Residents of The Hills know all too well that our region is no stranger to natural disasters. The repeated flooding of the Hawkesbury River in recent years has been a reminder of how quickly conditions can change—and how vital timely, reliable information becomes during an emergency.
In the aftermath of those floods, many locals shared their experiences of water inundation, road closures, and the urgent need to evacuate animals. These conversations highlighted a clear gap: emergency information exists, but it is located in a myriad of places – residents needed a central, trustworthy source of real-time emergency updates fed from trusted sources.
Recognising this, I put forward a proposal to Council to explore creating an emergency dashboard—an online hub designed to deliver clear, accessible information. Council has since presented a Disaster Dashboard Content Management Platform to the Hills Shire Local Emergency Management Committee, seeking feedback and support.
Discussions ongoing, with a strong focus on ensuring the final product meets community expectations for accuracy, clarity, and ease of use. A few years ago, a platypus workshop that I attended at the Community Environment Centre in Annangrove sparked an important conversation about the health of our waterways.
During the workshop, participants collected observation data at known platypus habitats across the shire. Through conversations with the facilitators, it became clear that Council did not have a formal water quality monitoring program in place.
I raised my concerns with Councillors and staff, and the gap has now been addressed. Water quality monitoring has commenced across eight sites within the Shire, offering valuable insights into the condition of our creeks and streams. Recent results show encouraging signs: pH, phosphorus, and salinity levels generally align with healthy freshwater standards.
As expected, turbidity levels rose after rainfall due to natural runoff. However, the data also revealed areas needing closer attention. Two rural sites—Cataract Creek and Little Cattai Creek—showed indicators of potential impact, likely linked to nearby construction activity.
These locations have now been prioritised for ongoing monitoring to ensure any emerging issues are identified early. These initiatives reflect a commitment to protecting both our community and our environment.