclu

ded.

Cou

ncil’

s U

nres

tric

ted

Cur

rent

Rat

io is

abo

ve b

ench

mar

k ov

er t

he f

orec

ast

peri

od.

In M

arch

201

4 C

ounc

il un

dert

ook

anot

her

inde

pend

ent

anal

ysis

by

NSW

Tre

asur

y Cor

p w

here

by C

ounc

il ha

s be

en u

pgra

ded

from

“s

ound

” to

“st

rong

” w

ith

a “n

eutr

al”

outloo

k, in

dica

ting

that

we

wou

ld r

emai

n st

rong

at

leas

t fo

r th

e ne

xt t

hree

yea

rs.

This

fin

anci

al s

usta

inab

ility

rat

ing

furt

her

emph

asis

es o

ur s

tatu

s as

one

of

the

wel

l m

anag

ed L

ocal

Gov

ernm

ent

area

s in

Aus

tral

ia.

This

ha

s be

en m

ade

poss

ible

by

stri

ct b

udge

tary

con

trol

mea

sure

s at

all

leve

ls o

f op

erat

ions

, pr

uden

t in

vest

ing

in t

he m

aint

enan

ce o

f ou

r

2

PAGE 130


infr

astr

uctu

re a

nd a

dopt

ing

a co

st-c

onsc

ious

app

roac

h to

spe

ndin

g ra

tepa

yer’s

mon

ey.

This

ach

ieve

men

t is

all

the

mor

e re

mar

kabl

e co

nsid

erin

g th

is C

ounc

il w

as o

n th

e br

ink

of in

solv

ency

20

year

s ag

o.

If th

e Fi

t for

the

Futu

re b

ench

mar

ks a

re n

ot b

eing

ach

ieve

d, p

leas

e in

dica

te w

hy.

For e

xam

ple,

his

toric

al c

onst

rain

ts/c

onte

xt, o

ne-o

ff ad

just

men

ts/fa

ctor

s, c

ounc

il po

licie

s an

d tra

de-o

ffs b

etw

een

crite

ria.

PAGE 131


2.3

Perf

orm

ance

aga

inst

the

Fit f

or th

e Fu

ture

ben

chm

arks

Infr

astr

uctu

re a

nd s

ervi

ce m

anag

emen

t M

easu

re/

benc

hmar

k 20

13

/2

014

perf

orm

ance

A

chie

ves

FFTF

be

nchm

ark?

Fo

reca

st

2016

/

2017

pe

rfor

man

ce

Ach

ieve

s FF

TF

benc

hmar

k?

Infr

astr

uctu

re

Bac

klog

R

atio

(G

reat

er t

han

2%)

- sh

ould

be

less

than

2.

66%

N

o 1.

6%

Yes

Ass

et

Mai

nten

ance

R

atio

(G

reat

er

than

10

0%

aver

age

over

3 y

ears

) 16

0.9%

Ye

s 10

7.2%

Ye

s

Deb

t Ser

vice

Rat

io

(Gre

ater

than

0%

and

less

than

or

equ

al to

20%

ave

rage

ove

r 3

year

s)

0%

No

0%

No

If th

e Fi

t for

the

Futu

re b

ench

mar

ks a

re n

ot b

eing

ach

ieve

d, p

leas

e in

dica

te w

hy.

Infr

astr

uct

ure

Bac

klo

g R

atio

• Cou

ncil

is t

he c

usto

dian

of

$4 b

illio

n w

orth

of

com

mun

ity

asse

ts.

Cou

ncil

has

cont

inue

d to

red

uce

its

infr

astr

uctu

re b

ackl

og a

nd

with

the

exce

ptio

n of

sto

rmw

ater

, th

is w

ill r

educ

e to

zer

o by

30

June

201

5. T

his

has

been

ach

ieve

d w

itho

ut t

he n

eed

to b

orro

w o

r ad

d sp

ecia

l var

iatio

ns t

o ra

tes.

• Cou

ncil

star

ted

with

a ba

cklo

g of

$52

m i

n Ju

ne 2

011.

By

the

end

of 3

0 Ju

ne 2

015,

thi

s ba

cklo

g w

ill b

e re

duce

d to

nil

with

the

exce

ptio

n of

sto

rmw

ater

whe

re t

he b

ackl

og i

s re

port

ed a

s $1

5.5m

. Th

is r

epre

sent

s 1.

6% o

f its

infr

astr

uctu

re v

alue

of

$949

m

2

PAGE 132


whi

ch w

ill b

e w

ithi

n th

e be

nchm

ark

of 2

%.

Cou

ncil

is c

urre

ntly

rev

iew

ing

its

stor

m w

ater

/dra

inag

e as

sets

to

clar

ify t

he n

atur

e of

w

orks

and

fun

ding

nee

ded

to e

radi

cate

the

Bac

klog

on

thes

e as

sets

.

• Alth

ough

the

re is

curr

ently

no

back

log

on C

ounc

il’s

build

ing,

par

k, c

ivil,

bridg

e or

pat

hway

infr

astr

uctu

re a

sset

s, t

hese

ass

ets

are

still

age

ing.

How

ever

Cou

ncil

will

be

proa

ctiv

ely

rene

win

g th

ese

asse

ts p

rior

to

falli

ng i

nto

an u

nsat

isfa

ctor

y co

nditio

n w

hich

is

evid

ence

d in

the

Ass

et M

anag

emen

t Fu

ndin

g O

bjec

tive

– “

Ass

et r

enew

als

to b

e gi

ven

prio

rity

ove

r ne

w p

roje

cts

so t

hat

exis

ting

in

fras

truc

ture

can

be

mai

ntai

ned

at e

xpec

ted

serv

ice

leve

ls (

Ref

Fin

anci

al C

hart

er 2

.1,

Res

ourc

ing

Str

ateg

y –

Ass

et M

anag

emen

t )

Deb

t S

ervi

ce R

atio

Cou

ncil’

s to

tal c

ash

and

inve

stm

ents

as

at 3

0 Apr

il 20

15 is

now

at

a re

cord

of $2

90m

with

unre

stri

cted

cur

rent

rat

io a

t 12

.56:

1 Cou

ncil

is d

ebt

free

and

has

bee

n si

nce

2002

. It

has

alw

ays

trie

d to

del

iver

the

ser

vice

s th

at t

his

Shi

re e

xpec

ts,

at a

pri

ce t

hat

the

Rat

e Pa

yers

ca

n af

ford

. Th

e Cou

ncil

has

prou

dly

deliv

ered

su

rplu

s re

sults

over

th

e la

st

16

year

s w

ell

withi

n th

e Sta

te

Gov

ernm

ent’s

Rat

es C

ap.

Ther

efor

e in

thi

s in

stan

ce,

Cou

ncil

does

not

agr

ee w

ith

the

Deb

t Ser

vice

Rat

io b

eing

gre

ater

tha

n 0%

. In

fac

t w

hen

NSW

Tre

asur

y Cor

p co

nduc

ted

its

revi

ew,

on b

oth

occa

sion

s, t

he D

ebt

Ser

vice

Rat

io w

as r

egar

ded

as “

NO

T APP

LICABLE

” an

d re

gard

ed C

ounc

il as

bei

ng lo

ng t

erm

fin

anci

ally

sus

tain

able

. (R

efer

ence

: TC

orp

Fina

l Ass

essm

ent

Rep

ort

July

201

4 pa

ge 5

)

PAGE 133


2.3

Perf

orm

ance

aga

inst

the

Fit f

or th

e Fu

ture

ben

chm

arks

Effic

ienc

y

Mea

sure

/ be

nchm

ark

2013

/201

4 pe

rfor

man

ce

Ach

ieve

s FF

TF

benc

hmar

k?

Fore

cast

20

16

/ 20

17

perf

orm

ance

A

chie

ves

FFTF

be

nchm

ark?

Rea

l O

pera

ting

- Ex

pend

iture

per

cap

ita

A

decr

ease

in

R

eal

Ope

ratin

g E

xpen

ditu

re p

er c

apita

ove

r tim

e

61

%

No

58.8

4%

Yes

If th

e Fi

t for

the

Futu

re b

ench

mar

ks a

re n

ot b

eing

ach

ieve

d, p

leas

e in

dica

te w

hy.

In t

he p

ast

we

have

not

bee

n m

eeting

the

se c

rite

ria

as t

his

is a

dev

elop

ing

coun

cil a

nd w

e ha

ve b

een

build

ing

new

infr

astr

uctu

re,

whi

ch

in t

urn

incr

ease

s th

e de

prec

iatio

n co

st.

But

the

pop

ulat

ion

is la

ggin

g be

hind

. In

the

med

ium

to

long

ter

m,

Cou

ncil

will

ach

ieve

thi

s re

sult

as it

is e

xpec

ting

a s

igni

fican

t gr

owth

in p

opul

atio

n.

2

PAGE 134


3. H

ow w

ill yo

ur c

ounc

il be

com

e/re

mai

n Fi

t for

the

Futu

re?

3.1

Sust

aina

bilit

y S

umm

aris

e yo

ur c

ounc

il’s k

ey s

trate

gies

to

impr

ove

perfo

rman

ce a

gain

st t

he S

usta

inab

ility

benc

hmar

ks in

the

201

6-20

per

iod,

in

clud

ing

the

outc

omes

you

exp

ect t

o ac

hiev

e.

Exp

lain

the

key

assu

mpt

ions

that

und

erpi

n yo

ur s

trate

gies

and

exp

ecte

d ou

tcom

es.

For

exam

ple

the

key

assu

mpt

ions

tha

t dr

ive

finan

cial

per

form

ance

incl

udin

g th

e us

e of

SR

Vs,

gro

wth

in r

ates

, w

age

incr

ease

s, F

inan

cial

A

ssis

tanc

e or

oth

er o

pera

ting

gran

ts, d

epre

ciat

ion,

and

oth

er e

ssen

tial o

r maj

or e

xpen

se o

r rev

enue

item

s.

Key

ass

um

pti

on

s th

at d

rive

fin

anci

al s

ust

ain

abili

ty h

ave

bee

n m

ain

ly d

ue

to t

he

flo

win

g:

• Con

tinu

ing

to b

udge

t fo

r op

erat

iona

l sur

plus

es

Follo

win

g pr

inci

ples

are

app

lied

whe

n se

ttin

g bu

dget

s an

d bu

dget

s ar

e cl

osel

y m

onitor

ed d

urin

g th

e ye

ar.

Rev

enu

e •

Rat

e in

crea

ses

limited

to

Sta

te G

over

nmen

t’s R

ates

Cap

, th

us m

axim

isin

g th

e be

nefit

s by

pro

vidi

ng v

alue

for

mon

ey t

o th

e re

side

nts.

•

Rev

enue

pol

icy

revi

ewed

and

cal

cula

tes

tota

l cos

t of

ser

vice

s an

d ap

plie

s “U

ser

Pays

Pri

ncip

les”

whe

re p

ossi

ble

whe

n se

ttin

g fe

es.

• Ass

ume

Sta

te G

over

nmen

t w

ill c

ontinu

e to

fun

d th

e D

evel

oper

Con

trib

utio

n G

ap d

ue t

o ca

ppin

g of

Con

trib

utio

n Rat

es a

t $3

0k.

• A n

umbe

r of

the

gra

nts

that

are

rec

eive

d fu

nd s

peci

fic p

rogr

ams

that

may

not

be

offe

red,

by

the

Cou

ncil

if th

e gr

ants

wer

e el

imin

ated

. •

It is

ass

umed

all

recu

rren

t gr

ant

fund

s w

ill b

e m

aint

aine

d at

cur

rent

leve

ls w

ith

CPI

adj

ustm

ents

.

• G

row

ing

alte

rnat

ive

reve

nue

sour

ces.

Exp

end

itu

re

• Em

ploy

ee c

osts

bas

ed o

n th

e Aw

ard

and

the

curr

ent

Ente

rpri

se A

gree

men

t.

