Hills 2026 growing our future state of tHe environment report 2008 - 2009 CommuniTy vision our performanCe snapshot T we spent qUality of life measUres trenD aCtions/targets aChieveD napsho n people who agree there are opportunities to have a ‘real say’ on issues s that affect their lives 28 e Our $12,985,000 C n Community satisfaction with Council’s financial management approach proactively leading our community n Community satisfaction with Council’s preparation for future changes 94 community by considering new innovative ways of working with in the shire groups and organisations to achieve outcomes that n Community satisfaction with Council’s professional conduct 12 benefit the community as a whole and developing and n Council staff satisfied with working at the hills shire Council implementing a very clear plan for the future”. 0 erforman direction p n Community satisfaction with Council provided services CommuniTy Vision Proactive leadership creating vibrant ur n Community satisfaction with ovals and sporting facilities o communities balancing urban growth 18 protecting our environment and building a $34,831,000 n Community satisfaction with parks and gardens modern local economy. n Community satisfaction with lighting of public areas creating vibrant communities 90 n Community satisfaction with emergency services reporTing on our fuTure by enhancing our unique local spirit and encouraging n Community satisfaction with provision of community events high levels of volunteering, involvement in sports, 5 this soe report responds to the hills 2026 n Community satisfaction with support for volunteer organisations community strategic direction, and fits within the connection with neighbours and family. n 2 ‘protected environment’ theme. Community satisfaction with access to services and facilities for older people n Community satisfaction with access to services and facilities for young people TargeT Key > 110% of the target n Community satisfaction with traffic and parking enforcement 16 100% – 109% of the target $30,378,000 n Community satisfaction with footpaths and cycleways 50% - 99% of the target balancing urban growth n Community satisfaction with residential road surfaces 39 < 50% of the target by managing growth provide infrastructure and urban n Community satisfaction with low density housing development and rural land to bring economic vitality, more jobs n Community satisfaction with medium density housing development 11 QualiTy of life and additional revenue to fund and support community n Community satisfaction with streetscapes indiCaTors Key development activities. 1 n Community satisfaction with heritage buildings – protection Up Down Stable CommuniTy Values $18,704,000 n Community satisfaction with air quality 5 our community’s aspirations for the hills protecting the environment n Community satisfaction with management of noise pollution shire local area are described by the following n Community satisfaction with preservation of open space and sensitive community values: 26 by monitoring and managing environmental areas future impacts on our natural S n Community satisfaction with preservation of plants and animals in ility us Lead sib tainability ers 2 es hip their natural habitat cc environment to ensure our shire A Na t irit u sp ity r n Community satisfaction with bushland regeneration and weed control un a continues to have clean air, water 0 l m m b o e n C a and food towards the future. Community satisfaction with water quality u t y I n no va t io n b a l a n n Community satisfaction with town centre and village atmosphere c e 4 p n Community satisfaction with commercial and building r o $627,000 a developments c modern local economy 9 t i v n Community satisfaction with generation of employment opportunities i t by improving job opportunities and transport options y in the shire s to ensure our community have time to spend with their 2 a f e families. t y 0 f a m i l i e s 3 The hills shire CounCil state of the environment report 2008/2009 Who we are hoW We plan anD report T A new way of reporting the state of the environment (soe) report forms part n ‘the shire is green and pollution free’ of Council’s annual report, and has been prepared n ‘i can feel close to nature’ in accordance with the requirements of the local Who we are n ‘our natural resources are used wisely’ government act 1993. this is the first year for these e plan and repor documents to report on the hills 2026 community the soe is divided into these 3 outcomes areas, and W Australia strategic direction. this soe provides a report under the each soe sector is reported under the relevant outcome hills 2026 ‘protected environment’ theme. area. W New South Wales o the soe report enables Council to monitor and h Sydney soe indiCaTors Melbourne the hills shire is located in sydney’s report on the state of the environment and actions north west. implemented to protect the environment. this indicators have been selected to provide key information is useful to Council and the Community to information on environmental