Welcome to your community report, reflecting on Council’s achievements over the last 12 months and meeting some of the people that made it happen. your 2012/2013 community report my environment Achievements Hornsby Library lighting upgrade – 400 energy Bushfire completed 2012-2013 Manual Hazard saving lamps were installed in Hornsby Library saving Reduction and Fire Trail Maintenance Program. 18% of energy and reducing power bills by $8,500 pa. Fire trail upgrades were completed at Woodcourt Donated 1,000 preloved stationery items Road, Berowra and Old Mans Valley, Hornsby. to students, schools and TAFE to save dumping in Bushfire education workshops held for the landfill and promote innovative recycling initiatives. community in Hornsby, Hornsby Heights, Thornleigh Water Efficiency in businesses – commenced a Pilot and Mount Colah. Partnership Program to promote water efficiency in Awards – Highly Recommended in the category of 35 businesses across the Shire, funded through a Excellence in Infrastructure by the NSW Stormwater Sydney Water Grant. Association for the Belinda Cr, North Epping Home Power Savings – three workshops were Bioretention Basin and a Stormwater Industry delivered to residents giving practical advice on energy Association Excellence Commendation Award saving with funding from the Office of Environment in Asset Management. and Heritage. Combined stormwater treatment/harvesting system Cogeneration Plant for the new Hornsby Aquatic completed at Dawson Ave, Thornleigh. This innovative Centre – a grant was received and suppliers chosen for design combined the water treatment characteristics a cogeneration plant to generate electricity, provide of a bioretention system with underneath storage pool heating and save energy. (alleviating the need for large concrete tanks) to Hornsby Mountain Bike Trail – opened Stage 1 of the provide ‘clean’ water for irrigation on the nearby trail, a 3.5 km single track with over 16,000 rides so far. sport field. Free Guided Bushwalks Program – over 400 people Stormwater quality improvement works completed attended 33 free guided bushwalks during the year. construction of six new devices at Thornleigh, Westleigh, Hornsby (2), Pennant Hills and Cherrybrook. Bushland restoration of over 130 ha of Bushland in over 60 reserves in Hornsby Shire through grant and Removing pollutants from local waterways – more other funding. than 1,200 tonnes of waste captured by 429 stormwater quality improvement devices which Bushcare and Community celebrated 23 years of our filter and treat polluted stormwater before it ends volunteer Bushcare program with 761 volunteers up in our waterways. restoring an additional 69 ha at 107 different sites. Funding to monitor health of Hawkesbury River Community Nursery volunteers propagated over sediments – $135,000 was received in grant money 40,000 native plants for use in our reserves and from the NSW State Government to monitor sediment community programs. quality and turbidity within the Hawkesbury estuary. Wisemans Ferry Cemetery environmental protection Water quality – continuing to monitor the water quality and restoration of early pioneer graves through of our creeks and estuaries and provide real time a Heritage Works grant. temperature, salinity and chlorophyll information. Wisemans Ferry Tip was revegetated using 11,500 This was complimented by the production of a Water plants from the Community Nursery. Quality Report Card and Companion Technical Report Habitat – ongoing restoration of the One Tree Reach detailing water quality in Hornsby Shire since 1994. wetland at Laughtondale, installing a weir to improve Estuary Management Program – ongoing actions and habitat for aquatic fauna and waterbirds. Community initiatives to improve and clean up the Hawkesbury participated in a planting day and preparation of a plan River including 7,300 glass and plastic bottles removed of management. Planning commenced for a from the Hawkesbury by community volunteers as grant funded boardwalk and viewing platform. supported by Macmasters Beach Surf Life Saving Club. Waterbird Study was undertaken of wetlands and Daily swimming advice on water quality is now dams in the Hornsby Shire and monitoring of the provided on Council’s website for the community. Eastern Pygmy Possum continued. Cover photo: Autumn Beauty, Kylie Couper – Fagan Park Reduced water consumption – Council reduced Ready Set Grow Schools Program – 29 schools its water consumption by 26% in 2012 and the creating sustainable veggie gardens. 