• Sup

eran

nuat

ion

cont

ribu

tions

9.5

% in

FY

15/1

6 an

d in

crea

sing

to

10.2

5% b

y FY

22/

23.

• W

orke

rs C

ompe

nsat

ion

cost

s as

sum

es C

ounc

il w

ill r

emai

n in

the

cur

rent

RPL

sch

eme.

•

Ass

et m

aint

enan

ce g

iven

pri

ority

over

oth

er e

xpen

ditu

re.

• Set

asi

de fun

ds f

rom

Ope

rating

Rev

enue

for

kno

wn

futu

re e

xpen

ditu

re e

ach

year

(E.

g. P

lant

Rep

lace

men

t, E

lect

ion

cost

etc

.)

2 3

PAGE 135


3.1

Sust

aina

bilit

y

Out

line

your

stra

tegi

es a

nd o

utco

mes

in th

e ta

ble

belo

w.

3.1

Sust

aina

bilit

y O

bjec

tive

Stra

tegi

es

Key

m

ilest

ones

O

utco

me

Impa

ct

on

othe

r m

easu

res

Con

tinu

e to

bu

dget

fo

r op

erat

iona

l su

rplu

s as

a

high

pri

ority.

Tota

l op

erat

ing

reve

nue

for

each

yea

r is

suf

ficie

nt t

o m

eet

oper

atin

g ex

pend

itur

e.

Ope

ration

al

Sur

plus

es

Ope

rating

Rat

io

withi

n be

nchm

arks

O

wn

Sour

ce R

even

ue

Bui

ld c

ash

rese

rves

to

fund

fo

r kn

own

futu

re

expe

nditur

e an

d to

pro

vide

fo

r un

expe

cted

co

ntin

genc

ies

e.g.

na

tura

l di

sast

ers

and

unan

ticip

ated

le

gal c

halle

nges

.

Set

asi

de f

unds

fro

m r

even

ue

each

yea

r Suf

ficie

nt

Res

erve

Bal

ance

s Fu

nds

avai

labl

e w

hen

requ

ired

U

nres

trict

ed c

urre

nt ra

tio

See

k ad

ditio

nal

reve

nue

whe

n in

crea

sing

le

vel

of

serv

ices

are

req

uire

d See

k ne

w

and

addi

tiona

l re

venu

e so

urce

s in

add

ition

to

the

curr

ent

reve

nue

stru

ctur

e O

wn

Sou

rce

Rev

enue

O

wn

Sou

rce

Rev

enue

w

ithi

n Ben

chm

arks

O

pera

ting

Perfo

rman

ce

Rat

io

App

ly U

ser

pays

pri

ncip

les

whe

n se

ttin

g fe

es.

Purs

ue c

ost

reco

very

for

tho

se

serv

ices

w

here

th

ere

is

a di

scer

nibl

e pr

ivat

e be

nefit

ga

ined

fr

om

acce

ssin

g th

at

serv

ice.

Ow

n Sou

rce

Rev

enue

O

wn

Sou

rce

Rev

enue

w

ithi

n Ben

chm

arks

O

pera

ting

Perfo

rman

ce

Rat

io

3

PAGE 136


3.2

Infr

astr

uctu

re a

nd S

ervi

ce M

anag

emen

t S

umm

aris

e yo

ur c

ounc

il’s k

ey s

trate

gies

to im

prov

e pe

rform

ance

aga

inst

the

Infra

stru

ctur

e an

d se

rvic

e m

anag

emen

t ben

chm

arks

in

the

2016

-20

perio

d, in

clud

ing

the

outc

omes

you

exp

ect t

o ac

hiev

e.

Exp

lain

the

key

assu

mpt

ions

that

und

erpi

n yo

ur s

trate

gies

and

exp

ecte

d ou

tcom

es.

Key

Ass

um

pti

on

s th

at d

rive

fin

anci

al p

erfo

rman

ce

Ass

et M

anag

emen

t as

sum

pti

on

s, s

trat

egie

s an

d o

utc

om

es a

re o

utl

ined

in

th

e R

eso

urc

ing

Str

ateg

y –

Ass

et M

anag

emen

t P

ages

58

to

78

(H

ills

Sh

ire

Pla

n F

Y 1

5/

16

) K

ey A

ssu

mp

tio

ns

• Th

e as

sets

Cou

ncil

man

ages

are

fun

dam

enta

l to

its

ove

rall

serv

ice

deliv

ery

to o

ur c

omm

unity.

Thi

s is

to

ensu

re t

hey

are

appr

opri

ate

for

the

need

s of

the

com

mun

ity

and

are

mai

ntai

ned

at t

he a

gree

d le

vels

of se

rvic

e w

ithi

n th

e fin

anci

al c

apac

ity o

f C

ounc

il.

• A f

ull l

ife c

ycle

cos

t ap

proa

ch w

ill b

e ta

ken

in r

elat

ion

to a

cqui

ring

fut

ure

asse

ts,

deci

ding

on

asse

t re

new

al p

roje

cts

and

the

disp

osal

of

exi

stin

g as

sets

.

• Cou

ncil’

s as

sets

are

man

aged

thr

ough

an

appr

oved

str

ateg

ic a

sset

man

agem

ent

plan

usi

ng t

echn

olog

y, a

ppro

pria

te m

etho

dolo

gies

an

d co

nsul

tatio

n w

ith

our

com

mun

ity

to m

ake

soun

d de

cisi

ons

rega

rdin

g th

e al

loca

tion

of

reso

urce

s in

pro

vidi

ng,

mai

ntai

ning

, re

new

ing

and

disp

osin

g of

ass

ets.

•

Ass

et m

aint

enan

ce a

nd r

enew

al p

rogr

am i

s ba

sed

upon

agr

eed

leve

ls o

f se

rvic

e w

ith

appr

opri

ate

met

hodo

logi

es t

o al

low

Cou

ncil

to

focu

s on

pro

active

mai

nten

ance

pro

gram

s ra

ther

tha

n re

active

com

plai

nt b

ased

act

ion.

O

bje

ctiv

es w

hen

pre

par

ing

Cap

ital

Wo

rks

Pro

gra

ms

1. A

sset

mai

nten

ance

giv

en p

rior

ity

over

new

cap

ital

. 2.

Ens

urin

g am

ount

s sp

ent

on A

sset

Mai

nten

ance

is g

reat

er t

han

requ

ired

mai

nten

ance

. 3.

Add

ress

Inf

rast

ruct

ure

Bac

klog

as

a pr

iori

ty.

4. A

ll as

set

man

agem

ent

perf

orm

ance

mea

sure

s w

ith

Indu

stry

ben

chm

arks

. 5.

Con

tinu

e to

mon

itor

ass

et c

ondi

tion

rating

and

mai

ntai

n up

-to-

date

sys

tem

s.

3

PAGE 137


3.2

Infr

astr

uctu

re a

nd S

ervi

ce M

anag

emen

t O

utlin

e yo

ur s

trate

gies

and

out

com

es in

the

tabl

e be

low

. 3

.2 I

nfr

astr

uct

ure

an

d s

ervi

ce m

anag

emen

t

Ob

ject

ive

Str

ateg

ies

Key

m

ilest

ones

O

utc

ome

Imp

act

on

oth

er

mea

sure

s

Mai

ntai

n ex

istin

g

infr

astr

uctu

re

at

expe

cted

se

rvic

e le

vels

as

iden

tifie

d in

th

e Ass

et

Man

agem

ent

Str

ateg

y

A.

Prov

ide

suffic

ient

fun

ds t

o m

aint

ain

asse

ts t

o id

entifie

d se

rvic

e le

vels

B.

Expe

nditur

e on

as

set

rene

wal

be

gi

ven

prio

rity

ove

r ne

w c

apital

All

Ass

erts

m

aint

aine

d at

sa

tisf

acto

ry

leve

ls

Ass

et

rene

wal

s Rat

io >

100

%

Infr

astr

uctu

re

back

log

with

in

benc

hmar

ks

or

low

er

Ass

et

Mai

nten

ance

Rat

io

Cap

ital

Ex

pend

itur

e Rat

io

Prov

ide

new

cap

ital

with

in

Cou

ncils

fin

anci

al

capa

bilit

ies.

A.

Cap

ital

Ex

pend

iture

pr

ojec

t pr

opos

als,

to

id

entify

lif

ecyc

le

cost

ev

alua

tions

whi

ch i

nclu

de c

onst

ruct

ion,

m

aint

enan

ce,

oper

atio

ns a

nd t

rans

fer

to

rese

rves

for

rep

lace

men

t.

B.

Any

new

Cap

ital

Exp

endi

ture

Pro

ject

s to

iden

tify

the

sou

rce

of f

undi

ng a

nd t

he

deliv

ery

of

the

proj

ect

to

refle

ct

the

tim

ing

of t

he r

ecei

pt o

f fu

nds.

C.

Con

side

r bo

rrow

ing

for

new

cap

ital

on

ly i

f a

cont

inuo

us i

ncom

e so

urce

can

be

iden

tifie

d to

ser

vice

the

deb

t.

Del

iver

y of

ne

w

asse

ts

on

tim

e an

d w

ithi

n Bud

get.

Abi

lity

to m

aint

ain

new

as

sets

at

sa

tisf

acto

ry le

vels

.

Ass

et

Mai

nten

ance

Rat

io

Cap

ital

Ex

pend

itur

e Rat

io

3

PAGE 138


3. E

ffici

ency

S

umm

aris

e yo

ur c

ounc

il’s k

ey s

trate

gies

to im

prov

e pe

rform

ance

aga

inst

the

Effic

ienc

y m

easu

res

in th

e 20

16-

20 p

erio

d, in

clud

ing

the

outc

omes

you

exp

ect t

o ac

hiev

e.

Exp

lain

the

key

assu

mpt

ions

that

und

erpi

n yo

ur s

trate

gies

and

exp

ecte

d ou

tcom

es.

1.

Ensu

ring

sou

nd g

over

nanc

e ba

sed

on t

rans

pare

ncy

and

acco

unta

bilit

y.

2.

Mai

ntai

ning

a c

apab

le,

skill

ed a

nd c

ompe

tent

wor

kfor

ce a

nd e

nsur

ing

staf

f nu

mbe

rs a

re w

ithi

n +

or

– 2.

5% e

ach

year

3.

En

suri

ng r

esou

rces

are

ava

ilabl

e to

cop

e w

ith

com

plex

and

une

xpec

ted

chan

ge

4.

Prov

idin

g co

st e

ffec

tive

ser

vice

s w

ithi

n th

e Rat

es c

ap.

5.

Con

tinu

ing

to m

onitor

cos

t of

pro

vidi

ng s

ervi

ces

and

seek

cos

t ef

ficie

nt s

ervi

ces.

6.

U

nder

taki

ng p

roac

tive

mai

nten

ance

, th

us r

educ

ing

depr

ecia

tion

.

7.

Und

erta

king

ent

repr

eneu

rial

act

iviti

es t

o so

urce

new

inco

me.

8.

Acq

uiring

lan

d ev

en b

efor

e th

e po

pula

tion

arri

ves

and

that

con

trib

utio

ns a

re r

ecei

ved

to p

rovi

de n

eces

sary

inf

rast

ruct

ure

for

orde

rly

deve

lopm

ent

in n

ew r

elea

se a

reas

. 9.

Res

pons

ible

pla

nnin

g to

cre

ate

a de

sira

ble

livin

g en

viro

nmen

t to

mee

t gr

owth

tar

gets

.

3

PAGE 139


3.3

Effic

ienc

y O

utlin

e yo

ur s

trate

gies

and

out

com

es in

the

tabl

e be

low

.

