Preserve the Hawkesbury's Uniqueness

Hawkesbury residents need to know the facts about amalgamations. Councils across NSW are being asked if they are fit for the future by the NSW Government. Council boundaries were part of a review by the NSW Local Government Review Panel who has made recommendations in regard to each local government area (LGA).

The Panel has recommended to the State Government that its preferred option is that Hawkesbury City Council remain the same - only nine of the 152 councils across NSW have received this recommendation.

Council is now preparing its Fit For The Future plan (FFTF) to present to the Independent Pricing and RegulatoryTribunal, outlining how we can continue to serve our community well into the future.

Hawkesbury Council resolved to submit our plans based on the Panel’s recommendation that
there be no change for the Hawkesbury LGA and not to entertain any ideas of amalgamation with any other Council, including the options being promoted by The Hills Shire Council, who also received a no change recommendation from the Review Panel.

We support and agree with the findings of the Review Panel and believe that due to the Hawkesbury’s mix of urban and rural landscape, the area is best served by having its own council who understands the uniqueness and challenges of the area.

Council is developing its strategic alliance with Blue Mountains and Penrith Councils to explore regional cooperation and strengthen the long term future of each of our councils.

Most people I speak to are keen to preserve our area’s distinctiveness and don’t want our area infiltrated by mass development such as in The Hills Shire. Like most councils we face challenges but I am confident that we have the scale and capacity to be viable well into the future.

Councillor Kim Ford

Mayor of Hawkesbury