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  • Time to make community submissions to Bushfires Royal Commission

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    Community members now have the chance to make submissions to the Federal Government’s Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, also known as the Bushfires Royal Commission.

    Submissions to the Royal Commission are open until Friday, 3 April 2020.

    Hawkesbury City Council is encouraging community members to make submissions and to assist this, Council is making a room available on Tuesday, 24 March from 9am to 7pm that has computers, NBN internet connection, a printer and a Council staff member on hand for any assistance needed.

    Find our more information here.

  • Temporary accommodation for bushfire affected residents

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    The NSW Government has made an amendment to regulations to allow bushfire affected residents extended stays in portable buildings on their own property.

    Residents whose homes have been badly damaged in the recent bushfires will be permitted to install a movable dwelling, such as a caravan or portable building on their land without council approval for up to two years.

    Follow this link for further details www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Policy-and-Legislation/Bushfires-recovery/Temporary-accommodation

  • Free plants for bushfire affected properties

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    The Hawkesbury City Council Community Nursery is providing 10 free plants to our bushfire affected communities.

    The Nursery is offering the local plants to households to replace the native vegetation on properties that have been fire affected.



    If you are eligible to receive a selection of ground cover, shrubs and trees suitable for your property location, you will need to;

    1. Call Customer Service on 4560 4444 to register your details
    2. Nominate either a Wednesday or Saturday to collect the plants from the Hawkesbury Community Nursery, located at 10 Mulgrave Road, Mulgrave.
    This offer will be available until Saturday, 18 April 2020.

  • Hawkesbury’s Thank You Street Parade and Festival

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    You're invited to the upcoming Thank you Parade and Festival for our Hawkesbury Emergency Services who assisted with the recent fires.

    Organised by Hawkesbury City Council, the Parade will be at 11am on Sunday 29 March and march up Windsor Street in Richmond with a festival to follow after at 12pm.

    This is your chance to personally thank our emergency services.

    Invite your family and friends, bring a picnic and enjoy this HUGE community event!

    Street Parade details, Sunday, 29 March
    • Parade commences: 11am at Windsor Street, Richmond
    • Festival commences: Midday at Richmond Oval and Park
    • Official Proceedings: 12:30pm at Richmond Oval
    • Emergency Services Parade – Hawkesbury RFS Brigades, NSW SES Hawkesbury Unit, National Parks and Wildlife, RAAF and Army, Hawkesbury Fire & Rescue, NSW Ambulance – Hawkesbury Unit

    Festival Inclusions
    • Rides at $2 per ride
    • FREE Activities: face painting, bubble soccer, a circus playground, outdoor/ backyard games
    • Food – a variety of food vendors will attend including the Hawkesbury Rotary and Lions Club providing a sausage sizzle. Local cafes, businesses and take away food outlets will be open
    • Entertainment stage – Local performers from the Hawkesbury
    • Official Proceedings will include a presentation to all volunteer and community groups that assisted during the fires
    • Speeches from the Mayor, Hawkesbury RFS Superintendent Karen Hodges plus other dignitaries
    • Emergency Services Display
    • RFS firetrucks display
    • SES, Police and RAAF displays

    RSVP to the Facebook event for more updates.

  • How to ask someone: Are you OK?

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    As we continue to recover together, let’s make sure we take the time to ask our family, friends, work colleagues and neighbours if they are OK?

    The Hawkesbury has recently been through several extreme weather incidents, that have impacted many of us in differing ways.

    It's completely normal to experience a range of emotions after a fire, including anxiety, forgetfulness, sleep disturbance and more.

    Having someone to listen to and support you through this is very important.

    Check in on your friends and neighbours, and if you or someone you know needs help, reach out.

    If you need help on how to ask, follow this link for some simple steps that could change a life: https://www.ruok.org.au/how-to-ask


    If someone does need help, the following are free services available 24 hours a day, seven days a week:

    • Mental Health Line – 1800 011 511
    • Lifeline Bushfire Recovery Line - 13 43 57
    • Mensline – 1300 789 978
    • Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800
    • Beyondblue – 1300 22 4636

    If you or someone you know is in immediate danger call 000.

  • NSW Bushfire Clean-Up Schedule from Laing O'Rourke

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    Laing O'Rourke has launched a new information hub to provide regular updates and additional information regarding the works schedule for the bushfire clean up.

    The NSW Government and the Federal Government are covering the full cost of cleaning up eligible properties that have been destroyed by bushfires in the Hawkesbury, and other areas of NSW, since 1 July 2019.

    Laing O’Rourke Australia has been appointed to lead this clean-up.

    Their crews have been in the Bilpin and Colo areas since late-February. According to the schedule updated on 12 March 2020, clean-up works are currently scheduled to commence in Bilpin within the next fortnight (pending factors such as weather and ease of access to properties).

    Follow this link to the hub to see the latest schedule for clean-up: https://cleanup.lnbr.com.au/

    It is important to note that Laing O’Rourke will always arrange household visits in advance and will not turn up unannounced or demand payment.

  • Register for bushfire recovery assistance with Service NSW

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    If you have been affected by the recent bushfires make sure you register your details with Service NSW.

    If you have been impacted by the disaster, register via the Service NSW Disaster Assistance Finder.

    The Disaster Assistance Finder can help you find relevant support. Just click through 6 simple questions,
    it will give you a personalised list of available programs and services. You can then apply for the support you need.

    If you need help to clean-up your property, register here: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/register-opt-nsw-bushfire-clean

    If you need assistance, call the Service NSW Hotline on 137 788 or Hawkesbury City Council on 4560 4444

  • Major fee waived for bushfire affected fishers

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    The NSW Government has waived the second installment of management charges for commercial fishing business owners or charter boat owners who are bushfire affected.

    The businesses who have already paid the installment will receive a credit on their account with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI).

    We encourage our commercial fishing business owners or charter boat owners to contact DPI on 1300 720 662 for further information. You can also find more information on their website.

  • Local recovery mental health services

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    Many in our community have recently been impacted by extreme events such as bushfire, storm and flood.

    It can be a stressful time, during and after the event. It is common to feel overwhelmed and sad, many of us can find it difficult to return to our usual routine. Often these feelings will fade over time, but there is help available if you need it.

    If you or someone you know needs support, please follow this link to services in the Hawkesbury which are available to assist you with your recovery: www.nbmphn.com.au/BushfireSupport

    There are things you can do to take care of yourself and your emotional wellbeing, or that of someone you care about.

    If you or someone you know is in immediate danger call 000.

  • Bushfire recovery clean-up: Call for contractors

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    Laing O'Rourke is looking for qualified contractors/suppliers interested in working with them to complete the bushfire clean-up.

    They have been appointed by the government to coordinate the bushfire clean-up. They’ll be cleaning up eligible residential and commercial properties.


    To provide much-needed stimulus to local economies, Laing O’Rourke is seeking to engage local suppliers and subcontractors to work with them.

    The clean-up may involve:
    • Removal of known hazardous materials, including asbestos
    • Removal of materials destroyed by bushfire and hazardous trees near a destroyed or damaged primary residence or place of business with consent of building owners, removal of concrete slab foundations.

    If you are a local business in an affected area, that has capability and capacity to provide goods and/or services to the clean-up, register here.

    Bushfire impacted property owners who would like their property cleared need to opt-in for clean-up so that your property can be assessed for eligibility.

    Register at Service NSW or call 13 77 88.