The Year Ahead for the Sydney Hills
The focus for 2010 for The Hills Shire Council is planning for growth, attracting investment in jobs, creating homes, and positioning the region as the Sydney Hills.
Projects
Major infrastructure projects involve upgrading the Shire's main town centres, including the modernisation of Baulkham Hills and Carlingford, and the beautification of the Castle Hill Main Street.
Work is about to commence on the Castle Hill Main Street Project. The completion of the final part of the Castle Hill Ring Road at the intersection of Terminus Street and Old Northern Road near Arthur Whitling Park will allow the 40,000 cars travelling down Old Northern Road each day to be diverted onto the Ring Road so beautification work can commence.
Upgraded paving, lighting, seating and a series of new community spaces will return the main street to the people and invigorate shopping, dining and community life in the town centre.
The Shire's historic centres are also under the spotlight. Bella Vista Farm Park now has its grounds open to the public for picnic and heritage experiences. Historic Mungerie House at Rouse Hill has been fully restored and will open soon to the public as a visitor information and heritage centre. Balcombe Heights Estate has also been restored and this year hosted the Sydney Hills Australia Day celebrations.
Business
Business is booming in the Hills with the region contributing over $15 billion to Western Sydney's Gross Regional Product in economic output, and Council has a full year of business visits and workshops planned to support local businesses.
This year, The Hills Shire Council is partnering with Industry and Investment NSW - along with business professionals and organisations - to deliver one of the biggest and most innovative range of business courses ever offered.
Business Round Tables have been established to provide an active forum for discussion, and a direct way to connect with local businesses.
Planning for the Future
Under the State Government's North West Subregional Strategy, The Hills has a responsibility to support Sydney's future and the Shire has a number of targets for population, jobs and housing growth. Already there is enough land zoned for approximately 13,000 dwellings and work has already begun for new dwellings in the growth precinct of Box Hill.
Possibly the most important plan for the Shire to be released this year is the Local Environment Plan (LEP). Council has prepared a new LEP which has been sent to The NSW Department of Planning for review, and is awaiting permission to release it for public comment. This plan will show the areas of the Shire where various types of development can occur and also those areas of environmental sensitivity that require protection.
Events
Another key direction for Council in 2010 is positioning the Sydney Hills as a destination as well as a place of choice to live and work - much like the Adelaide Hills is to Adelaide. New signature events are being developed that will attract people to the region, and allow us to show off Sydney's Garden Shire.
The people of the Hills demonstrate great community pride, and have a great interest in community festivals, and Council will be taking a fresh approach to these.
Major Plans on Exhibition
Throughout the year, many major plans will be exhibited. Did you know you can view and make comment on the Shire's Major Plans on Exhibition on Council's website? Go to the 'Quicklinks' box on the home page and select 'Major Plans on Exhibition'.
To view any of the plans in detail, you can also visit Council's Customer Service Centre, corner Carrington and Showground Roads, Castle Hill, Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 4.30pm.
GWP Magazine Issue #30, May-June 2010Articles and any content can not be copied and/or displayed in any other applications; printed/web-based etc without the written permission of GWP Magazines.
