Hornsby Shire Council's draft 2025-2029 Delivery Program and 2025/26 Operational Plan (DPOP)
which details the many steps Council will take as we work towards becoming a liveable
was adopted for public exhibition at its General Meeting on Wednesday 9 April
The community has made it clear that the future challenges for Hornsby Shire include
responding to economic and technological change
and enhancing the social resilience within our community
The DPOP is the blueprint for achieving the community's aims for the coming next four years
as Council continues to prepare for the Shire of the future
ensuring that our infrastructure is of a standard that our growing population expects and can be sustainably maintained
There is a substantial program of capital projects mapped out
development contributions as well as the Special Rate Variation funds
Maintaining a strong financial future is essential
Hornsby Shire Council has a strong track record of prudent financial management
so will work hard to respond to the pressures of escalating costs
and continues to implement our carefully considered plans as outlined in our Long Term Financial Plan
"Our Delivery Program and Operational Plan outline what Council will do to achieve the actions and outcomes in our Community Strategic Plan using the resources available
It is our road map as we move closer to our long-term goals of becoming a more active and healthy community with social
and physical well-being a priority for all."
Some of the highlights outlined in the DPOP include:
The 2025-2029 Delivery Program and 2025/26 Operational Plan will be available for the community to give feedback from 10 April to 12 May 2025
Following public exhibition and consideration of all submissions
the Delivery Program and Operational Plan will be referred to Council for further consideration
The video recording of the meeting will be available from Friday afternoon
The NSW Electoral Commission conducted the 2024 Local Government Election on Saturday
and has now officially declared the newly elected Councillors for Hornsby Shire Council
This comes as yesterday the NSW Electoral Commission officially declared Warren Waddell as the newly elected Mayor of Hornsby Shire
"Congratulations and welcome to all the incoming Hornsby Shire Councillors
I look forward to collaborating with my fellow Councillors
to serve our community," said Mayor Waddell
"This term there is a wide breadth of Councillor experience to serve our vibrant community
I am looking forward to getting down to business
along with my fellow Councillors and Council staff
initiatives and strategies as outlined in Council's Delivery Program and Operational Plan."
The first General Meeting of Council for the new term is set for Wednesday 23 October
For details of Council's Ward System, see: https://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/council/about-council/wards-and-boundaries and for a schedule of Council meetings and to view meeting agendas and business papers, go to: https://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/council/about-council/meetings.
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Mala Mehta's WSHK organised a community walk to help raise awareness and say NO to family and domestic violence
as part of the global 16 Days of Activism movement
The Women’s Shed Hornsby & Kuring-gai & PCYC Waitara hosted the Walk the Talk Against Domestic Violence event recently as part of the global 16 Days of Activism campaign
The event brought together a passionate community determined to raise awareness and drive change in the fight against domestic and family violence
a well-known name in the Indian diaspora here in Sydney
is the Chair & Founding Board Member of the Women’s Shed Hornsby Ku-ring-gai and also President & Founder of the IABBV Hindi School in Thornleigh
Matching the theme of this year’s walk
symbolising a future free from violence against women and girls
effortlessly coordinating various activities and collaborating with multiple organisations and schools to ensure everything ran smoothly
Her leadership brought together a vibrant mix of cultures and communities
making the event a true celebration of unity and purpose
with students from Hornsby Girls High School
and Barker College joining hands to take part in the 20-minute walk through Waitara
This symbolic walk was a show of solidarity
reminding all participants of the collective commitment to ending domestic violence
The ceremony that followed was an emotional and thought-provoking affair
with speeches from various community leaders
gave an inspiring keynote address on her role in strengthening responses to domestic violence across New South Wales
including Cr Warren Waddell and Cr Christine Kay
highlighting the importance of collaboration and the need for continuous awareness-raising
One of the most memorable parts of the day came from the speeches delivered by students
Methuli Dias from Hornsby Girls High School and Mani Khanna-Boyle from Knox Grammar speaking passionately about their unique perspectives and what they had learned through participating in the event
Their heartfelt words were a powerful reminder of how vital it is to engage young people in the conversation around domestic violence
The event by Women’s Shed Hornsby & Kuring-gai also featured moving moments of remembrance
with a minute of silence to honour those lost to domestic and family violence
This was not only a call to action but also a celebration of community spirit
It was truly heartwarming to see so many young faces speaking out with such passion
and to witness the wide range of people from all walks of life coming together to take a stand
As we move forward in the fight against domestic violence
events like these remind us of the importance of education
and community solidarity in breaking the silence and building a safer future for all
READ MORE: Adelaide joins global violence against women protest
Indian Link empowers and elevates the South Asian community in Australia
by telling their stories and unpacking their experiences in a nuanced and unbiased manner
Westfield owner Scentre Group which has seen its mall business thrive is now planning on making a dedicated push towards building high-rise apartment towers to address the country’s housing crisis
and also better utilise its vast land holdings
Scentre has already received rezoning approvals at Westfield Hornsby in Sydney and Westfield Belconnen in Canberra
Those approvals allow it to build several 53-storey residential towers at Hornsby and 28-storey towers at Belconnen
Scentre’s Chief executive Elliott Rusanow said that he was now focused on obtaining as many rezoning approvals as possible to allow for more high-rise towers to be built alongside its shopping centres
“It’s fair to say that we’re in extensive dialogue with planning departments
state governments and local councils on housing supply needs and how we can contribute
This is something we are exploring across the portfolio,” Rusanow told The Australian Financial Review
“The ultimate part of that business is eventually having people spend all of their time at our destinations and
that’s what the residential opportunity does.”
Rusanow noted that the expansion of Westfield Sydney and construction of the adjoining commercial and residential tower on the corner of Market and Castlereagh Streets in Sydney’s CBD continues
with new luxury brands progressively opening from the second quarter of 2025
Scentre confirmed that in 2024 it received 526 million customer visits across its 42 locations in Australia and New Zealand
an increase of 14 million compared to 2023
Scentre’s post-tax net profit soared to $1 billion
as its malls saw a record level of sales during 2024 of $29 billion
“We continue to see strong demand from business partners with occupancy increasing to 99.6% at 31 December 2024
compared to 99.2% at the end of 2023,” said Rusanow
is something we believe that we have an ability to contribute to [through] the solution to the housing supply shortage because of the strategic locations of each of our 42 destinations
and the ability to co-locate where people live to where people spend time,” added Rusanow
Scentre’s Westfield properties are located on a total land holding of around 670 hectares
which demonstrates its vast development potential to convert them into mixed-use properties
It helps that these locations are already located near major infrastructure required to support those residential developments
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Liberal Hornsby Mayor Philip Ruddock has accused property developers supported by “senior party members” of orchestrating his demise after he was ousted in a preselection vote on Monday evening
In a statement provided exclusively to the Herald
said his principled stance on protecting the “built and natural” environment in Hornsby during his seven-year tenure as mayor had ultimately cost him his job
saying his position was considered “unacceptable” to “property developer interests”
Philip Ruddock has been ousted as mayor of Hornsby.Credit: Getty
“I have always advocated for appropriate development that respects the built and natural environment of the Shire of Hornsby and is in keeping with its amenity,” the former immigration minister said
“That has been seen as unacceptable by property developer interests
in the Hornsby local government Liberal Party preselection
“In recent months it became clear to me that I could choose to either allow developers free reign over the shire I have fought to protect
or to stand by my principles and face certain replacement as the Liberal Party candidate.”
The online preselection took place at 6pm on Monday
and councillor Warren Waddell emerged victorious with 164 votes to Ruddock’s 104
As part of the Minns government’s sweeping housing reforms
Hornsby station has been included as a major transport development zone
which will see massive uplift in the area as thousands of new dwellings are built over the next 15 years
Public exhibition on the accelerated precinct will close on Wednesday
Ruddock was a minister in the Howard government.Credit: Jacky Ghossein
Ruddock said his decision to stand in the preselection in the face of near-certain defeat was an “example that politicians should not bow to vested interests” and should continue to fight “unwinnable battles” on behalf of their constituents
After entering parliament in 1973 and going on to serve as a federal Liberal MP for 43 years
including as a minister in the Howard and Abbott governments
Ruddock was elected mayor of Hornsby Shire in 2017
for instilling in him a “great love of the Bushland Shire”
saying his tenure as mayor was built upon representing Hornsby’s concerns and sustainability
“A considered approach to the way Hornsby manages the balance between urban growth
its rural areas and its natural environment was the reason I re-entered politics and stood for mayor seven years ago
not about any self-interest or ego,” he said
Ruddock said he hoped unfinished projects like Westleigh Park would be delivered in his absence. In June, the council threatened to sue the Minns government after it was ordered to repay $36 million obtained through a controversial Stronger Communities Fund grants program intended for the park proposal
The end of Ruddock’s time as mayor will almost certainly bring to a close his 50-year career in politics
after he decided to step down as state president of the NSW Liberal Party after the federal election in 2022
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Liberal Hornsby Mayor Philip Ruddock has accused property developers supported by \\u201Csenior party members\\u201D of orchestrating his demise after he was ousted in a preselection vote on Monday evening.