3.3

Effic

ienc

y

Obj

ectiv

e St

rate

gies

K

ey m

ilest

ones

O

utco

me

Impa

ct

on

othe

r m

easu

res

1.Red

uce

Expe

nditur

e w

hist

m

aint

ain

exis

ting

serv

ice

leve

ls

1.

Con

tinu

ous

Cos

t Ben

efit

anal

ysis

of

pr

ovid

ing

serv

ices

. 2.

Re-

engi

neer

ing

proc

ess

to

redu

ce

was

te

espe

cial

ly

with

us

e of

new

tec

hnol

ogy

Red

uction

in

re

al

expe

nditur

e

Dec

reas

ing

real

op

erat

ing

expe

nditu

re

per

capi

ta

Ope

ratin

g P

erfo

rman

ce

Rat

io

2.Pr

ovid

e m

ore

effic

ient

w

ays

to d

eliv

er s

ervi

ces

for

a gr

owin

g po

pula

tion

Prov

ide

serv

ices

w

ithi

n ex

isting

sta

ff n

umbe

rs

Sta

ff

to

Popu

latio

n Rat

io

Dec

reas

ing

real

op

erat

ing

expe

nditu

re

per

capi

ta

Ope

ratin

g P

erfo

rman

ce

Rat

io

3.Val

ue

for

mon

ey

in

all

proc

urem

ent

activi

ties

Cen

tral

ised

pr

ocur

emen

t pr

actice

s Red

uction

in

re

al

expe

nditur

e D

ecre

asin

g re

al

oper

atin

g ex

pend

iture

pe

r ca

pita

Ope

ratin

g P

erfo

rman

ce

Rat

io

3

PAGE 140


3.4

Impr

ovem

ent A

ctio

n Pl

an

Sum

mar

ise

the

key

impr

ovem

ent a

ctio

ns th

at w

ill b

e ac

hiev

ed in

the

first

yea

r of y

our p

lan.

Act

ion

plan

Act

ions

M

ilest

ones

3.1

Ope

ratin

g Pe

rfor

man

ce

Con

tinu

e to

bud

get

for

oper

atio

nal su

rplu

s be

fore

Cap

ital

Gra

nts

and

Gai

n /L

oss

on d

ispo

sal of

ass

ets

as a

hig

h pr

iori

ty

June

201

6

Con

tinu

e to

bud

get

for

Rat

es in

com

e lim

ited

to R

ates

Cap

with

Gro

wth

for

new

rel

ease

are

as

June

201

6

Con

tinu

e to

app

ly t

he F

inan

cial

Cha

rter

whe

n pr

epar

ing

the

Bud

get

June

201

6

Con

tinu

e to

giv

e pr

iori

ty t

o In

fras

truc

ture

fun

ding

bef

ore

all o

ther

ser

vice

s Ju

ne 2

016

Con

tinu

e to

allo

cate

fro

m R

ecur

rent

Inc

ome

fund

s fo

r kn

own

futu

re e

xpen

ditu

re &

con

ting

enci

es

June

201

6

Con

tinu

e to

pre

pare

Bud

gets

on

a fu

ll co

st b

asis

, an

d se

t fe

es &

cha

rges

whe

re p

ossi

ble

to r

ecov

er

cost

s

June

201

6

Con

tinu

e to

ope

rate

cos

t ne

utra

l (

full

cost

inc

ludi

ng o

verh

eads

) s

ervi

ces

in W

aste

, Chi

ld C

are

and

Age

d &

Dis

abili

ty S

ervi

ces

June

201

6

Con

tinu

e to

not

pro

vide

ser

vice

s w

here

Gra

nt fun

ding

is c

easi

ng o

r ch

angi

ng

June

201

6

Con

tinu

e to

gen

erat

e in

com

e fr

om e

ntre

pren

euri

al a

ctiv

ities

Ju

ne 2

016

3

PAGE 141


3.2

In

fras

tru

ctu

re

Con

tinu

e to

mon

itor

and

deliv

er inf

rast

ruct

ure

for

new

rel

ease

are

as.

Con

tinu

e to

mon

itor

and

deliv

er

infr

astr

uctu

re for

new

rel

ease

are

as.

Nex

t 20

yea

rs

Con

tinu

e to

bor

row

withi

n Sec

tion

94

first

, th

en R

eser

ves

to f

und

land

acq

uisi

tions

in

Con

trib

utio

n Pl

ans

whe

re S

ection

94

Con

trib

utio

ns a

re n

il or

neg

ativ

e (

E.g.

Box

Hill

Pla

n )

June

201

6

Cre

ate

a Str

om W

ater

(SW

) Bac

klog

Res

erve

to

fund

SW

bac

klog

whe

n id

entif

ied

June

201

6

Con

tinu

e to

see

k G

rant

Fun

ding

whe

re p

ossi

ble

for

spec

ific

expe

nditur

e

June

201

6

Con

tinu

e to

set

asi

de fun

ds for

ass

et r

enew

al e

qual

or

grea

ter

than

Dep

reci

atio

n

June

201

6

Con

tinu

e to

pro

vide

fun

ds f

or A

sset

Mai

nten

ance

gre

ater

tha

n R

equi

red

mai

nten

ance

Ju

ne 2

016

Con

tinu

e to

allo

cate

fro

m R

ecur

rent

Inc

ome

fund

s fo

r Pl

ant

& E

quip

men

t re

plac

emen

t ov

er 1

0 ye

ars

Ju

ne 2

016

3.3

Eff

icie

ncy

Con

tinu

e to

mai

ntai

n or

incr

ease

pop

ulat

ion

to s

taff r

atio

Ju

ne 2

016

Con

tinu

e to

impl

emen

t ne

w s

yste

ms

to g

et P

rodu

ctiv

ity

gain

s (

Eg M

y D

CP

) Ju

ne 2

016

Und

erta

ke P

rior

ity

Prec

inct

Pla

nnin

g ar

ound

NW

R s

tation

s to

sup

port

pop

ulat

ion

grow

th a

nd j

ob

crea

tion

Ju

ne 2

016

Con

tinu

e to

mee

t FF

F R

atio

s &

Ben

chm

arks

Ju

ne 2

016

PAGE 142


Plea

se a

ttach

det

aile

d ac

tion

plan

and

sup

port

ing

finan

cial

mod

ellin

g

Out

line

the

proc

ess

that

und

erpi

nned

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f you

r Act

ion

Pla

n.

For

exam

ple,

who

was

invo

lved

, any

ext

erna

l ass

ista

nce,

con

sulta

tion

or c

olla

bora

tion,

and

how

the

coun

cil h

as r

evie

wed

and

app

rove

d th

e pl

an.

How

We

Pre

par

ed t

he

Act

ion

Pla

n

Bac

kgro

un

d

Mov

ing

from

a C

ounc

il w

hich

was

und

er a

dmin

istr

atio

n 23

yea

rs a

go t

o on

e of

the

bes

t in

the

Ind

ustr

y re

quir

es a

ckno

wle

dgin

g th

e co

mm

itm

ent

and

the

disc

iplin

e of

pas

t an

d pr

esen

t Cou

ncill

ors

in a

dher

ing

to t

he p

rinc

iple

s of

the

ado

pted

Fin

anci

al C

hart

er w

hen

sett

ing

Bud

gets

.

This

Cou

ncil

has

alw

ays

trea

ted

rate

paye

r’s

mon

ey w

ith

care

and

res

pect

and

bri

ngs

soun

d bu

sine

ss p

ract

ices

int

o Lo

cal

Gov

ernm

ent.

Rec

ent

Prop

erty

Dev

elop

men

t ac

tivi

ties

gene

rate

d w

ell

over

$40

m i

n ca

sh p

rofit

s an

d it

is p

roje

cted

tha

t Cou

ncil

will

be

star

ting

thi

s Bud

get

year

with

Res

erve

fun

ds e

xcee

ding

$12

5m.

The

Hill

s Sh

ire

Cou

ncil

has

alw

ays

trie

d to

del

iver

the

ser

vice

s th

at t

his

Shi

re e

xpec

ts

at a

pri

ce t

hat

the

Rat

e Pa

yers

can

aff

ord.

Cou

ncil

has

prou

dly

deve

lope

d Bud

gets

for

the

las

t 15

yea

rs w

ell

withi

n th

e Sta

te

Gov

ernm

ent’s

Rat

es C

ap.

Cou

ncil

is a

lso

debt

fre

e an

d ha

s be

en s

ince

Jun

e 20

02.

This

Bud

get

build

s on

and

con

tinue

s th

e fr

amew

ork

of p

revi

ous

Bud

gets

, en

suri

ng t

hat

spen

ding

is w

ithi

n th

e in

com

e th

at is

rec

eive

d.

This

pra

ctic

e ha

s be

en v

ery

succ

essf

ul in

the

pas

t an

d ha

s m

eant

The

Hill

s Shi

re is

one

of th

e m

ore

sust

aina

ble

Cou

ncils

in N

SW

.

This

Yea

r Ea

ch y

ear

two

Str

ateg

ic P

lann

ing

wor

ksho

ps a

re h

eld

with

Cou

ncill

ors

and

seni

or s

taff t

o di

scus

s fin

anci

al m

atte

rs a

nd r

evie

w a

nd s

et

prio

ritie

s to

for

mul

ate

the

Bud

get.

No

exte

rnal

con

sultan

ts w

ere

used

in

prep

arin

g th

is A

ctio

n Pl

an.

This

yea

r th

e Str

ateg

ic P

lann

ing

Wor

ksho

ps w

ere

held

in N

ovem

ber

2014

and

Mar

ch 2

015.

Dra

ft B

udge

t is

pre

sent

ed t

o C

ounc

illor

s at

the

sec

ond

Wor

ksho

p an

d th

e fin

al

Bud

get

was

tab

led

at a

mee

ting

in M

ay 2

015.

Fin

al a

dopt

ion

of t

he B

udge

t w

as o

n th

e 23

Jun

e 20

15.

PAGE 143


3.5

Oth

er a

ctio

ns c

onsi

dere

d In

pre

parin

g yo

ur Im

prov

emen

t Act

ion

Pla

n, y

ou m

ay h

ave

cons

ider

ed o

ther

stra

tegi

es/a

ctio

ns b

ut d

ecid

ed n

ot

to a

dopt

the

m.

Ple

ase

iden

tify

wha

t th

ese

stra

tegi

es/a

ctio

ns w

ere

and

expl

ain

why

you

cho

se n

ot t

o pu

rsue

th

em.

For

exam

ple,

nei

ghbo

urin

g co

unci

l did

not

wan

t to

pur

sue

a m

erge

r, un

able

to

incr

ease

rat

es o

r in

crea

se b

orro

win

g, c

hang

es in

pol

icy

or

serv

ice

stan

dard

s.

Cou

ncil’

s su

bmis

sion

res

pond

ing

to t

he I

ndep

ende

nt R

evie

w P

anel

was

, an

d is

, pr

oact

ive.

It

embr

aced

the

opp

ortu

nity

to

impr

ove

the

Loca

l Gov

ernm

ent

sect

or.

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il is

abl

e to

tak

e on

mor

e an

d its

alte

rnat

e pr

opos

al w

ill,

by a

nd la

rge,

hel

p de

liver

the

ou

tcom

es o

f th

e In

depe

nden

t Rev

iew

Pan

el’s

rec

omm

enda

tion

.

Th

is C

ou

nci

l d

id f

orm

ally

wri

te t

o H

awke

sbu

ry,

Hor

nsb

y an

d P

arra

mat

ta C

ou

nci

ls t

o d

iscu

ss T

he

Hill

s S

hir

e C

oun

cil’s

P

refe

rred

Op

tio

n d

etai

led

bel

ow

, b

ut

all t

hre

e C

oun

cils

dec

lined

th

e o

ffer

.

• Th

e H

ills

Shi

re C

ounc

il de

clin

ed t

he r

eque

st f

rom

Hor

nsby

Cou

ncil’

s re

ques

t fo

r a

com

plet

e am

alga

mat

ion.

