LOCAL LIFE
Budget for the 2024 / 25 financial year endorsed by council
Mayor of The Hills Shire Dr Peter Gangemi at Boundary Road .
One of the biggest budgets in The Hills Shire ’ s history has been adopted with a $ 162.8 million infrastructure spend at the centrepiece of the 2024 / 2025 plan .
Mayor of The Hills Shire Dr Peter Gangemi said projects and services delivered under The Hills Shire Plan prioritise the wishes of residents .
“ The Hills Shire Plan for 2024 / 25 is all about meeting the needs of our community and I am excited by the services and infrastructure that are being funded this year ,” Mayor Gangemi said . “ In the upcoming financial year ’ s budget , we ’ ve dedicated $ 338 million . A long-standing priority of this Council is to live within our means , ensuring we generate enough revenue to meet our costs , ensuring we can keep our rates as low as possible .
“ Big ticket items in this year ’ s budget include the upgrades of Annangrove Road , Withers Road and Boundary Road .
“ We ’ re also moving forward on the extension of Livvi ’ s Place playground , which will provide more facilities for people of all abilities in our community .
“ Other priorities in the plan include SES and bushfire operations , the management of our community buildings such as our libraries and Waves Fitness and Aquatic Centre , waste and recycling and environmental sustainability initiatives and much more .
“ Managing the community ’ s assets responsibly is incredibly important to this Council and we continue to do this for the long-term future of our residents .”
Highlights from the 2024 / 25 Hills Shire Plan include :
- $ 43.6 million for garbage , recycling and kerbside clean up services
- $ 24.4 million Annangrove Road upgrade – upgrading the stretch of road between Withers and Windsor
Roads to four lanes , including a signalised intersection at The Water Lane and Withers Road . The upgrade will also provide shared pathways and cycleways . This is subject to the receipt of NSW Government grant funding .
- $ 20.2 million Withers Road upgrade – upgrade of the road from Smalls Creek to Barry Road and from Annangrove Road to Mile End Road .
- $ 28.5 million Boundary Road upgrade - Construction of a new bridge and road over Killarney Chain of Ponds Creek ($ 17.6M ) and a signalised intersection at the corner of Brocklebank Street , Commercial Road , and Boundary Road ($ 10.9M ) ( subject to the finalisation of a cost-sharing agreement ). - $ 9.2 million on Library services - $ 8.4 million on aged care services such as Meals on Wheels , transport and social day programs
- $ 6.3 million in SES activities and rural bushfire activities
- $ 2 million on community and major events
- The extension of Livvi ’ s Place playground at Bernie Mullane Reserve in Kellyville which includes new playground equipment and an amenities building
- A new cycleway along Cattai Creek as part of the Cattai Creek Corridor project and a new shared pathway and cycleway along Norwest Boulevard from Old Windsor Road to Windsor Road .
To view the 2024 / 25 Hills Shire Plan , visit www . thehills . nsw . gov . au and search for Hills Shire Plan .
THE HILLS INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au ISSUE 109 // JULY 2024 5