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.’