• H

awke

sbur

y C

ounc

il di

d no

t m

eani

ngfu

lly e

ngag

e at

all,

but

info

rmed

tha

t th

ey w

ill n

ot c

onsi

der

a m

erge

r w

ith

the

Hill

s.

The

Hill

s S

hir

e C

oun

cil p

refe

rred

op

tion

ad

opte

d b

y C

oun

cil o

n 2

5 J

un

e 2

01

3.

This

Po

siti

on

sti

ll re

mai

ns.

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il ha

s pu

t fo

rwar

d an

alter

native

rec

omm

enda

tion

tha

t co

nsid

ers

chan

ges

invo

lvin

g H

awke

sbur

y City

Cou

ncil

and

Hor

nsby

Shi

re C

ounc

il an

d, t

o a

smal

ler

exte

nt,

Parr

amat

ta C

ity

Cou

ncil.

Cou

ncil’

s pr

opos

al o

utlin

ing

the

reas

ons

for

this

pr

efer

red

option

is s

umm

aris

ed b

elow

.

This

opt

ion

is b

ased

on

reta

inin

g th

e so

uth

of M

2 w

ith

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il an

d w

ould

res

ult

in t

he s

ubur

bs b

elow

the

M2

incl

udin

g N

orth

Roc

ks,

Car

lingf

ord,

Nor

th P

arra

mat

ta a

nd B

aulk

ham

Hill

s re

mai

ning

with

the

Hill

s an

d th

e bo

unda

ry b

etw

een

The

Hill

s Shi

re

and

Haw

kesb

ury

City

Cou

ncil

shou

ld b

e W

inds

or R

oad

to S

outh

Cre

ek a

nd t

hen

to t

he H

awke

sbur

y Riv

er w

hich

pro

vide

s a

logi

cal

phys

ical

nat

ural

bou

ndar

y.

The

prop

osed

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il bo

unda

ry e

xten

ds f

rom

Tho

mps

ons

Cor

ner

at W

est

Penn

ant

Hill

s so

uthw

ards

alo

ng P

enna

nt H

ills

Roa

d to

the

M2

Mot

orw

ay a

t Car

lingf

ord.

The

re i

t tr

avel

s ea

st a

long

the

M2

to B

eecr

oft

Roa

d at

Epp

ing.

It

then

tur

ns s

outh

war

d

3

PAGE 144


alon

g Bee

crof

t Roa

d un

til C

arlin

gfor

d Roa

d w

here

it

turn

s ea

st a

nd r

uns

the

entire

len

gth

to P

enna

nt H

ills

Roa

d, C

arlin

gfor

d in

corp

orat

ing

Car

lingf

ord

Cou

rt (

from

Hor

nsby

Cou

ncil)

. It

tur

ns l

eft

into

Pen

nant

Hill

s Roa

d w

here

it

then

con

tinu

es i

n a

sout

h-w

este

rly

dire

ctio

n en

com

pass

ing

Nor

th R

ocks

and

par

t of

Nor

th P

arra

mat

ta n

orth

of

Jam

es R

use

Dri

ve (

incl

udin

g La

ke P

arra

mat

ta)

(fro

m P

arra

mat

ta C

ounc

il) u

ntil

the

junc

tion

of J

ames

Rus

e D

rive

.

It t

hen

turn

s ri

ght

into

Jam

es R

use

Dri

ve (

Cum

berl

and

Hig

hway

) an

d in

a n

orth

-wes

terl

y di

rect

ion

enco

mpa

ssin

g N

orth

mea

d.

Con

tinu

e al

ong

Bri

en’s

Roa

d in

to O

ld W

inds

or R

oad,

enc

ompa

ssin

g O

ld T

oong

abbi

e, W

inst

on H

ills

(fro

m P

arra

mat

ta C

ounc

il) a

nd in

a

nort

herl

y di

rect

ion

Bau

lkha

m H

ills,

Bel

la V

ista

and

Kel

lyvi

lle u

ntil

the

junc

tion

of

Win

dsor

Roa

d at

Bea

umon

t H

ills.

It

cont

inue

s no

rth

alon

g W

inds

or R

oad

enco

mpa

ssin

g Rou

se H

ill a

nd B

ox H

ill.

The

boun

dary

con

tinu

es t

hrou

gh O

akvi

lle,

McG

rath

s H

ill a

nd t

o th

e to

wns

hip

of W

inds

or (

all f

rom

Haw

kesb

ury

Cou

ncil)

whe

re it

mee

ts S

outh

Cre

ek a

nd t

hen

onto

the

Haw

kesb

ury

Riv

er a

t its

junc

tion.

The

boun

dary

the

n fo

llow

s th

e ri

ver

in a

nor

th e

aste

rly

dire

ctio

n an

d in

clud

es P

itt T

own,

the

rem

aind

er o

f Cat

tai,

Sou

th M

aroo

ta,

Sac

kvill

e N

orth

, Lo

wer

Por

tlan

d, L

eets

vale

and

the

n to

Wis

eman

s Fe

rry.

Then

it

is p

ropo

sed

to f

ollo

w H

awke

sbur

y Riv

er s

outh

fro

m W

isem

ans

Ferr

y, i

nclu

ding

the

sub

urbs

of

Laug

hton

dale

, Sin

glet

on M

ill,

Can

oela

nds,

the

tow

nshi

p of

Ber

owra

Cre

ek i

nto

Ber

owra

Cre

ek w

ater

way

, in

clud

ing

Fidd

leto

wn

then

to

the

tow

nshi

p of

Ber

owra

W

ater

s on

Ber

owra

Wat

ers

wat

erw

ay,

back

ont

o Ber

owra

Cre

ek w

ater

way

, in

clud

ing

Ber

rile

e an

d G

alst

on t

o G

alst

on G

orge

(al

l fro

m

Hor

nsby

Cou

ncil)

.

It c

ontinu

es a

long

Ber

owra

Cre

ek e

ncom

pass

ing

Dur

al u

ntil

it m

eets

the

Ber

owra

Val

ley

Res

erve

, w

hich

ski

rts

the

nort

hern

sid

e of

Che

rryb

rook

and

the

wes

tern

sid

e of

the

sub

urbs

of

Hor

nsby

and

Wes

tlei

gh a

nd t

hen

to P

yes

Cre

ek u

ntil

it m

eets

New

Lin

e Roa

d. I

t tu

rns

left

ont

o N

ew L

ine

Roa

d an

d tr

avel

s in

a s

outh

erly

dir

ection

unt

il it m

eets

Cas

tle

Hill

Roa

d. I

t tu

rns

left

and

con

tinu

es t

o Th

omps

on C

orne

r at

Wes

t Pe

nnan

t H

ills.

Not

e th

at t

he p

ropo

sed

boun

dary

adj

ustm

ents

inco

rpor

ates

the

who

le o

f Fo

rest

Gle

n, G

leno

rie,

Arc

adia

, M

iddl

e D

ural

, G

lenh

aven

and

al

l of Cas

tle

Hill

(al

l fro

m H

orns

by C

ounc

il).

Als

o N

orth

Par

ram

atta

, Bun

ning

s at

Nor

th R

ocks

and

the

par

t of

Oat

land

s w

ithi

n th

e cu

rren

t H

ills

Shi

re w

ould

the

n be

par

t of

Pa

rram

atta

Cou

ncil

unde

r th

is p

ropo

sal.

Whi

le t

hese

are

bou

ndar

y ad

just

men

ts,

this

will

fac

ilita

te f

ewer

Cou

ncils

in

the

regi

on.

Cou

ncil

is o

f th

e vi

ew t

hat

uniti

ng o

f di

vide

d su

burb

s w

ill b

ring

gre

ater

adv

anta

ges

to t

hese

sub

urbs

esp

ecia

lly w

hen

it c

omes

to

infr

astr

uctu

re d

eliv

ery.

The

pro

pose

d bo

rder

s ut

ilise

nat

ural

bou

ndar

ies

and

refle

ct a

sen

se o

f id

entity

, pl

anni

ng r

elat

ions

hips

and

str

ateg

ic c

onsi

dera

tion

s w

ithi

n N

orth

Wes

t. I

t al

so c

onta

ins

rele

vant

com

mun

ities

of in

tere

st.

PAGE 145


The

Hill

s S

hir

e C

oun

cil’s

Pre

ferr

ed O

pti

on

will

incr

ease

th

e p

opu

lati

on

by

59

,22

0 a

s p

er t

he

follo

win

g c

han

ges

:-

Par

ram

atta

Cou

nci

l – N

et G

ain

in P

op 1

2,3

38

• Th

is w

ould

use

Pen

nant

Hill

s Roa

d, J

ames

Rus

e D

rive

and

Old

Win

dsor

Roa

d as

a b

ound

ary

and

wou

ld r

esul

t in

the

div

ided

su

burb

s of

Nor

thm

ead,

Bau

lkha

m H

ills,

Car

lingf

ord

and

Win

ston

Hill

s to

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il. T

his

wou

ld m

ean

Oat

land

s an

d pa

rt o

f N

orth

Par

ram

atta

wou

ld b

e in

corp

orat

ed in

to P

arra

mat

ta C

ity

Cou

ncil’

s bo

unda

ries

. H

awke

sbu

ry C

oun

cil –

Net

Gai

n in

Po

p 8

,26

1

• Th

is w

ould

util

ise

Win

dsor

Roa

d as

The

Hill

s Shi

re’s

bou

ndar

y to

Sou

th C

reek

and

fro

m S

outh

Cre

ek t

o its

junc

tion

with

the

Haw

kesb

ury

Riv

er.

• It

wou

ld m

ean

the

divi

ded

subu

rbs

with

Haw

kesb

ury

Cou

ncil

(Cat

tai a

nd M

aray

lya)

will

be

who

lly w

ithi

n Th

e H

ills

Shi

re C

ounc

il.

• Th

e H

ills

Shir

e Cou

ncil

wou

ld g

ain

the

subu

rbs

of P

itt

Tow

n, S

chey

ville

, O

akvi

lle a

nd p

art

Vine

yard

, M

ulgr

ave,

and

McG

rath

Hill

s fr

om H

awke

sbur

y C

ounc

il.

Hor

nsb

y C

oun

cil –

Net

Gai

n in

Pop

38

,62

1

• It

wou

ld a

lign

the

divi

ded

subu

rbs

with

Hor

nsby

Cou

ncil

Cas

tle

Hill

, G

lenh

aven

, W

est

Penn

ant

Hill

s, C

arlin

gfor

d, D

ural

, M

iddl

e D

ural

, G

leno

rie,

Mar

oota

and

Wis

eman

s Fe

rry

with

The

Hill

s Shi

re C

ounc

il.

• Th

e H

ills

Shi

re C

ounc

il w

ould

gai

n pa

rt o

f Car

lingf

ord,

Bee

crof

t an

d Ep

ping

(al

tern

ativ

ely,

if t

his

was

inco

rpor

ated

into

Par

ram

atta

City

Cou

ncil,

the

net

gai

n fr

om H

orns

by C

ity

Cou

ncil

wou

ld r

educ

e by

aro

und

12,6

92 p

erso

ns w

ith

the

boun

dary

bec

omin

g Pe

nnan

t H

ills

Roa

d to

Tho

mps

ons

Cor

ner)

.

• Th

e H

ills

Shi

re C

ounc

il w

ould

gai

n w

hole

of

Gal

ston

, Arc

adia

, Ber

rile

e, F

iddl

etow

n, C

anoe

land

s, S

ingl

eton

s M

ill a

nd L

augh

tond

ale,

Ber

owra

Cre

ek,

Fore

st G

len

from

Hor

nsby

Cou

ncil.

PAGE 146


4. H

ow w

ill yo

ur p

lan

impr

ove

perfo

rman

ce?