58 school visits community reduced its water consumption by 18% assisting with reducing waste, composting education over the sampling period of ten years. This resulted in and creating veggie patches. a reduction in water demand by Council of 38,428kL’s Returned to Glory Recycled Art Competition and resulting in a cost saving of $81,851. Exhibition – 58 artworks entered celebrating the reuse Improved community park facilities through water and recycling of waste through art. efficient practices by capturing, treating and reusing Recycling – 52% of all waste materials collected stormwater to irrigate ovals. (equating to 37,896 tonnes) was recycled. Australian Bass restocking – 1,000 Australian Bass Illegal dumping – 290 lots of dumped rubbish fingerlings were released in Galston as part of the has been recovered, including 72 mattresses and Native Fish Stocking Program to reintroduce native fish 20 tonnes of wood mulch, 3.8 tonnes of hazardous to previously degraded waterways and promote waste and 23 tonnes of other rubbish resulting in awareness of native fish ecology. four fines issued and a cost to Council of thousands Waste reduction workshops – 920 residents attended of dollars to recover. approximately 35 events including bus tours, hands-on workshops covering composting, eco gardening and keeping chooks in your backyard. Natural Resources Operations Manager Natural Resources Team David The Catchments Remediation Rate is a special rate used to fund projects which improve and protect the health of Hornsby Shire’s waterways and catchments. The rate has enabled Council to install and maintain more than 400 stormwater treatment devices across the Shire. “Bioretention basins, like this one off Parrish Place, Mount Colah is a great example of how the funding helps improve the environment. These ‘vegetated sand filters’ not only clean stormwater efficiently but provide natural habitat for native flora and fauna and, as a result look great.” my community Achievements Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre – 26 exhibitions Settlement Services Program assisted 1,300 new have been held at the Centre throughout the year, migrants to settle and adjust to their new life in and a range of art classes including a free open studio Australia. The program delivers a range of culturally session every Friday. and linguistically sensitive orientation and life skills. A Portrait of Hornsby – Photography Works exhibition Local partnerships help Council to deliver a range of by Hornsby TAFE Students. Delivered as part of the healthy lifestyle activities such as Tai Chi, Heart Moves, national 2013 Head On Photography Festival. line dancing classes, cooking class for kids, zumba Healthy Living Festival – Council partnered with dance for mums group, cooking classes for men 43 local community groups and organisations to and seniors. present 175 events promoting a healthy lifestyle. Mental Health Week – Council partnered with local Festival of the Arts – 30 of the Shire’s creative services to deliver 19 activities from a ‘loving life’ community organisations produced almost 100 events exhibition to weaving the ‘well-being’ web activity and exhibitions. for children. Hornsby Art Prize – Council partnered with the AFL Chinese Family Fun Day – 200 people Hornsby Art Society to showcase 214 works at the participated in an event delivered in partnership with exhibition and competition. Held at Wallarobba Arts and the Australian Football League Multicultural Program. Cultural Centre. Information seminars for families – 200 people Shorefest 2013 – delivered in partnership with North attended seven different seminars featuring older Sydney, Mosman, Lane Cove, Ryde and Ku-ring-gai sibling workshops, grandparenting, Australian laws etc. Councils. Shorefest is a key Youth Week event and Chinese calligraphy and painting workshops – 46 attracted 1,500 young people. fully booked workshops delivered throughout the year, Live in the Mall is held within Hornsby Mall on held at Wallarobba Arts and Cultural Centre. Thursday evenings featuring young local bands and Meet your neighbours – BBQ organised in buskers, dance academies, school choirs and zumba partnership with local organisations to provide an demonstrations. Regularly attracting 50 people. opportunity for neighbours to get to know each other Project Rags to Runway – innovative youth week and reduce isolation. program, recycling clothing by using clever design Information evenings for parents and carers – skills, to redesign fashion though two workshops and partnered with local services to provide six workshops a runway show. on living with teens. Subjects included relationships Children’s Voices for Reconciliation in Hornsby Mall, and resilience, keeping connected with your teen, part of the Guringai Festival 10 schools participated and safe partying, cyber strategies, bullying strategies over 350 people attended including children, families, and adolescent mental health. teachers, volunteers and Aboriginal Elders. Apprenticeship and Training