Executive
SUMMARY
2 0 2 3 - 2 0 2 4
The Hills Shire Council
DRAFT
The Executive Summary of the Hills Shire Plan summarises the Hills Shire Plan Delivery Program Actions and provides a Budget Snapshot. For more detailed information please refer to the complete Hills Shire Plan document available on Council’s website.
THE HILLS SHIRE
NEW SOUTH WALES
SYDNEY
SUBURBS
27 386
km2AREA
VEN NS FERRY
X HILL GR
BELLA VISTA BEA
WISEMANS FERRY
LEETSVALE
MAROOTA LOWER PORTLAND
SACKVILLE NORTH
SOUTH MAROOTA
CATTAI
GLENORIE
MIDDLE DURAL
DURAL MARAYLYA
BOX HILL
KENTHURST ANNANGR
OVE ROUSE HILL
BEAUMONT HILLS KELLYVILLE
GLENHA VEN
CASTLE HILL
BAULKHAM HILLS WEST PENNANT HILLS NORTH ROCKS
BELLA VISTA NELSON
NORWEST NORTH KELLYVILLE GABLES
Hills Shire Plan Snapshot
EDUCATION
17.6%
university or higher
COUPLE FAMILY WITH CHILDREN
59.2%
32,140
HOUSING TENURE
Owned with a mortgage Owned outrightRented
Other/not stated
Mortgage households with repayments greater than 30%
of household income
POPULATION
Male
Female
Median Age
201,688*
49.3%
50.7%
38
FAMILIES
Average number of children per family
for families with children
for all families
54,291
1.9 1.1
PRIVATE DWELLINGS
Average no. people per household
Median weekly household income
Median monthly mortgage repayments
Median weekly rent Average number of motor vehicles per dwelling
64,041
3.1
$2,831
$3,000
$580 2.1
VOLUNTEERING
13.7%
Did voluntary work through an organisation or group (last 12 months)
57.5%
Hills residents born in Australia
6.4%
Born in China
2.7%
Born in the UK
6.6%
Born in India
COUNTRY OF BIRTH, TOP RESPONSES
1.8%
Born in the Philippines
1.7%
Born in South Korea
DWELLING TYPE
18.7%
Medium or high density
THE HILLS WORKFORCE
31%
are local residents
LANGUAGES USED AT HOME
44.2%
use a non-English language at home
46.1%
31%
20.4%
2.5%
18.8%
from 157,243 (2016)The Hills Shire Community
*estimate 2023 (Profile Id)
Total Recurrent Income 2023-2024 $197.2M
Interest & Investment Revenue
Rates & Annual Charges Domestic Waste &
Stormwater Charges
Other Revenues User Fees & Charges
COUNCIL’S SOURCES OF REVENUE
Managing Our Money
Budget by Theme
Building a Vibrant Community &
Prosperous Economy
Proactive Leadership Shaping Growth
Delivering & Maintaining Infrastructure
Valuing Our Surroundings
$50.2M $9.3M $11.2M
$155.1M $59.4M
Total Expenditure of $285.2M plus depreciation of $27M comprises of:
• Recurrent Expenditure
$188.2M
• Capital Purchases
& Capital Works Expenditure - $124.1M (of which $88.5M is funded from Developer Contributions).
45.9%
19%
15.3%
3.4% 7%
9.5%
Grants & Contributions
Excludes depreciation of $27M
Current Actions
• Investigate the feasibility of providing a second Aquatic Centre along with the update of the Recreational Strategy. Estimated completion - 23-24.
• Investigate the feasibility of a Performing Arts Centre. Estimated completion - 24-25.
• Undertake an internal desktop review of the current events program along with any budget implications. Estimated completion - 23-24.
New Actions
• Undertake a feasibility study on Child Care centre operations. Estimated completion - 23-24.
• Prepare a brief including updating the 2014 Cultural Strategy and consideration of a site for a permanent stage and crowd capacity aligned with LGA population growth expectations and then provide a briefing to a future Councillor Workshop. Estimated completion - 23-24.
$50.2M
Aged & Disability
$7.4M
Providing Child Care Services
$6.4M
Library Services
$8.4M
SES & Bushfire Operations
$5.3M
Promote Economic
& Business Growth
$0.6M
$
Community Events
$1.9M
Communications
& Marketing
$1.3M
Community Buildings
& Venue Hire
$4.2M
Community
Services & Donations
$3.3M
Community Buildings Capital Renewal
$3.6M
Pensioner Subsidy
$1.3M
Waves Fitness
& Aquatic Centre
$6.5M
Building a Vibrant Community
& Prosperous Economy
18% of total budget of $285.2 MILLION
Governance Activities
$9.3M
Current Action
• Undertake a review of the Community Engagement Strategy along with any budget implications as part of the next Delivery Program with any identified actions then being able to be considered for future budget allocations as required. Estimated completion - 23-24.
