Our thanks go to Mayor Ross Williams and Councillors Sanderson, Krassoi and McLaughlin who voted at Council’s meeting on 26th April for Agenda Item 4.3 Property Strategy (formerly the Draft Community Infrastructure Plan) to be subject to further community engagement before it is formally accepted.

A huge thank you also to those Trust members who took the trouble to write in with their own submissions or to attend the meeting to address Council.  There were some powerful and erudite presentations and we commend those residents who spoke so passionately.

Here are the outcomes of the main Agenda items:

4.1 Draft Hunters Hill Local Housing Strategy (LHS) Outcome of Public Exhibition

Despite the best efforts of Councillor Sanderson to achieve better outcomes, the LHS was adopted without substantial amendment, with the support of Councillors Miles, Collins, Krassoi and McLaughlin. Regrettably, there was little regard for the 37 submissions received, nearly 90% of which expressed concern about the impact on heritage and the environment and strong opposition to development over and above State targets.

4.2 Boronia Park sports and community facility

The Heritage Grandstand will not be restored even though the State Government Grant was given for that specific purpose plus the upgrade of sporting facilities.  The Rugby Club […]

The Hunters Hill Trust Journal Volume 59, No 2, December 2020 is available here.

As it is such an important new proposal, we have devoted this month’s Journal to providing information for members and the local community about the Draft Community Infrastructure Plan 2020 proposed by Council, which contains their ‘blueprint’ for our municipality for the next 10 years.

This edition includes:

• From the President’s Desk –  with a summary of the major issues
• The developments planned for the following locations:
  • Gladesville Road/Figtree Park
  • Town Hall, Council Administration Centre and Works Depot
  • Henley Precinct
  • Gladesville Commercial Centre
  • Special/Sole Purpose Facilities/Remnant Land
• Our members’ views on the above proposals
• The question of the $250m Public Spaces Legacy Program

A big thank you to everyone who took part in our survey.  We were delighted with the response and level of engagement and our Submission to Council, including a Position Statement of key messages drawn from your feedback is here.  

If you haven’t yet done a submission on the major changes proposed for our municipality, we would encourage you to do so, by the closing date of 9th November, to ensure your views are heard.  Email the General Manager, Mayor and Councillors at the following addresses: rosswilliams@huntershill.nsw.gov.au; bencollins@huntershill.nsw.gov.au; elizabethkrassoi@huntershill.nsw.gov.au; jimsanderson@huntershill.nsw.gov.au;  justinemclaughlin@huntershill.nsw.gov.au;  zacmiles@huntershill.nsw.gov.au;  miscamblel@huntershill.nsw.gov.au

We would like to bring your attention to Hunters Hill Council’s Draft Community Infrastructure Plan now on public exhibition and here is the link: https://www.huntershill.nsw.gov.au/participate/cip/

The Plan has a 10-year horizon, with short term actions and longer term projects built around “three key community hubs – The Village Green, Heritage and Cultural Facilities Hub and Lifestyle and Wellbeing Hub”.  At this stage we are being asked for our views on various proposals that will potentially change significant areas of our municipality.   For instance – in the absence of firm detail as to how the stated intentions for the Village Green (Figtree Park) Hub are going to be realised – the extent and number of facilities to be housed (including Council Admin moved from the Town Hall) plus an extra 1 or 2 new developments and associated parking will obviously have a considerable impact on the area with potential loss of trees and existing green space.

However to ensure your views are heard, email your feedback (subject Draft Community Infrastructure Plan 2020) to the General Manager and Councillors at: rosswilliams@huntershill.nsw.gov.au; […]

The Hunters Hill Trust Journal Volume 58, No 1, June 2020 is available here.

This edition includes:

• From the President’s Desk – Alister Sharp
  • Boronia Park Plan of Management
  • Revised Plan of Management for Riverglade Reserve
  • Council Matters
  • Oversight of Development Applications
• Final Plan of Management for Boronia Park
• The 1919 Influenza Epidemic in Sydney
• DA Updates
  • The Lost & Found Department – 39 Alexandra St
  • ‘Windemere’ – 25 Ernest St
  • 61 Downing Place
  • Loss of Sandstone Kerbs
• Vale Jack Mundey
• AGM Report

The Trust were shocked to discover the removal of a large section of heritage sandstone kerbing in Gladesville Road, alongside St Josephs College.  Astonishingly, this work has resulted in the replacement of the sandstone kerb stones with concrete and it is not known what has happened to the large blocks of hand hewn sandstone which have been removed.  This has drastically diminished the streetscape and setting for this landmark building.  Here is our letter to Council and please write to the General Manager Lisa Miscamble at miscamblel@huntershill.nsw.gov.au if you would also like to comment.

We now have an update from the General Manager at Hunters Hill Council who wrote that ‘the works were discussed with our Heritage Adviser at the time who advised that the sand stone gutter was not heritage listed, therefore appropriate infrastructure works could be undertaken.’   
However this does not explain what work necessitated their removal in the first place and ignores the fact that the kerbstones are ‘heritage’ items even if they are not ‘listed’.  In fact their removal goes against the Local Environmental Plan 2012 which states that one of the ‘particular aims’ is ‘to conserve Aboriginal heritage and European heritage that influence the character and identity […]