In a statement provided exclusively to the Herald, Ruddock, 81, said his principled stance on protecting the \\u201Cbuilt and natural\\u201D environment in Hornsby during his seven-year tenure as mayor had ultimately cost him his job, saying his position was considered \\u201Cunacceptable\\u201D to \\u201Cproperty developer interests\\u201D.
\\u201CI have always advocated for appropriate development that respects the built and natural environment of the Shire of Hornsby and is in keeping with its amenity,\\u201D the former immigration minister said. \\u201CThat has been seen as unacceptable by property developer interests, supported by some senior party members, in the Hornsby local government Liberal Party preselection.
\\u201CIn recent months it became clear to me that I could choose to either allow developers free reign over the shire I have fought to protect, or to stand by my principles and face certain replacement as the Liberal Party candidate.\\u201D
The online preselection took place at 6pm on Monday, and councillor Warren Waddell emerged victorious with 164 votes to Ruddock\\u2019s 104.
As part of the Minns government\\u2019s sweeping housing reforms, Hornsby station has been included as a major transport development zone, which will see massive uplift in the area as thousands of new dwellings are built over the next 15 years. Public exhibition on the accelerated precinct will close on Wednesday.
Ruddock said his decision to stand in the preselection in the face of near-certain defeat was an \\u201Cexample that politicians should not bow to vested interests\\u201D and should continue to fight \\u201Cunwinnable battles\\u201D on behalf of their constituents.
After entering parliament in 1973 and going on to serve as a federal Liberal MP for 43 years, including as a minister in the Howard and Abbott governments, Ruddock was elected mayor of Hornsby Shire in 2017.
Ruddock paid tribute to his father, Max, for instilling in him a \\u201Cgreat love of the Bushland Shire\\u201D, saying his tenure as mayor was built upon representing Hornsby\\u2019s concerns and sustainability, heritage and growth.
\\u201CA considered approach to the way Hornsby manages the balance between urban growth, its rural areas and its natural environment was the reason I re-entered politics and stood for mayor seven years ago. It was about giving back to my community, not about any self-interest or ego,\\u201D he said.
Ruddock said he hoped unfinished projects like Westleigh Park would be delivered in his absence. In June, the council obtained through a controversial Stronger Communities Fund grants program intended for the park proposal.
The end of Ruddock\\u2019s time as mayor will almost certainly bring to a close his 50-year career in politics, after he decided to step down as state president of the NSW Liberal Party after the federal election in 2022.
Start the day with a summary of the day\\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. .
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A woman allegedly embarked on an Islamophobic and anti-Arab graffiti spree at a major Sydney shopping centre and at a sports stadium over more than six months, scrawling messages such as “Arabs are all terrorists” on the walls of public toilets.
Bronwyn Elizabeth Nowicki, 53, was granted bail in Parramatta Local Court on Sunday over nine counts of damaging property inside the toilets of Hornsby Westfield shopping centre and CommBank stadium in Parramatta.
Many of the offensive messages were written in toilets inside the Westfield Shopping Centre at Hornsby.Credit: Peter Rae
The court heard she allegedly committed the repeated and deliberate offending between July last year and this weekend at both locations.
Magistrate Wills called the offences serious and public. Vulnerable people like children and the elderly were able to see them. She said there was a strong prosecution case as the alleged acts had been caught on CCTV.