4.1

Exp

ecte

d im

prov

emen

t in

perf

orm

ance

Mea

sure

/ be

nchm

ark

2016

/17

2017

/18

2018

/19

2019

/20

Ach

ieve

s FF

TF

benc

hmar

k?

Ope

ratin

g Pe

rfor

man

ce R

atio

(G

reat

er t

han

or e

qual

to

brea

k-ev

en

aver

age

over

3 y

ears

) 2.

11%

3.

33%

3.

21%

3.

6%

Yes

Ow

n So

urce

Rev

enue

R

atio

(Gre

ater

than

60%

ave

rage

ove

r 3

year

s)

68.0

3%

71.1

5%

73.5

%

75.7

3%

Yes

Bui

ldin

g an

d In

fras

truc

ture

A

sset

Ren

ewal

R

atio

(G

reat

er

than

100%

av

erag

e ov

er 3

yea

rs)

130.

74%

12

7.36

%

129.

55%

12

6.03

%

Yes

Infr

astr

uctu

re B

ackl

og R

atio

(Gre

ater

than

2%

) 1.

59%

1.

56%

1.

51%

1.

45%

Ye

s

Ass

et M

aint

enan

ce R

atio

(G

reat

er t

han

100%

ave

rage

ove

r 3

year

s)

107.

20%

10

7.16

%

107.

61%

10

7.79

%

Yes

Deb

t Ser

vice

Rat

io

(Gre

ater

tha

n 0%

and

les

s th

an o

r eq

ual t

o 20

% a

vera

ge o

ver 3

yea

rs)

0%

0%

0%

0%

No

Rea

l Ope

ratin

g Ex

pend

iture

per

ca

pita

A

de

crea

se

in

Rea

l O

pera

ting

Exp

endi

ture

per

cap

ita o

ver t

ime

58.8

4%

58.0

4%

57.5

2%

56.4

4%

Yes

4

PAGE 147


4.1

Exp

ecte

d im

prov

emen

t in

perf

orm

ance

If,

afte

r im

plem

entin

g yo

ur p

lan,

you

r co

unci

l m

ay s

till n

ot a

chie

ve a

ll of

the

Fit

for

the

Futu

re b

ench

mar

ks,

plea

se e

xpla

in th

e lik

ely

reas

ons

why

. Fo

r exa

mpl

e, h

isto

rical

con

stra

ints

, tra

de-o

ffs b

etw

een

crite

ria, l

onge

r tim

e re

quire

d.

The

Hill

s Sh

ire

Cou

ncil

has

been

ach

ievi

ng a

ll th

e FF

F be

nchm

arks

and

all

the

proj

ection

s in

dica

te t

hat

they

will

be

in t

he f

utur

e w

ith

the

exce

ptio

n of

Deb

t Ser

vice

Rat

io.

As

indi

cate

d pr

evio

usly

, Cou

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ITEM-24 INDEPENDENT REVIEW PANEL - 20 ESSENTIAL STEPS

THEME: Proactive Leadership

HILLS 2026 OUTCOME/S: PL 3 Our community is effectively governed.

COUNCIL STRATEGY/S:

PL 3.1 Integrate and align Council’s activities with the Australian Standard for Risk Management principles and guidelines, provide legal services to Council and equip Council’s elected representatives for their role in the community.

GROUP: EXECUTIVE

AUTHOR:

GROUP MANAGER – STRATEGIC PLANNING

MICHAEL EDGAR

GENERAL MANAGER

DAVE WALKER

RESPONSIBLE OFFICER: GENERAL MANAGER

DAVE WALKER

Introduction The Independent Local Government Review Panel (The Panel) has recently made a number of recommendations about the future direction for Local Government in New South Wales. One of The Panel’s many recommendations is that Councils should consider merging or realigning boundaries to achieve greater sustainability. The Panel recommends no substantial change for The Hills Shire Council – with consideration of slight boundary adjustments with neighbouring Councils, and potentially a future merger with Hawkesbury Council. The Hills Shire Council is offering an alternative recommendation that considers changes involving Hawkesbury and Hornsby Shire Councils and, to a smaller extent, Parramatta City Council. While these are boundary adjustments, this will facilitate fewer Councils in the region. As a result, the Panel’s recommendation to merge Ku-ring-gai with Hornsby can be achieved in part. This report proposes that a submission be forwarded to the Minister for Local Government, The Hon. Don Page MP, with a suggested significant boundary realignment that will not only result in a greater degree of financial sustainability and service delivery, but will greatly enhance representation in terms of communities of interest, growth, planning, infrastructure delivery and relations – particularly with the Department of Planning. Background There has never been a greater period of change and opportunity confronting Local Government in NSW. Since the last State election, the NSW Government has embarked on a process of reviewing the legislative context and system of Local Government,

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including the planning system. The NSW Government is committed to a comprehensive review of both the Local Government Act 1993 and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The scope for reform is wide reaching. The Independent Local Government Review Panel appointed by the NSW Government has released its Stage 3 report: ‘Future Directions for NSW Local Government - Twenty Essential Steps’. The Panel has requested feedback on Stage 3 suggestions before issuing a final Stage 4 report. While Council has prepared a response to the Stage 3 report, the purpose of this report is to consider Council’s response to reducing the number of Councils in NSW, including metropolitan Sydney. There is no doubt that the cumulative effects the many studies into our system of Local Government will eventually mean there are fewer Councils in NSW. The NSW Government’s present policy of no forced amalgamations may not be carried forward into future governments and, given the rather dire outlook of the industry presented by NSW Treasury Corporation (TCorp), reduction and loss of Councils due to other circumstances may be inevitable sooner rather than later. It remains to be seen that even if smaller Councils are able to turn around their financial fortunes, whether they are able to provide strong strategic services to their communities. The case for less Councils is being established through the work of COAG, The NSW Government’s Independent Local Government Review Panel, The NSW Local Government Acts Taskforce into a new Local Government Act for NSW, and the White Paper on the NSW Planning System. It can also be argued that the issue of constitutional recognition of Local Government is also a possible pointer to a greater diversity of the role of Local Government. This would suggest larger, more strategically capable Councils are needed to respond to the future needs of State and Federal governments and communities. It is widely accepted that Local Government is relied upon by State and Federal agencies to deliver on-the-ground services and facilities that go beyond roads, rates and rubbish. The argument for larger Councils has moved beyond economies of scale efficiencies but to strategic capacity. Notwithstanding The Hills Shire Council’s financial strength and overall capability in terms of asset management, community advocacy and service delivery, Council should not be complacent about future changes to the Local Government industry. While the Stage 3 report of the Independent Local Government Review Panel recommends no change to The Hills Shire, it does foreshadow a future amalgamation with Hawkesbury, a boundary adjustment with Parramatta City (to hand over parts of North Rocks, Northmead, Winston Hills, Carlingford and Oatlands south of the M2), and a rationalisation of the growth centre areas of Blacktown, Hawkesbury and The Hills. So on one hand no change, but recommendations with significant consequences for the Shire on the other. It is considered in The Hills Shire’s best interest strategically to consider changes that would result in a larger Local Government area. At the least, changes along our disrupted boundaries will ensure those communities are better placed to meet future challenges and could deliver larger but fewer Councils in our region of Sydney. It is considered that The Hills Shire has demonstrated best practice in leadership, governance and service delivery and is in a prime position to govern a larger local government area.

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REPORT Local Government Sustainability A sustainable, well-financed system of Local Government is desirable and needed. The NSW Treasury Corporation (TCorp) recently published a study into the financial position and sustainability of NSW Local Councils, defining sustainability as: “A local government will be financially sustainable over the long term if it is able to generate sufficient funds to provide the levels of service and infrastructure agreed with its community.” The study has raised questions about the financial state of NSW Local Government, with only three Councils found to have sound financial sustainability with a positive outlook. The Hills Shire Council is one of those Councils, along with Sydney City and Warringah. Given the financial position of The Hills in the late 1980s and early 1990s, this Council is a remarkable demonstration of how a Council’s fortunes and future can be turned around. TCorp listed the key features of a sustainable Council as being:

• Quality management and staff that is experienced and skilled. • A responsible Council that understands its role. • Good reporting and budgeting processes.

It is alarming that the TCorp report identified that the majority of NSW Councils are operating in deficit and in 2012, only 50 of 152 Councils reported an operating surplus. TCorp also indicated they believe Councils could be understating their deficits and that financial sustainability is declining. The Independent Local Government Review Panel has also considered TCorp’s findings. Its proposed goal for local government is: “A more sustainable system of democratic local government that has added capacity to address the needs of local and regional communities and to be a valued partner of state and federal governments.” The Panel has concluded, in its Stage 3 report, that new directions must be pursued to transform the culture, structures and operations of NSW Local Government - as well as relationships with the State. To the Panel and others, it is apparent that Local Government is in need of reform and that reform will clearly result in fewer Councils. Reducing the number of Councils throughout Australia is not new. All States have less Councils today than at the same time last century. The evidence is growing that larger, better-resourced Councils will be necessary to deal with the demands and complexities facing Local Government. Just as in the business world, it should be possible to have financially sustainable Local Councils regardless of size. However, it would appear that larger Councils have greater opportunities in terms of relations with government, greater success with grant funding, greater economies of scale, greater ability to attract and retain key staff and appropriate management resourcing. Reshaping Metropolitan Governance The Independent Local Government Review Panel has found that the current governance of Sydney needs to fundamentally change to address increasing imbalances in the

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structures of Local Government between Eastern and Western Sydney due to population changes. The Panel suggests that this will be inequitable and impede sound strategic planning and effective State-Local collaboration. The Panel observes, areas characterised by smaller Councils (in both population and area) will lack the capacity to make a truly strategic and meaningful contribution to metropolitan governance and will struggle to present a united view on behalf of their communities. This factor along puts those communities at a representative disadvantage regardless of their financial position and outlook. The Panel has considered the views put against amalgamation and feel that many of the negatives can be overcome and that, on balance, fewer Councils are more desirable. There are six factors listed by the Independent Local Government Review Panel that inform the makeup of Local Government boundaries. These are: population, accessibility, communities of interest, local identity and sense of place, strategic capacity, efficiency and effectiveness, strong centres, infrastructure assets, removing disruptive boundaries and combining existing municipalities. These factors are considered relevant by the panel for the following reasons: Population Growth • The boundaries of a Local Government Area (LGA) should be able to accommodate

projected population growth generated by the LGA over at least the next 25 years. Accessibility • As a general rule, it should be possible to drive to the boundaries of a LGA from a

main administration centre within 60 to 90 minutes in country areas and within less than 2 hours in country areas and within 30 to 45 minutes in metropolitan areas.

• Difficult terrain, forests, rivers, wetlands, etc can act as natural boundaries for LGAs while water catchments, valleys and river crossings may be important uniting factors. Freeways and railways are important elements in urban areas.

Communities of Interest • There is still no definitive approach to the concept of ‘communities of interest’ which

can vary widely in their focus and extent. Some are strongly place-based, others are not, especially in metropolitan areas.

Local Identity and Sense of Place • Boundaries should reflect a sense of identity and place, including important historic

and traditional values, and the extent of other social and economic interdependencies. However, incorporating communities into larger LGAs does not necessarily destroy local identity and sense of community.

Strategic Capacity • Councils need a strong base to achieve economies of scale and scope; to deliver

quality services; to provide a pool of talented Councillor candidates; to attract skilled staff and to develop strategic capacity in leadership, governance, advocacy, planning and management.

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Efficiency and Effectiveness • Councils should be able to operate efficiently and effectively within the limits imposed

by their location, geography and the characteristics of the communities they serve. They should be able to provide ‘value for money’ to their ratepayers and external funding agencies.

