Exhibition of Review of Environmental Factors (REF)
Following adoption of the Hornsby Park Master Plan in July 2021, Hornsby Shire Council resolved on 8 March 2023 to undertake Stage 1 Embellishment Works for Hornsby Park.
It has been determined that the Stage 1 works can be approved under Part 5 of the New South Wales Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act).
In accordance with Part 5 of the EP&A Act, a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) was prepared and publicly exhibited from 27 April to 25 May 2023.
The purpose of the exhibition was to provide the community with the opportunity to provide feedback on the REF which would then enable Council to consider any possible adjustments to the Stage 1 elements.
The Public Exhibition of the REF was advertised online via Your Say Hornsby, in the local print newspapers, eNews, and the community were invited to provide feedback via an online submission form, in writing or via email.
There were 17 submissions received in response to the exhibition. Seven of these expressed support for the proposal, two were opposed and eight submissions contained mixed views, suggestions or recommendations.
- Read the Community Engagement Report (PDF 342kb)
Visit the Your Say Hornsby project page.
Consultation on the Master Plan
The draft Hornsby Park Master Plan was placed on exhibition from 21 April to 2 June 2021.
Our aim is for Hornsby Park to cater for and balance the diverse needs of the community, transforming the site and paying tribute to its rich historical and environmental values.
Building on the extensive community involvement in Hornsby Park over the last four years, where we asked the community for their high-level ideas on what they would like to see, do and experience at the park, engagement during the exhibition of the draft master plan sought to understand if the community felt we had balanced the various proposed uses of the park and placed activities in the most appropriate locations.
Over 1,200 people provided feedback during the public exhibition via:
- a map-based online survey
- phone survey
- written submissions
- comments at swing bys and site tours
- Community Deliberative Forum meetings
- Council Advisory Committee briefings and submissions
- stakeholder meetings and emails.
Information regarding the draft master plan and public exhibition was promoted and advertised through Council’s communication channels including:
- Have Your Say website
- Hornsby Park website
- Council eNews
- advertising in four local print publications
- Council rates notice
- social media posts
- digital advertising on Hornsby footbridge and screens in Westfield Hornsby
- postcards, information boards and posters.
Read the Engagement Outcomes Report for full details of the consultation.
At its General Meeting on 14 July 2021, Council formally adopted the Hornsby Park Master Plan.
Initial Engagement Campaign
Council will be engaging with the community on a regular basis until the new parkland is opened to the public.
Our initial engagement campaign, ‘Plan Your Parkland’ called for your high-level ideas on the activities, uses and attractions you’d like to see once the quarry site has been transformed. The activities undertaken included:
- ‘Plan Your Parkland’ website and social media – Complete
This website will be the primary source of information and point of contact for the local community. The wider community were invited to contribute their ideas by completing the online survey, making a written submission or uploading a design idea or images. - Community Deliberative Forum – Ongoing
To anchor the engagement process in the opinions of the community, a group of Hornsby Shire residents were randomly selected to assist Council in the engagement process and ensure the future of Hornsby Park is designed, owned, used, and loved by residents. They assisted Council to consider the initial outcomes from ‘Plan Your Parkland’, choose which ideas to take forward and review the final outcomes of the engagement. - Stakeholder Meetings – Round 1 Complete. Future sessions to be advised
Council will provide key stakeholders the opportunity to provide their ideas and visions for the future parkland. - ‘Plan Your Parkland’ Community Information and Feedback Sessions – Complete. Future sessions to be advised
A showcase of the design ideas collected through the ‘Plan your Parkland’ engagement activities were presented to the community on these days.
Community Information and Feedback Sessions Gallery - Plan Your Parkland Outcomes Report – June 2017 – Complete
Feedback received throughout the ‘Plan Your Parkland’ was analysed and a report was prepared outlining the key ideas and sentiments that were heard during the pre-design engagement process. Future stages of design development and engagement phases will be reported to the community.Download the ‘Plan Your Parkland ‘Outcomes Report - EIS Communication and Engagement – October/ November 2018 – Complete
Following the ‘Plan Your Parkland’ round of engagement of 2017, Council embarked on preparing an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) and submitted a Development Application for bulk earthworks that has now been approved by the Sydney North Planning Panel. The EIS provides information on how Council proposes to create a safe and flexible landform for the parkland. It addresses environmental impacts, mitigation measures and informed development consent decisions. In the lead-up to the EIS being publicly exhibited in early 2019, Council engaged with the community so that we had an understanding of what the document considers, and to inform the preparation of submissions during the exhibition period.[NB: The EIS does not deal with detailed landscape or recreation outcomes. A later stage of works – a more detailed phase for the development of specific landscape design and recreation outcomes for the future parkland – will follow and will be subject to separate engagement and approval processes, which may commence in 2019/ 2020]. Activities undertaken in October and November 2018 included:- Engagement by Council Staff/ members of the project team, and Elton Consulting staff:
- Councillor Briefing – 3 October
- CDF re-convened – 27 October
- Stakeholder Briefing – Environmental and Bushwalking groups – 30 October
- Swing-By Session in Hornsby Mall – 3 November
- Consultation by Engineering Consultancy, GHD
- Letters to surrounding 600 residential neighbours
- Community ‘Drop-In Sessions’ – 17 and 22 October
- Phone calls and Meetings with individuals on request
Download the ‘Outcomes Report – Hornsby Park EIS Communication and Engagement’
7. The Hornsby Quarry Rehabilitation Works Development Application (including the Response to Submissions and Revised Project Scope (RTS) December 2019) – Complete
The Hornsby Quarry Rehabilitation Works Development Application closed for comment on 13 January 2020. Community engagement for the landform earthwork/ rehabilitation proposals was undertaken in October/ November 2018 prior to lodgement of the DA/ EIS and in November/ December 2019 to explain changes made in response to submissions during the DA Exhibition phase.
Follow the link to review the Outcomes Report summarising the Response to Submissions (RTS) and feedback gained at the Swing-By Sessions during the DA Exhibition period.
The Hornsby Quarry Rehabilitation DA has now been approved by the Sydney North Planning Panel.
- Engagement by Council Staff/ members of the project team, and Elton Consulting staff:
To disseminate information about this project, we used a number of engagement methods including:
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- This dedicated website
- Posters and flyers displayed in Council facilities
- Ads and editorial coverage in the local papers
- Social media updates
- Emails to Council’s community mailing list
- Letters to neighbours, stakeholders and previous participants in the site’s Plan of Management
- George St footbridge digital display
To stay up to date on the next phase of engagement, please keep checking this website or subscribe to Council’s e-newsletter.