$9.3M
Proactive Leadership
3% of total budget of $285.2 MILLION
Land use & developer contributions planning Infrastructure planning
for all assets & asset inspections
$6.5M $4.2M
Current Actions from previous Council term
• Revisit Master Plan and then the town planning controls re Baulkham Hills Town Centre. Estimated completion - 23-24.
• Develop car parking policy for Council Centres (Castle Hill, Rouse Hill, Baulkham Hills). Estimated completion - 23-24.
New Actions
• Provide a briefing to a future Councillor Workshop on neurodiverse facilities incorporated into the design of parks and playgrounds. Estimated completion - 23-24.
• Undertake a review of the location of existing community amenities and advocate as appropriate. Estimated completion - 23-24.
• Provide a briefing to a future Councillor Workshop when information is available for Council to consider updating the Recreation Strategy which includes Tracks & Trails and water based nature play. Estimated completion - 23-24.
• Provide a briefing to a future Councillor Workshop when information is available on options for the SES Headquarters site. Estimated completion - 23-24.
• Undertake an affordable housing review with the scheduled review of the LSPS and Housing Strategy. Estimated completion - 24-25.
• Prepare Draft Precinct Plan for Terminus Street site. Estimated completion - 24-25.
$11.2M
Shaping Growth
4% of total budget of $285.2 MILLION
WestInvest Project Management
$0.5M
BIG TICKET ITEMS
Infrastructure Design
& Project Management
Traffic Facilities
New Footpaths, Cycleways & Bridges
Street Lighting
$1.8M
$3.8M
$6.2M
$7.6M
Acquiring Land for Open Space Embellishment
$37.0M
Various New Parks Construction
$1.5M
Renewal of existing Parks & Gardens
$9.0M
Purchase of Plant &
Equipment
$6.0M
Storm Water &
Waterways Projects
$7.2M
Maintain Existing Parks & Bushland
$17.6M
Maintain Civil Assets
$13.3M
Annangrove Road, Rouse Hill construction
$18.8M
The Waterlane Reserve Box Hill playing fields
$4.9M
New & Renewal of Existing Roads
$14.1M
Fred Caterson Reserve Castle Hill expansion
$4.5M
Current Action from Previous Council Term
• To conduct a strategic review of total field maintenance costs and cost recovery principles for grass sports fields including turf wickets and report back to Council. Estimated completion - 23-24.
$155.1M
Delivering & Maintaining Infrastructure
54% of total budget of $285.2 MILLION
WestInvest Project
$1.8M
Waste & Recycling
Environmental Sustainability
$2.1M
$36.4M
Regulatory Services
$5.7M
Development Assessments
$7.9M
Environmental Public Health & Monitoring
$2.5M
Subdivision &
Development Certification
$4.8M
Current Action from Previous Council Term
• Update current DCP to include Public Domain and Character Controls.
Estimated completion - 23-24.
New Actions
• Undertake a review and provide a briefing of Council’s DCP to consider provision of EV charging capability for residential development and develop guidelines to ensure providers are aware of Council’s requirement when EV infrastructure is proposed. Estimated completion - 23-24.
$59.4M
Valuing Our Surrounds
21% of total budget of $285.2 MILLION
Indigenous smoking ceremony at the opening of Waves Fitness & Aquatic Centre
$9.0
MILLION
This budget drives actions now for our Shire’s future. It provides the infrastructure and services to meet our future challenges. It outlines a commitment to retaining our quality of life through projects and planning that foster continued business and population growth.
Asset renewal ratio well above industry standards indicating we are renewing our assets, relative to the rate they are depreciating.
Financial sustainability is strong and expected to continue.
- --
WHAT WE HAVE
WHAT WE OWE
WHAT WE HAVE
ASSETS Cash &
investments
$423M
$40M
Debtorsprepayment inventory
$4,166M
InfrastructureLIABILITIES
$152M
Creditors Employee entitlements
EQUITY
$4,477M
Unrestricted current ratio will remain well above
benchmarks over the long term indicating sound
liquidity.
OPERATING SURPLUS
NET WORTH
• Unrestricted current ratio will remain well above benchmarks over the long-term, indicating sound liquidity.
• Rates income represents 46% of total income. The general rate increase for FY23/24 of 4.2% equates to 72 cents per week for an average residential assessment of around $1,168 per annum.
• High priority given for capital infrastructure spending of $118M
• Sufficient asset renewal spending to maintain assets at acceptable standards.
• Operating surplus of $9M and this trend is forecast to continue.
Financial Highlights
Looking Ahead
Council is DEBT FREE and has been since 2002.
Our Assets & Liabilities
(as at 30 June 2022)THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL
3 Columbia Court Norwest NSW 2153
PO Box 7064, Norwest 2153 Ph: +61 2 9843 0555 Fax: +61 2 9843 0409
Website: www.thehills.nsw.gov.au Facebook: TheHillsShireCouncil Twitter: @TheHillsCouncil YouTube: TheHillsShireCouncil Instagram: thesydneyhills