Strong Centres • Each LGA should have a population centre that provides higher order commercial,

administrative, education, health and other services. Infrastructure Assets • As far as possible, key transport infrastructure such as airports and ports, and nearby

urban and regional centres that are principal destination points, should be within the same LGA. Boundaries should also facilitate provision of local infrastructure such as water supply, sewerage, drainage and open space.

Removing Disruptive Boundaries • Some existing LGA boundaries are divisive and obstruct good governance. They

impede integrated planning, strategic infrastructure development, efficient service delivery and regional economic growth.

Combining Existing Municipalities • Wherever practicable, amalgamations should combine the whole of two or more

existing LGAs without the additional cost and disruption of associated boundary adjustments.

The Hills Shire perspective On the issue of ‘reshaping metropolitan governance’, the Independent Local Government Review Panel has recommended no change to The Hills Shire’s boundaries except for:

• Boundary with Parramatta City shifted to the M2, • Possible boundary adjustments with Blacktown and Hawkesbury to facilitate the

North West Growth centre, and • Possible long-term merger with Hawkesbury.

As previously stated, The Hills Shire Council is one of three NSW Councils assessed as being in a sound financially sustainable position with a positive outlook. Given our population over the next 25 years is expected to grow by another 75,000 people to around 250,000, the recommendation of the panel is understandable. The Hills Shire is in a prime position to show leadership and be the driver of change. The Shire possesses an experienced and skilled workforce that has proven resilient and adaptable to changing needs. The Hills Shire has a Council that is cognisant of its role and responsibilities and has adopted and implemented effective governance policies and procedures that have built a reputation for sound sustainable Local Government. Council has been prepared to put itself on the line to represent the region. For some time now, The Hills Shire has been approached by both local and metropolitan media for its views on Local Government matters impacting the North West. The new Council premises in Norwest Business Park has sufficient space to accommodate a larger workforce. In short,

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The Hills Shire is appropriately resourced and skilled to manage a larger Local Government Area. One of the recommendations of The Panel suggests boundary readjustments with Parramatta City Council. This is principally about giving the Parramatta LGA a bigger geographical land mass. The criteria identified for establishing Local Government boundaries outlined earlier in this report suggests that size has been a factor in Parramatta not reaching its potential role as a CBD. Removing those parts of The Hills Shire south of the M2 does not support this. A boundary adjustment with Parramatta City to hand over parts of North Rocks, Northmead, Winston Hills, Carlingford and Oatlands south of the M2 will remove a significant population base from The Hills Shire that will affect our financial capacity. These suburbs are also identified as areas that can help accommodate our projected population growth. In terms of cementing Parramatta’s future role, the suggestion of an amalgamation with the whole municipalities of Auburn and Holroyd does seem compatible with The Panel’s criteria and would certainly combine a significant community of interest in terms of diversity, trade and population. Parramatta should also be encouraged to grow vertically. One of the disincentives for greater building heights is the current rate system, and the Independent Local Government Review Panel is rightly recommending changes to how Councils are financed. A rate model that does not have a bias against high rise should be developed. There is no doubt Parramatta will be an important CBD for several surrounding regions including The Hills Shire, Blacktown City, Penrith City and the surrounding South-Western Sydney LGAs. The suggested boundary adjustments around the growth centres are principally aimed at having a homogenous planning and compliance authority over the growth centre. Combining the growth centre areas of The Hills, Hawkesbury and Blacktown makes little sense given the planning for these areas has been completed and the development standards have been standardised through the State Government’s plan-making process. This proposal therefore has little or no merit in itself and represents minor tinkering for little community benefit. The Panel recommends some consideration be given to an adjustment or realignment of the growth centres boundaries. Blacktown Council may have an expectation that the growth areas of Box Hill/Nelson may be dedicated to Blacktown. It could equally be argued that the growth centre area of Blacktown, north of the existing centre of Schofields Road, would be more appropriately incorporated into The Hills Shire - however no change is proposed to the growth centres boundaries. This will ensure that those Councils managing growth - i.e. The Hills and Blacktown - with targets in terms of residents and housing do not necessarily need to realign their plans, and also ensure a broad socio-economic demographic mix. The Panels suggested possible long-term merger with Hawkesbury is worthy of close consideration. It might be more appropriate for the towns west of the Hawkesbury River be amalgamated with Blue Mountains city to give a greater financial base to Blue Mountains. The opportunity The Panel may have missed, however, is the opportunity of a merger between The Hills Shire and Hornsby Local Government Areas. The panel is suggesting a Hornsby Ku-ring-gai merger; however, for reasons outlined in this report, a merger with The Hills as outlined in this report with the residue of Hornsby being amalgamated with Ku-ring-gai would make better sense. Consideration could then be given to merging Ryde Council with Ku-ring-gai and the residue of Hornsby.

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Council’s preferred option (See Attachments 1 and 2) The Hills Shire Local Government boundaries When considering the criteria The Panel has used to determine Local Government boundaries, The Hills Shire’s existing boundaries do raise some anomalies and questions. The Hawkesbury River provides a logical physical natural boundary. However, our current boundary with Hornsby and Parramatta Councils are in the main, disruptive. The Hills Shire has demonstrated its ability to lead with leading roles in relation to the urban population debate, infrastructure, housing supply, environmental management, community engagement and the like. By any measure, The Hills Shire Council is in a healthy state and is modelling those attributes and behaviours that the literature indicates as being ‘best practice’ in Local Government governance and performance. Accordingly, this report puts forward two options for recommending to government for a larger Local Government Area. The towns of Wisemans Ferry, Maroota, Glenorie, Dural, Round Corner, Castle Hill, West Pennant Hills and Carlingford are severed by the Local Government boundary. This can often make good governance difficult (in terms of land use planning, asset planning and service delivery). This is also the case with Parramatta City around the suburbs of Carlingford, Oatlands, North Parramatta, Northmead and Winston Hills. It is also disruptive between Hawkesbury City Council north of Boundary Road in the suburbs of Maraylya, Cattai, Sackville and South Maroota up to the Hawkesbury River. The Panel has identified that ‘communities of interest’ arguments are difficult to define, however they are identified by place (areas of trade, employment, and gathering) cultural similarity, connections and association. This report proposes that a submission be forwarded to the Minister for Local Government, The Hon. Don Page MP, with a suggested boundary realignment of substance that will not only result in a greater degree of financial sustainability and service delivery, it will also greatly enhance representations in terms of communities of interest, growth, planning, infrastructure delivery and relations with Government departments - particularly the Department of Planning - in regard to many of the issues pertaining to growth, planning and infrastructure delivery, not able to be addressed previously. The outcome of these boundary realignments will also go some way to achieving a reduction in the number of Councils in Sydney. Hills LGA South Eastern Boundary The Eastern boundary of The Hills Shire could run from Thompson's Corner at West Pennant Hills, heading south along the Cumberland Highway to the intersection of the M2 Motorway, utilising the existing boundary. It could then run east at the M2 along the Motorway's southern boundary to the Northern Rail Line at Epping. At this juncture, the boundary could run south along the rail line boundary to Carlingford Road, Epping. At Carlingford Road the boundary could run west back along Carlingford Road to the intersection at Cumberland Highway at Carlingford Court. From this point, it could follow the Cumberland Highway to James Ruse Drive at North Parramatta and head North West to the Windsor Road underpass. Carlingford is currently divided by three Local Government Areas – The Hills, Hornsby and Parramatta - and has a residential population of 21,571 (ABS 2011). This has led to

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difficulties with competing planning controls, particularly adjacent to Carlingford Court and the commercial strip at Pennant Hills Road (Cumberland Highway) where the three boundaries collide. The population of Carlingford is split between the three LGAs - 58% in The Hills, 27% Parramatta and 15% Hornsby. Ideally, it would be preferable to contain the entire suburb of Carlingford within the one LGA. However, it is recognised that the breath of the suburb boundaries across the three LGAs, and the unique suburb boundary lines, make it difficult to place this entire suburb within one LGA. It is suggested that the two major roads that divide Carlingford – Carlingford Road and Pennant Hills Road (Cumberland Highway) - be defined as the natural boundary between the Parramatta and The Hills Local Government Areas. This outcome would deliver approximately 72% of Carlingford united within The Hills LGA, with Parramatta and The Hills jointly responsible for development along the Cumberland Highway and Carlingford Road. The construction of the M2 Motorway, which commenced in 1995 and opened in 1997, has reinforced the natural North/South boundary between Carlingford/Beecroft and Epping communities south of the M2 and Cheltenham, the Beecroft Town Centre and Pennant Hills to the North. The south side of the M2 runs from the Main Northern Rail Line at Epping, across to Beecroft, Carlingford and North Rocks. This natural boundary is recognised at the Federal level with the Divisions of Bennelong and Berowra divided by the M2 Motorway. Carlingford Court is the focal point for this community is the areas major shopping centre. Carlingford Court attracts mainly local residents from the adjoining suburbs of Carlingford, Epping, Beecroft and West Pennant Hills. While these suburbs are currently divided by three LGAs, the demographic make-up across these four suburbs is not inherently different. Carlingford Court has served this community since 1965 and is located within the Hornsby LGA at the intersection of Pennant Hills Road and Carlingford Road. It is a sponsor and supporter of a number of local community groups including the Epping YMCA adjacent to West Epping Public School, the Carlingford Baseball Club which plays its home games at Murray Farm Reserve within The Hills LGA - and provides a community hall for the Carlingford Bridge Club, Carlingford Seniors Club and Carlingford Ladies Club, all of which contain residents from these four suburbs. The Roselea Football Club is the largest sporting club in the Carlingford area and contains 55 teams with just under 700 players from across Carlingford and adjacent suburbs. The club plays its home games at Harold West Reserve within The Hills LGA and the Carlingford and Roselea Ovals within the Hornsby LGA. The Carlingford Waratahs Cricket Club plays its home games at the Carlingford and Roselea Ovals (Hornsby) as well as Harold West Reserve within The Hills LGA. Carlingford High School is the areas major comprehensive secondary educational facility and its student catchment contains those from the suburbs of Carlingford and the adjacent suburbs of Beecroft, Epping and West Pennant Hills. The Catholic Parish of Epping and Carlingford is headquartered at St Gerard's Carlingford. St Gerard's also contains a catholic primary school for the Carlingford and Beecroft catchment. Carlingford has a natural affiliation with The Hills dating back to its early days prior to urban development as former orchard land where oranges were once grown. The long running Orange Blossom Festival, organised by The Hills Shire Council, highlights this historic link in a similar manner to Eastwood's Granny Smith Festival within the Ryde LGA.