performance for each track performance over time, and enables us to identify soe sector. this is the first year we have started to farms. the hills shire area was proclaimed a hisTory key areas for future action. incorporate some of the global reporting initiative Darug aborigines (also spelt Dharug, Daruk, shire on 6 march 1906. a temporary Council (gri) indicators, which are used globally to report on Dharuk) inhabited the shire until the early was put in place before the first Council Councils must report on the state of the environment sustainability. these can be identified by the use of GRI“ ” elections later that year. the temporary 1800s. in the local (and regional, where relevant) area, followed by the gri indicator number (eg gri en4). the first european visitors to the hills area Council had their first meeting on 16 June addressing the following sectors: land; air; water; were members of an expedition led by 1906 at matthew pearce’s property on biodiversity; waste; noise; aboriginal heritage; and non- the indicator results are located at the beginning of governor philip from parramatta in april windsor road, Baulkham hills. aboriginal heritage. each sector and includes the sustainability trend for 1791. the group was in search of a new on 8 December 1906 the first elected Council each indicator. the trend is generally based on the area for settlement and farming to support took office and Councillor Bruce purser was hoW To read This reporT average of the 3 previous report figures. what was then a struggling colony in sydney. elected as the first president of the shire of the Castle hill area had been selected as a Baulkham hills. hills 2026 Key Themes susTainabiliTy Trend Key government farm settlement for convicts. over the years, the Council Chamber has there are 5 hills 2026 Key themes, however this moved to cater for increases in population towards sustainability in 1794, william Joyce, a pardoned convict, document only reports on the ‘protected environment’ was granted the first parcel of land in and the need for more services and hills 2026 theme. Baulkham hills. infrastructure. Council moved to its present trend stable others began to follow, stocking their land location on showground road, Castle hill in hills 2026 proTeCTed enVironmenT 1982. away from sustainability with cattle and sheep and clearing bushland CommuniTy ouTComes to plant crops of wheat and maize. the hills in 2006 the hills shire celebrated its District began to thrive with more settlers centenary and has seen many changes in the there are 3 protected environment Community no trend able to be identified moving to the area and establishing viable past 100 years. outcomes, and these are: new indicator The hills shire Today south wales with a population of proposed north west metro link and 170,965 (as of June 2008) a 2.9% north west growth centre – a major today, the hills shire is a dynamic, increase on the previous year. the growth area for the sydney basin. diverse and vibrant community, our community direction ...........................2 shire’s population is projected to two thirds of the shire is rural land with a blend of sophisticated urban reach 256,450 by 2031. our performance snapshot .........................3 areas and rural communities. the some of which is used for farming and other agricultural industries. contents who we are .............................................4 community’s diverse needs are catered for through 288 community demographiCs how we plan and report ............................5 buildings, five libraries, hundreds the 2006 Census reveals that employmenT our shire is green and pollution free ...........6 of reserves, 88 hectares of forestry 30% of the hills shire residents Council employs 604 full time - air quality and climate change .................8 land, 313 hectares of national were born overseas, and 21.8% equivalent staff in a range of parks land, 60 primary schools, 24 were from a non-english speaking - water consumption and waterways ......... 16 professions with 2086 residents high schools and Council’s six child background. other than english, the working in a voluntary capacity - noise .................................................. 22 care facilities. there are 23,000 languages most frequently spoken in areas such as tourism, library - land ................................................... 25 businesses in the shire. the world- are Cantonese, mandarin, arabic, class norwest Business park has service, bushcare, childcare, Korean and italian. i can feel close to nature ......................... 32 an estimated 17,000 employees community halls, cemetery, rural working in different businesses fire service, SES and events. - Biodiversity ......................................... 34 geography within the park, including many who - heritage .............................................. 44 have their australia Corporate head the hills shire occupies an area of road networK offices within the Businessp ark. 380 square kilometres stretching our natural resources are used wisely ......