From the Mayor's Desk

The event many of you have long been waiting for has arrived: the release of the draft master plans for Hornsby Park and Westleigh Park. I know just how much the community has been looking forward to this because of how often I am asked about them. These plans present a range of ideas on how the sites could be used and are not development applications. Hornsby Park is especially anticipated, as it will create a vast new open space just a few minutes’ walk from Hornsby Station. A big part of it is the rehabilitated Hornsby Quarry, which was filled in using material from the recently completed NorthConnex Tunnel. It includes facilities for walking, cycling, mountain biking, climbing, field sports and other activities. Westleigh Park will be a sports and recreation complex with multiple facilities, including sporting fields with lights, a synthetic grass sportsground, an athletics track, amenities buildings, internal access roads and carparks. There will also be bushland restoration, play facilities, bushwalking trails and mountain bike trails. The draft master plan proposes ideas on how these activities could be accommodated on the site and protect the existing good value bushland, while balancing the needs of a range of stakeholders.Council does not currently have the funds to pursue both projects to their full completion, but will undertake them in stages. The top priority will be Hornsby Park. A core goal of this project from the beginning has been to have active and ongoing community consultation. We want to hear your thoughts on the ideas presented. Please visit hornsby.nsw.gov.au/yoursay to see the draft master plans. Philip Ruddock AO Mayor Hornsby Shire Council