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Bus routes 546 and 549 connect Parramatta and Epping on routes through Ray Road, North Rocks Road, Pennant Hills Road and various backstreets in Carlingford and North Rocks within The Hills LGA. The bulk of Carlingford is strongly identified with The Hills/Baulkham Hills area, rather than Parramatta. While the Federal electorate of Parramatta currently extends to North Rocks Road to include parts of North Rocks and Carlingford, residents north of Pennant Hills Road identify closely with The Hills Shire and Castle Hill as its major regional centre, rather than Parramatta. Beecroft south of the M2 to be a part of The Hills LGA As said above, the construction of the M2 Motorway in 1995 has split Beecroft in two. Although both sections are linked by the Murray Farm Road M2 overpass, there is a clear divide with residents at the southern end more closely linked to Carlingford and Epping through community groups, public transport links and educational facilities, with those to the north closer to Pennant Hills and Hornsby. Beecroft south of the M2 is linked to Carlingford by Carlingford Court and the local North Carlingford village shops. This part of Beecroft is contained within the Federal Division of Bennelong and the state electorate of Epping that also contains Carlingford. School-aged students residing in this part of Beecroft attend Carlingford High School, Roselea Public School and St Gerards. Route 553 bus service links Beecroft to Carlingford, West Pennant Hills and North Rocks in The Hills LGA. This service runs along North Rocks Road and Pennant Hills Road in Carlingford. The Roselea Bush Care Group is a local community group committed to preserving the bush and wildlife corridor in the parkland behind Roselea Public School, Orchard Road, Beecroft and adjacent streets. The group is comprised of residents from Beecroft and Carlingford. North Rocks Road links Beecroft and North Carlingford to The Hills LGA parts of Carlingford and Westfield North Rocks - another major shopping centre. Epping, north of Carlingford Road to be a part of The Hills LGA The M2 has reinforced a natural boundary between the suburbs of Beecroft, Cheltenham and Epping at the point of the Main Northern Rail Line's overpass of the motorway. Beecroft Road running from Epping to Pennant Hills Road is the only thoroughfare for residents living in this section of Epping to head north. Carlingford Road is the current boundary between the Hornsby and Parramatta LGAs (except for the part of Keeler St, Carlingford) and also serves as a natural council boundary. Our submission notes the intent of the independent panel for the Epping Town Centre to be united under one LGA, however, we see this as a role for Parramatta Council to continue to maintain all areas south of Carlingford Road and collect all parts of Epping east of the rail line through to North Epping, linked to Epping Road. While a small part of Epping's commercial district north of Carlingford Road would come under The Hills LGA under our proposal, the Epping Town Centre across both sides of the rail line would be united under the Parramatta LGA. A revised Hornsby LGA would sit north of the M2 Motorway. The part of Epping, currently within the Hornsby LGA and bounded by Carlingford Road, like Beecroft, is closely linked to Carlingford via Carlingford Court, educational facilities, community groups and public transport routes. Carlingford Court is the major shopping

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centre in the area and draws many of its customers from this part of Epping. Carlingford High School's catchment runs east to Epping, north of Carlingford Road. The major thoroughfares in this area are Carlingford Road from Epping to Carlingford and Ray Road from Carlingford Road to Pennant Parade. Route 630 runs along Carlingford Road from Epping to Carlingford Court then Pennant Hills Road and North Rocks to North Rocks before continuing to Baulkham Hills, Seven Hills and Blacktown. Routes 546 and 549 run from Epping Station to Parramatta, along Ray Road. The 549 continues along North Rocks Road to North Rocks and Parramatta, the 546 runs along various back streets to Carlingford Court, North Rocks, Oatlands and Parramatta. All three routes link this part of Epping to The Hills LGA. The M54 Macquarie Park to Parramatta service via Epping and Carlingford runs along a part of Carlingford Road and Pennant Hills Road. The construction of the North West Rail Link from Epping to Rouse Hill via 15 kilometres of underground tunnel through Cherrybrook, Castle Hill and Bella Vista links the major rail station in Epping to the Hills. Many of these residents are within close walking distance to Epping Station or by one of the regular above mentioned bus services. The Epping Veterinary Clinic upon the northern side of Carlingford Road, Epping is a long established clinic that serves the Epping, Carlingford and North Rocks communities. The catholic parish of Carlingford and Epping is headquartered at St Gerards Carlingford upon North Rocks Road, Carlingford. The Epping-Carlingford Carols in the Park are held annually and organised by the combined Epping and Carlingford Anglican churches. Cumberland Highway Southern boundary (Pennant Hills Road to James Ruse Drive) A physical or geographical boundary is one factor that should be considered in assessing local government boundaries. The proposal by the Panel for that part of The Hills Shire Council below the M2 to be incorporated into Parramatta has provided an opportunity for a whole different approach. It is reasonably clear that the residents of North Rocks, Carlingford, Oatlands, Northmead and Winston Hills do not see their community of interest or alignment with Parramatta but rather with The Hills Shire and even in terms of shopping centres, including the residents on the eastern side of Northmead, there is a substantial shopping centre in North Rocks and interestingly on the western side of Windsor Road, a substantial shopping centre at Winston Hills in The Hills Shire which is no doubt frequented by many of the residents in the Parramatta part of Northmead. The M2 provides access to residents to the north of the M2 and south of the M2. It does not necessarily provide a divide between us and Parramatta. The real divide would appear to be James Ruse Drive and the significant road network both to the west and the east. In other words if a physical barrier was to be used together with community of interest, then a more appropriate physical barrier/boundary would be based on James Ruse Drive with O’Briens Road to Old Windsor Road to the west and then Pennant Hills Road to the east. This would mean that Oatlands would essentially become part of Parramatta Council which it would be anticipated is largely the community interest and shopping destination etc. It would also mean that a very small part of what is now The Hills Shire Council to the south of James Ruse Drive, around Bunnings, who also no doubt have a community interest in Parramatta would go to Parramatta Council. It is interesting in terms of community interest and relationships that people leave James Ruse Drive on their way home from work etc. to go north into Northmead, both

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Hills Shire Council side and Parramatta side. Whereas on the other hand, people leaving the M2 rarely would be seen in terms of community interest of using that egress to access Parramatta. If there was to be any consideration of a realignment in terms of physical boundaries between us and Parramatta Council, then that part of Northmead presently in Parramatta Council should come to The Hills Shire Council. This would greatly enhance balancing growth and development, provision of public transport, community of interest and access to shopping centres etc. If James Ruse Drive is used as the boundary, then the only issue that seems to be warranting discussion is where Lake Parramatta remains, although being on the north side of the road it should be within The Hills Shire Council even if there is some financial or lease arrangement with Parramatta. The boundary would extend westward along O’Briens Road and then up Old Windsor Road until it rejoins the existing Hills Council boundary. In terms of travelling east the boundary would be along James Ruse Drive and then extend up Pennant Hills Road. Oatlands From the intersection of Carlingford Road and Pennant Hills Road, Council suggests that the boundary between Parramatta LGA and The Hills LGA requires further cleaning up. The only natural boundary in this area is the Cumberland Highway, running from Pennant Hills Road to James Ruse Drive at Windsor Road, Northmead. This means that Oatlands would be part of Parramatta. Whilst we are loathe to give up any of our suburbs to another LGA, it is clear that the suburbs of Oatlands, located within 5 kilometres of the Parramatta CBD is more closely associated with Parramatta than Castle Hill. Oatlands is currently divided by Bettington Road, the suburbs main thoroughfare from Pennant Hills Road at Carlingford to Kissing Point Road at Dundas. There is a strong argument to clean up this older historical boundary with a more natural boundary of a major highway, rather than the current arrangement which divides the Burnside estate development between The Hills and Parramatta LGA's. Oatlands Public School is the Oatlands voting booth for the Parramatta Federal and State electorates. Oatlands Shopping Centre is linked to North Parramatta and Parramatta by Route 546 and 552 services. Local Parramatta newspapers – The Sun and The Advertiser are delivered to all of Oatlands up to Pennant Hills Road whilst The Hills local papers, the Times and the News are only delivered as far south as Carlingford. Community newspapers are considered an indicator of communities of interest. The suburbs of Baulkham Hills, Northmead and Winston Hills to be included in the Hills LGA Currently Northmead is split by Windsor Road. Council is of the opinion that a more logical boundary would be the Cumberland Highway/O’Briens Road which links into Old Windsor Road continuing up to Windsor Road at the M2/Abbott Rd intersection with Blacktown LGA. Northmead as a suburb is clearly identified with The Hills through local schools – for example, Northmead Public School and Northmead High School's participation in The Hills zone PSSA with schools in Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, North Rocks and Carlingford. Northmead residents mainly shop at Stockland Mall, Baulkham Hills and Winston Hills Mall within The Hills LGA and are linked to Castle Hill by a range of Hillsbus services including Route 604 via Winston Hills. With Cumberland Highway/Abbott Road used as the new boundary between the Parramatta and The Hills LGA, this copies the current boundary for the Baulkham Hills and Parramatta state electorates, with much of Northmead north of O'Briens Road sitting within the federal division of Mitchell which is centred upon Castle Hill.

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The boundary of the M2 and Windsor Road divides part of the suburb of Baulkham Hills from the rest of the suburb. The residents within the section of the suburb of Baulkham Hills that is part of Parramatta Council strongly identify with The Hills LGA and it would make sense to consolidate this part of the Parramatta LGA into The Hills LGA. These residents shop at centres within The Hills LGA such as Stocklands Mall and Castle Towers. They also attend schools in The Hills LGA such as Northmead High School and Matthew Pearce Public School. These new boundaries would also wholly include Winston Hills within The Hills LGA and allows the opportunity to clean up the anomaly of the current boundary that uses the M2 and splits streets adjacent to Winston Hills Mall. Winston Hills residents more closely identify with The Hills Shire than Parramatta. These residents shop in the Hills at Winston Mall, Stockland Mall and Castle Towers. Many high school students attend Model Farms High School on the Baulkham Hills side of the M2 while many primary school students from Baulkham Hills attend Winston Hills Public School, on the south side of the M2. The residents of Winston Hills utilise the M2 bus service to the city. They have a dedicated bus service, Route 614x that travels from the Crestwood area of Baulkham Hills through Winston Hills onto Windsor Road and onto the M2 at Baulkham Hills. This service runs during peak hour. Others walk to the stop closest to the M2 or make use of the Torrs Avenue Commuter car park on the north side of the motorway at Baulkham Hills. City CBD workers use the M2 services or drive to the city on this motorway, rather than heading into Parramatta as a connection point, similarly with the residents in Baulkham Hills South of the M2 and the residents of Northmead. The suburbs the M2 acts as one concise community across north and south of the motorway, as opposed to Beecroft at the eastern end of the proposed boundary which acts as a natural boundary north and south of the Motorway. As previously mentioned, the current boundary between Baulkham Hills and Winston Hills is disruptive and could be fixed. Currently, Winston Hills Mall is in The Hills LGA while The Winston Hotel located next to the Mall is located in Parramatta LGA. The boundary between the Hills and Parramatta cuts through the carpark which makes little sense. Although the M2 has acted as the southern boundary for West Ward, it certainly has not acted as the boundary for East Ward with the boundary being James Ruse Drive and Pennant Hills Road. It seems reasonable that O’Briens Road, that links Old Windsor Road and James Ruse Drive, is the most appropriate boundary. This boundary also aligns with the State seat of Baulkham Hills and the Federal seat of Mitchell at Old Windsor Road. Boundary of the Hills Shire, Hawkesbury and Hornsby Extending the current Hills Shire Council boundary from the point of Windsor Road and Boundary Road, to continue along Windsor Road to South Creek and then following this creek to the Hawkesbury River would provide a logical physical boundary that contains communities of interest and utilises the Hawkesbury River as a natural boundary. The boundary of The Hills Shire Council continues through Oakville, McGraths Hill and to the township of Windsor only to where it meets the Hawkesbury River. The boundary then would follow the river in a north easterly direction to include parts of Wilberforce, Pitt town and the remainder of Cattai (all from Hawkesbury Council), and then continue as is through South Maroota, Sackville North, Lower Portland, Leetsvale and then to Wisemans Ferry. Whilst this will have some impact on Hawkesbury Council, it does not remove from Hawkesbury a large population.

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The Hawkesbury river is then the LGA boundary until Berowra creek to Berowra Waters and then through the Berowra Valley Reserve to New Line road. The boundary then should follow New Line Road to Castle Hill Road, then to Pennant Hills Rd, thereby including all the suburbs of Vineyard, McGraths Hill, Oakville, Maraylya, Cattai, Pitt Town, Wisemans Ferry, Glenorie, Fiddletown, Arcadia, Berrilee, Berowra Waters, Galston, Dural. No longer would these towns and villages be the subject to a disruptive boundary between two LGA’s Extending the current Hills Shire Council boundary from the point of Windsor Road and Boundary Road, to continue along Windsor Road to South Creek and then following this creek to the Hawkesbury River, following the Hawkesbury River to Berowra Waters and then through the Berowra Valley Reserve to New Line, following New Line Road to Castle Hill Road, then to Pennant Hills Rd, thereby including all the suburbs of Vineyard, McGraths Hill, Oakville, Maraylya, Cattai, Pitt Town, Wisemans Ferry, Glenorie, Fiddletown, Arcadia, Berrilee, Berowra Waters, Galston, Dural Financial imperatives One the greatest financial impediments to any local council, is the continual upgrading and maintenance of rural roads. Given The Hills Shire Council is in a much stronger financial position than both its adjoining neighbouring shires of Hawkesbury and Hornsby, a realignment of boundaries that focus on including vast kilometres of rural road networks into the one shire council which is in the strongest financial position makes good economic sense. The proposed realignment of boundaries above whereby The Hills Shire Council would gain the suburbs of Oakville, Maraylya, Cattai, Pitt Town, McGrath's Hill, Wiseman's Ferry, Arcadia, Fiddletown, Berrilee, Berowra Waters, Galston and Dural would eliminate the burden of continual rural road maintenance of hundreds of kilometres of rural roads currently contained within both the Hawkesbury and Hornsby Shire Council areas. The proposed new local government area will contain sufficient urban land mass to help finance the rural networks. By including these rural suburbs into the one Hills Shire Council boundary, which has the financial capability to deliver the upgrading of outstanding and future road maintenance issues, would ensure these problems are overcome in the future and thereby significantly alleviate the financial burden to both adjoining council areas by diminishing their rural road network and infrastructure maintenance obligations. The continuation of the boundary along Windsor Rd from the intersection of Windsor Rd and Boundary Rd at Vineyard, would also enable future growth corridors to be wholly contained within the one growth council area of The Hills. The rural suburbs of Oakville and Vineyard adjoin the new growth area of Box Hill and Box Hill Light Industrial precinct and the areas of south Dural which adjoin the Glenhaven areas of the Hills Shire are recognised as future strategic growth areas for housing. The new treatment works to service the Box Hill area is contained within the suburb of Vineyard, therefore including Vineyard, Oakville and Dural suburbs into The Hills Shire Council area, which has undertaken the large amount of new housing growth for the North West sector over the past 16 years is a sound strategic planning initiative. The Hills Shire Council currently has the ability to adequately plan for these future strategic growth areas through the high quality of planning personnel currently employed, unlike its Hawkesbury counterpart. Negating the need to outsource planning expertise saves costs and time, providing improved planning efficiencies for future growth areas. With the delivery of the Rouse Hill Town Centre as a regional Hub for the growing northwest areas providing public transport, education, recreational and shopping facilities for the growth of this area, many of the rural suburbs proposed above to be included in the new Hills Shire boundary alignment already have strong community links with the Rouse

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Hill Town Centre. This centre is wholly contained within the Hills Shire council area. The rural suburbs of McGraths Hill, Oakville, Maraylya, Pitt Town and Cattai, all have links to the Rouse Hill Town Centre, which is a short fifteen minute vehicle trip to the centre from these adjoining suburbs and are also linked by public transport to the centre. The majority of primary school children from the McGraths Hills estate currently attend Oakville Public School and while all these rural suburbs have their own primary schools, the majority of secondary school children currently commute to the High Schools of Rouse Hill, Kellyville and Galston and also private secondary schools such as Northholm Grammar, Marion College, Hills Grammar School, Rouse Hill Anglican College and William Clarke College. The majority of these secondary schools are contained within the Hills Shire Council area and connected through public bus transport. The Hills Shire also has some of the largest sporting clubs in metropolitan Sydney covering all sporting codes from soccer, cricket, AFL, football, rugby and netball, with new facilities catering to all codes located within the suburb of Rouse Hill at Centenary Park, Bruce Purser Reserve and Second Ponds Reserve. Rouse Hill also contains one of the largest Netball associations and facilities in Australia. These sporting facilities draw many thousands of young players every week from a radius of up to 15 kilometres and include the various suburbs mentioned for inclusion in the proposed Hills Shire boundary alignment. The suburb of Wisemans Ferry is currently divided between the Hornsby and Hills Shire Council boundaries. Bringing this suburb into the one council area with the financial capability to service this outlying rural area makes good social and economic sense. The Wisemans Ferry Public School is contained within the Hills Shire Council area. The suburb of Glenorie is also divided between the Hills and Hornsby Council boundary. Glenorie, Arcadia, Berowra Waters and Galston have links firstly to their local centres of Glenorie and Galston Villages and then to larger regional centres of Round Corner and ultimately Castle Hill, which all have coordinated and regular existing public transport corridors strategically connecting these suburbs to areas within the Hills Shire. These suburbs are already linked to the regional, recreational and employment areas of the Hill Shire Council, including employment zones such as Victoria Road Castle Hill and Norwest and use existing services within these areas. Including these suburbs into the Hills Shire council further strengthens the existing community links that do not currently exist with the Hornsby Shire Council areas. Dural is also currently divided between the Hills and Hornsby Council boundary. This suburb has existing links to the retail and commercial areas of Round Corner and importantly employment areas within Castle Hill and Norwest. Dural has developed links through regular public transport and road corridors to areas of the Hills Shire as opposed to the Hornsby Shire areas. Including the suburb of Dural into The Hills Shire council boundary improves existing community and employment links and also provides the ability through existing planning expertise to deliver the new strategic growth areas of South Dural which will complete important road infrastructure upgrades to the NSW state arterial roads such as New Line Rd and Old Northern Rd. The area of South Dural will also benefit from the delivery of the North West Rail line also predominantly contained within the Hills Shire Council boundary. This area, if realigned, would form a natural progression in terms of the growth centre development beyond Box Hill but also The Hills Shire Council to continue its good work in regard appropriate and suitable development within the rural areas pending long term development. Council has introduced innovative measures, such as cluster development.

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CONCLUSION The Independent Review Panel’s Report – 20 Essential Steps - has been the subject of a separate report in this business paper in terms of a response. As indicated in that report, despite Council’s financial strength, asset management capability, community representation strengths and service delivery, Council cannot be exempt from future changes to the Local Government industry. This report will propose that a submission be forwarded to the Minister for Local Government, The Hon. Don Page MP, with a suggested boundary realignment of substance which will not only result in a greater degree of financial sustainability and service delivery but will greatly enhance representations in terms of communities of interest, growth, planning, infrastructure delivery and relations with particularly the Department of Planning in regard to many of the issues pertaining to growth, planning and infrastructure delivery, not able to be addressed previously. The net impact, if the alignment was carried out, will see an increased population of approximately 59,000 when added to the current population would see a total of between 230,000 and 240,000 and with Council’s projected growth of 70,000 over the next 20 or 30 years create a very strong sustainable viable local government unit and with the appropriate measures in terms of assets and staff adjustment would see this Council remain in the top three strongest Councils financially in the State. It would also give the Council the capacity to deliver exceptional growth opportunities, while at the same time recognising similarities in topography, communities of interest and maintaining an appropriate interface between development and rural and semi-rural areas and put in place an opportunity for the development of a number of townships and villages presently prevented because of inappropriate boundary along Old Northern Road. While this would see the breakup of Hornsby Council, it is felt that based on population numbers alone and rate base, the balance of Hornsby Council if merged with Ku-ring-gaiwould form a sustainable unit, not only in terms of finance but in terms of urban planning, communities of interest and representation. Consideration could also be given to including Ryde with Ku Ring Gai and amend Hornsby L.G.A. Should the NSW Government agree with Council’s proposal, it would create a larger more strategically capable Council governing the Northwest region of Sydney. It will have sufficient size and capacity to place it in the category of “Metropolitan Major” as opposed to the current Hills Category of Metropolitan Centre. IMPACTS Financial This report has no direct financial impact upon Council’s adopted budget or forward estimates. However should there be any change in terms of boundary realignment then substantive work would be required in terms of asset and resource reallocation. Hills 2026 The adoption of a new governance framework for Local Government based on many of the principles outlined in the Independent Review Panel’s recent report, will result in a much stronger and better Local Government Industry. Council’s preferred position will ensure a consolidation of community of interest and a continuation of a sustainable and positive Council structure for the future.

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RECOMMENDATION 1. The Hills Shire Council does not agree with the Panel’s recommendation in relation to

that part of Council south of the M2 going to Parramatta. 2. The Hills Shire Council sees merit in the Panel’s recommendation to amalgamate the

LGAs of Parramatta, Auburn and Holroyd. 3. Council’s position in terms of boundary realignment is as outlined in this report, as

described in Attachment 1 and mapped in Attachment 2 which would produce a Council that would be clarified as “Metropolitan Major” pursuant to S239 of the Local Government Act 1993.

4. A copy of this report be provided to the Independent Review Panel, the NSW Minister for Local Government and the Chief Executive, Division of Local Government with a request for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to be given an opportunity to meet with each of them to progress Council’s position.

5. This report be made publically available and also published on Council’s website. ATTACHMENTS 1. Proposed Boundary Realignment – description (1 page) 2. Map of The Hills Shire Council with proposed boundary realignments (1 page) 3. The Hills Shire Council and Hornsby Shire Council – preliminary analysis of a

Hills/Hornsby Council merger has been distributed as a Confidential document under separate cover.

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mpereira

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( Not provided - Analysis undertaken in 2013 and is

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not relevant to this submission.



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ATTACHMENT 1

THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL - PROPOSED BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS The proposed Shire boundary extends from Thompsons Corner at West Pennant Hills southwards along Pennant Hills Rd to the M2 Motorway at Carlingford. There it travels east along the M2 to Beecroft Rd at Epping. It then turns southward along Beecroft Rd until Carlingford Rd where it turns east and runs the entire length to Pennant Hills Rd Carlingford incorporating Carlingford Court (from Hornsby Council). It turns left into Pennant Hills Rd where it then continues in a south-westerly direction encompassing North Rocks & part of North Parramatta north of James Ruse Drive (including Lake Parramatta) (from Parramatta Council) until the junction of James Ruse Drive. It then turns right into James Ruse Drive (Cumberland Highway) and in a north-westerly direction encompassing Northmead. Continue along Brien’s Rd into Old Windsor Rd, encompassing Old Toongabbie, Winston Hills (from Parramatta Council) and in a northerly direction Baulkham Hills, Bella Vista, and Kellyville until the junction of Windsor Rd at Beaumont Hills. It continues north along Windsor Rd encompassing Rouse Hill and Box Hill. The boundary continues through Oakville, McGraths Hill and to the township of Windsor (all from Hawkesbury Council) where it meets the Hawkesbury River. The boundary then follows the river in a north easterly direction and includes part of Wilberforce, Pitt Town & the remainder of Cattai (all from Hawkesbury Council), South Maroota, Sackville North, Lower Portland, Leetsvale and then to Wisemans Ferry. Then we follow Hawkesbury River south from Wisemans Ferry, including the suburbs of Laughtondale, Singleton Mill, Canoelands, the township of Berowra Creek into Berowra Creek waterway, including Fiddletown then to the township of Berowra Waters on Berowra Waters waterway, back onto Berowra Creek waterway, including Berrilee & Galston to Galston Gorge (all from Hornsby Council) It continues along Berowra Creek encompassing Dural until it meets the Berowra Valley Reserve, which skirts the northern side of Cherrybrook and the western side of the suburbs of Hornsby & Westleigh and then to Pyes Creek until it meets New Line Road. It turns left onto New Line Road and travels in a southerly direction until it meets Castle Hill Rd. It turns left and continues to Thompson Corner at West Pennant Hills. Note that the proposed boundary adjustments incorporates the whole of Forest Glen, Glenorie, Arcadia, Middle Dural, Glenhaven and all of Castle Hill. (all from Hornsby Council). Also Corry Court North Parramatta, Bunnings at North Rocks and the part of Oatlands within the current Hills Shire are now part of Parramatta Council under this proposal..

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Documents

ORDINARY MEETING OF COUNCIL 23 JUNE, 2015 … meeting of council 23 june, 2015 Council’s Fit for the Future Submission The Hills Shire Council can only submit a submission based