POLITICS
How my office and I can help you
• Represent you in Parliament and raise local issues with the appropriate Minister or Department
• Answer questions , help you access government services and provide information about community groups and events
• Facilitate applications to become a Justice of the Peace or to obtain a Seniors Card
• Update your electoral enrolment details
• Send a congratulatory letter for anniversaries and birthdays of significance
• Provide you with details on how to apply for government grants
The office is located at Western Sydney University , Hawkesbury Campus Building R4 , College Drive , Richmond . M : PO Box 505 Richmond NSW 2753 T : 02 4578 0300 E : hawkesbury @ parliament . nsw . gov . au
Authorised by Robyn Preston MP . Funded using Parliamentary entitlements .
The patient wait ... with Robyn Preston MP
One of things I love most about Hawkesbury is the shared passion of people within the community . Whether it ’ s exchanging information over local Facebook groups , sharing family recipes with neighbours or having a schnitzel at the local , the communal passion is undeniably strong .
One such passion that I share with Hawkesbury is that of infrastructure developments and ensuring that what has been promised and expected is delivered . I know that with the recent ( and past ) history of floods and other natural disasters , as well as the increase in
Feeling overwhelmed by the dayto-day grind ? It ’ s time to step back and work on your business , not just in it .
Council is offering a fantastic opportunity for businesses in the Hawkesbury Local Area to get a FREE Business Health Check designed to help you reach your full potential .
Get personalised guidance and expert insights to help you launch , manage , expand , and adapt your business in the ever-evolving marketplace . Our comprehensive Health Check goes beyond the surface , providing a deep dive into your operations to uncover untapped opportunities and potential challenges . What awaits you : In your one-on-one session , we ’ ll work with you to analyse key aspects of your business , including :
- Financial Performance : Gain a clear understanding of your financial reports .
- Risk Management : Proactively identify and address potential risks .
- Business Structure : Ensure your structure supports your growth ambitions .
- Sales and Marketing Strategies : Discover effective ways to boost your sales and attract new - customers . - Operational Efficiency : Optimise your processes for smoother operations . housing and residents in Hawkesbury and neighbouring electorates , the projects that really sing out as crucial to see through , as soon as possible , are the New Richmond Bridge Project , the upgrade to Richmond Road and , of course , the Pitt Town Bypass .
Hawkesbury is waiting in anticipation for the New Richmond Bridge Project to be completed , and rightly so . With eight recent floods occurring , the Richmond Bridge was closed for thirty-three days . It is important to understand that through any frustration this may cause , this is a long-term project and the entire funding for any project is staggered over the life of the build . Currently , Stage 2b of the project is unfunded , but with a state budget
Is your business ready to thrive ? Claim your FREE Health Check !
Your local Service NSW Business Bureau – Business Concierge will also be present to provide information and answer any questions you may have about available support services .
This invaluable program is a partnership between Hawkesbury City Council , Western Sydney Business Centre , NSW Business Connect , and Service NSW Business Bureau , all working together to support local businesses . Each health check is approximately 60 minutes in duration .
These personalised sessions are limited , so don ’ t miss this chance to take your Hawkesbury business to the next level .
Register now and start your journey towards a more successful and sustainable future .
Wednesday 19 March 2025 ( and every fourth Wednesday until 18 June 2025 ). Sessions will run between 9.30am and 2.30pm at Hawkesbury Central Library - 300 George St , Windsor .
For bookings : https :// mybusiness . service . nsw . gov . au / business-connect / advisors / zlg4psdh13
You will need to use your Service NSW Business Account to log in . If you do not have a Service NSW Business Account , please click here https :// account . service . nsw . gov . au . Please keep your Username and Password handy to request all future Business Connect meetings . approaching and a federal election on our doorstep , we need funds to be included in the 2025 / 2026 financial year for Stage 2b , from both levels of government . This gives the project absolute certainty .
Travelling on Richmond Road leaves tradies , truckies , essential workers , business owners , mums , dads , seniors and school children facing lengthy delays as they travel to and from Hawkesbury and beyond .
We have not seen a major upgrade to Richmond Road since 2016 when the Liberal / National Government delivered a five kilometre widening of the road . Given the enormous amount of growth in the area , including an increase in commuters ,
with Hawkesbury City Mayor Les Sheather
At the beginning of my Mayoral term , I committed this Council to continuing and growing our connection with the community , to give all residents a voice in the future of the Hawkesbury . This is a commitment shared wholeheartedly by all of my councillor colleagues .
This year has already provided numerous opportunities for community connection . We are reviewing our Community Strategic Plan – which sets out our community ’ s priorities and how Council plans to deliver on them . As part of that , staff held a series of community workshops in Windsor and our communities around Kurrajong , Colo and St Albans . Thank you everyone who participated – your thoughts and ideas are a critical part of the drafting of this important document .
We are also holding new rounds of community consultation around our Western Sydney Infrastructure Grants projects – specifically Richmond Swimming Centre , Hawksbury Oasis , Rickaby ’ s Creek Cycling Bridge , and Turnbull Oval later this month . Please visit www . yourhawkesburyyoursay . com . au to view you would think that the Minns Labor Government would get its act together and prioritise the next stage of the Richmond Road upgrade .
If one infrastructure project is a testament to the fight for funding , it ’ s the Pitt Town Bypass which successive governments have promised for the last fifty years . It is with great frustration that the community patiently waits for the announcement of the successful tender and when it will be shovel ready . Transport for NSW advise that work is due to commence in the second quarter of 2025 .
I will continue to update you as these projects progress , and feel free to reach out to my office at any time .
FROM THE MAYOR ’ S DESK
the latest plans and have your say .
In my Mayoral capacity , I was pleased to be able to meet with concerned residents at the recent Richmond Bridge duplication meetings held by Transport for NSW , as well as join together with many of my councillor colleagues at the community rally held on 15 February . Council too has significant concerns with the proposal and will be representing our community ’ s views in our ongoing discussions with Transport for NSW , which includes the formal submission that was endorsed at our 18 February Council meeting .
It has also been extremely pleasing to see the progress on a number of major projects underway in our City . Restoring Cornwallis Road and the drainage network has begun as has the restoration of the riverbank along The Terrace at Windsor , upgrades to Windsor Town Centre have now started near Thompson Square , the improvements to Macquarie Park are looking fantastic , the restoration of
Thomas James Bridge at Lower Macdonald is getting close to finishing and the upgraded Packer Road at Blaxlands Ridge is now open to traffic . Council is getting on with the job of improving our infrastructure while continuing to deliver on the more than $ 177 million in flood repairs across our City . Keep following Council on our social media and our website to stay up to date .
20 ISSUE 178 // MARCH 2025 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT