Greens on Hornsby Council

2022 – 2024 Greens on Council Achievements and Advocacy

CYour Greens Councillors have managed a lot in 27 months – most importantly, we listened, we cared, we acted – for residents!

Brooklyn Car Parking:

• Successfully advocated for improved and fairer parking conditions after a Liberal-led push to remove all untimed parking from the Lower McKell car park.
• Put up a motion for council to investigate improvements for safety and accessibility for the car park that river residents were displaced to in Upper McKell; this was not supported by 6 councillors, only 3 Greens and 1 Liberal councillor supported.

Parks:

• Put up two motions to protect 3 Johnson Rd, Galston as valuable open green space and to stop the proposal to rezone and develop that land into an industrial estate – this was not supported by 7 councillors, only 3 Greens councillors supported.

Community and diversity:

• Motion amended to allow for multicultural representation on committees – this was not supported by 7 councillors, only 3 Greens councillors supported.
• Initiated the first multicultural festival for Hornsby Shire.
• Successfully advocated for residents’ rights in council’s democratic process, to allow residents to speak at meetings and not have to submit a script first.

Climate Action:

• Initiated the move towards all-electric requirement in new developments, due to impacts of gas on health.
• Advocated for more environmental sustainability in the design of new builds and for more sustainable buildings for Hornsby Town Centre.

Affordable Housing:

• Secured four affordable housing units granted to Council in perpetuity, instead of 10-15 years.
• Consistently advocated for 30% affordable housing on public land and 15% targets on private land.
• Improved Council’s affordable housing targets for Hornsby Town Centre and Cherrybrook Metro.

Over-development:

• Opposed the sub-division of rural land around Galston, Glenorie and Dural – only The Greens voted against, with every motion relating to this over-development passing 7 to 3.
• Put up motions in August 2023 and August 2024 to stop progression of rezoning 3 Johnson Rd, Galston (a much-loved community park) for development into an industrial estate. This was not supported by 7 councillors – only The Greens.

Sports:

• Protected Pennant Hills Cricket Club from being ousted from their fields of 76 years by a last minute motion by Councillor Tilbury.
• Put a up motion to include requirements for better female representation and “Fair Play for Fair Pay” for clubs using council grounds to reduce the gender inequality – this was not supported by 7 councillors, only Greens councillors supported.
• Advocated for a purpose-built mountain bike trail that would allow higher usage and also allow for the protection of the critically endangered forest that currently hosts the trail.
• Assisted Northern District Hockey Club in obtaining a response to their DA.
• Exposed the toxic health, heat and injury risks for children from synthetic turf.

Roads and Traffic:

• Pushed for the $20 million traffic and road studies of New Line Rd to be publicly released, so we could advocate for easier and cheaper options to help improve pedestrian safety and traffic congestion due to the withdrawal of $70 million in road widening funding – this was rejected by 7 councillors, only 3 greens councillors supported.

Playgrounds:

• Enabled urgent upgrade of Wollundry Park, due to vandalism.
• Advocated against Beecroft Village Green upgrade being paid for out of Church sale funds, as no other suburb has had to fund their own park upgrade.
• Supported Normanhurst residents in securing a playground upgrade for Charles Curtis Park.

Environment:

• Secured 3000 more verge tree plantings in Cherrybrook.
• Supported the progression of vegetation mapping throughout the shire to enhance tree and vegetation protections.
• Advocated for tree hollows to be retained where possible as a refuge for wildlife, when trees are being pruned.
• Advocated against synthetic turf due to chemicals and microplastics entering bushland and waterways.
• Advocated for stronger protection of Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest which is a critically endangered ecological community, and Duffy’s Forest also endangered, at Westleigh.
• Advocated for the Off-Leash Dog Park proposal to be taken out of Fagan Park due to the placement on a slope above a dam and the resulting high impact of dog activity on water quality, and negative impact on foraging ability and habitat for migratory birds.

Native wildlife and animals:

• Guidelines and standards for the protection of wildlife on building sites adopted into LGNSW (Local Government NSW peak body) Policy.
• Initiated the first Growing Food for Wildlife Project in Hornsby Shire, a native orchard for wildlife carers to harvest food for injured and orphaned native animals.
• Mandatory cat containment adopted into LGNSW Policy.
• Advocated for wildlife crossings and warning signs.
• Advocated for tree shade to be mandatory for animals in fenced paddocks – this was not supported by 7 councillors, only Greens councillors supported.

Waste:

• Put up a motion to lobby state government to make businesses responsible for the waste they produce with packaging and goods – this was not supported by 7 councillors, only The Greens supported.
• Encouraged council to reduce promotional giveaway items.
• Encouraged council to reduce the use of synthetic banners on fencing.

Efficient Council:

• Advocated for less reliance on consultants to give staff opportunity to engage with community, develop skills and reduce ratepayer’s costs.

Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Representation:

• Advocated for a dedicated Indigenous position to advise Council.
• Advocated for the Scar Tree at Westleigh to remain in place and not be moved.
• Cr Monika Ball and Cr Tania Salitra active members on HATSICC (Hornsby Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consultative Committee).

Councillors Ball, Salitra and Heyde