Investing in Your Future – Have your say

Ratepayers will soon receive a special information pack with their rates notice called ‘Investing in Your Future’. It’s about a proposal for a Special Rate Variation that would commence in July 2018.

The Investing in Your Future brochure outlines three funding options for community members to consider.

Each option will have a different outcome in terms of the standards to which Council manages its assets and delivers its services.

This information pack is just the start of the important community consultation by Council about Investing in Your Future, as the Mayor of Hawkesbury, Councillor Mary Lyons-Buckett explained.

“Many of you in our community have already seen Council staff and Councillors actively engaging with our community about the future of our Council,” the Mayor said.

“Now we need your input to help us with some important decisions about our community assets and services.”

As part of this, Council will have town meetings, an online survey, information kiosks at shopping centres and markets and a telephone survey. Information will also be available online and in publications.

“As a first step, you can have your say by returning the reply paid postcard with your rates notices or by participating in the online survey at www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au/investing- in-yourfuture,” she said.

The postcard offers three options for local assets: 1. Reduce 2. Stabilise or 3. Improve.

“Like most councils in NSW, we have reached a point where we need to invest more resources in renewing and maintaining our ageing assets, like our roads, buildings and parks,” the Mayor continued.

“Residents have told Council that the condition of many of our assets are not meeting their expectations, and that Council needs to invest more money in maintaining and upgrading our assets and services.

“They have also told us which assets were more important to them and they identified roads as a priority followed by the condition of our town centres and public spaces, stormwater drains, footpaths and parks.”

For further information, attend one of the many public meetings or information kiosks being held throughout the Hawkesbury – location and times available at www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au and you can also have your say by returning the reply paid postcard with your rates notices or by participating in the online survey at www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au/investing- in-yourfuture

For more information, visit www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au or call Customer Service on 4560 4444.

Town meetings:

Tuesday, 18 July @ 6pm Glossodia Community Centre, Glossodia

Wednesday, 19 July @ 6pm Tiningi Community Centre, Bligh Park

Thursday, 20 July @ 6pm Horrie Eley Memorial Hall, Colo Heights

Wednesday, 26 July @ 6pm Windsor Function Centre, Windsor

Thursday, 27 July @ 6:30pm North Richmond Community Centre, North Richmond

Monday, 31 July @ 6:30pm Pitt Town Anglican Church, Pitt Town

Wednesday, 2 August @ 6pm Maraylya Hall, Maraylya

Thursday, 3 August @ 7:30pm McMahons Park Community Centre, Kurrajong

Thursday, 10 August @ 6pm Hawkesbury Leisure and Learning Centre, Richmond

* This session is being held at an accessible facility with AUSLAN interpreters available. Transport assistance to this meeting is available on request.

Saturday, 12 August @ 11am St Albans School of Arts, St Albans

Information kiosks

Saturday, 15 July @ 9am Glossodia Shopping Centre, Glossodia

Saturday, 15 July @ 9am McLeod Park Markets, South Windsor

Monday, 17 July @ 9am Bligh Park Shops, Bligh Park

Saturday, 22 July @ 9am Windsor Marketplace (Woolworths), Windsor

Saturday, 22 July @ 9am North Richmond Village, North Richmond

Sunday, 23 July @ 9am Windsor Mall Markets, Windsor Mall

Monday, 24 July @ 9am Windsor Riverview (Coles), Windsor

Saturday, 29 July @ 9am Richmond Good Food Markets, Richmond Park

Saturday, 29 July @ 9am Bilpin Markets, Bilpin

Saturday, 5 August @ 9am Wilberforce Village Shops, Wilberforce

Monday, 7 August @ 9am Richmond Marketplace, Richmond

Remember, this is how you can join in:

 Attend an information kiosk at your local shopping centres and markets during July and August. For details go online www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au

 Choose your option and then return the ‘Investing in Your Future’ postage paid postcard.

 Participate in Council's telephone survey through Micromex Research

 Complete a survey online at www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au/investing- in-your- future

Community consultation for Investing in Your Future will conclude on Sunday, 13 August 2017.