Court documents allege Nowicki first used a black texta at Westfield Hornsby in July. On August 17 at the same shopping centre, she is accused of writing “Islam is not a religion, it is a satanic cult. Muslims f-k off to Palestine. Scarf = ugly sl-t”.
The message continued: “Muslims are terrorists and need to f--k off from our country. Palestine supporters need to f--k off to Palestine. Scarf = ugly slut who f--k their brothers. Islam = terrorist cult”.
Over the next several months, she allegedly returned to the same shopping centre to write variations of anti-Arab and anti-Islamic comments, including “Arabs and Muslims f--k off. Go to Palestine if you want to support the dogs there.. Hamas started this… Muslim cult, not religion”.
Some offences were allegedly committed inside the toilets of Commbank Stadium, ParramattaCredit: Google Maps
The messages found at CommBank Stadium on Saturday, also written on the public toilet door in black texta, read: “the mob have spoken, Arabs are all terrorists and need to f--k off to Palestine”.
On January 20, police attached to Ku-ring-gai Police Area Command discovered the offensive graffiti at Hornsby Westfield and began investigating. About 7pm on Saturday, police at CommBank Stadium discovered more.
Following inquiries, police arrested Nowicki inside the stadium and took her to Parramatta Police Station, where she was charged with nine counts of destroy or damage property and was refused police bail.
Her defence lawyer told the court she had no criminal record, had been in Australia her whole life and was otherwise of “upstanding character”.
“The defence concedes the objective gravity, not by way of value of the damage but the dangerous rhetoric over the past six months of which these offences took place,” he said.
“The defence concedes there is CCTV footage showing her go and leave the bathrooms and she made partial admissions to police.“
The court heard Nowicki suffered mental health issues, including bipolar, PTSD, depression and anxiety and that she had struggled with the recent death of her mother.
The prosecution opposed the granting of bail, noting Nowicki’s risk of committing further offences and endangering the community, where “these offences are far too prevalent”.
But Wills said the risks could be mitigated with bail conditions including living with her elderly father and her siblings and being barred from entering Hornsby Westfield.
Nowicki appeared via audiovisual link from prison, wearing a purple T-shirt and glasses sitting on her head.
Sydney has been rocked by religious hate graffiti in recent months, including a wave of antisemitic attacks in the city’s east, which is home to a significant Jewish community.
Nowicki has not entered pleas and will return to Hornsby Local Court on Thursday.
A woman allegedly embarked on an Islamophobic and anti-Arab graffiti spree at a major Sydney shopping centre and at a sports stadium over more than six months, scrawling messages such as \\u201CArabs are all terrorists\\u201D on the walls of public toilets.
Court documents allege Nowicki first used a black texta at Westfield Hornsby in July. On August 17 at the same shopping centre, she is accused of writing \\u201CIslam is not a religion, it is a satanic cult. Muslims f-k off to Palestine. Scarf = ugly sl-t\\u201D.
The message continued: \\u201CMuslims are terrorists and need to f--k off from our country. Palestine supporters need to f--k off to Palestine. Scarf = ugly slut who f--k their brothers. Islam = terrorist cult\\u201D.
Over the next several months, she allegedly returned to the same shopping centre to write variations of anti-Arab and anti-Islamic comments, including \\u201CArabs and Muslims f--k off. Go to Palestine if you want to support the dogs there.. Hamas started this\\u2026 Muslim cult, not religion\\u201D.
The messages found at CommBank Stadium on Saturday, also written on the public toilet door in black texta, read: \\u201Cthe mob have spoken, Arabs are all terrorists and need to f--k off to Palestine\\u201D.
Her defence lawyer told the court she had no criminal record, had been in Australia her whole life and was otherwise of \\u201Cupstanding character\\u201D.
\\u201CThe defence concedes the objective gravity, not by way of value of the damage but the dangerous rhetoric over the past six months of which these offences took place,\\u201D he said.
\\u201CThe defence concedes there is CCTV footage showing her go and leave the bathrooms and she made partial admissions to police.\\u201C
The prosecution opposed the granting of bail, noting Nowicki\\u2019s risk of committing further offences and endangering the community, where \\u201Cthese offences are far too prevalent\\u201D.
Sydney has been rocked by religious hate graffiti in recent months, including a wave of antisemitic attacks in the city\\u2019s east, which is home to a significant Jewish community.