Hornsby Shire Council

11/06/2026

Join us next Wednesday evening for our next Learner Driver webinar 👋💡

📆 Wednesday 17 June
🕐 6-7.30pm
📍online via Teams

The FREE session offers practical advice and information to parents, carers and supervisors on how to help learner drivers become safer drivers, including information about the current laws for L and P licence holders and completing the learner driver logbook.

👉Learn more and register at www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/learnerdrivers

11/06/2026

Your Council met last night and here’s what you need to know 👇

Council has endorsed its draft Long Term Financial Plan, outlining how it will deliver essential services and maintain assets over the next 10 years while remaining financially sustainable. The plan shows an improved financial outlook and will be on public exhibition until 9 July 2026.

💁‍♀️ Have your say at: https://yoursay.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/draft-long-term-financial-plan-202627-203536

Council also considered two major NSW Government planning reform proposals, raising concerns about the potential impacts on local communities, environment and planning outcomes. Both submissions will be provided to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure seeking changes to the reforms.

Also at the meeting, Council:
👉 Adopted the draft Hornsby Shire Destination Management Plan
👉 Adopted the 2026-2030 Delivery Program and 2026/27 Operational Plan including the Budget and 2026/27 Fees and Charges, subject to the incorporation of noted recommendations
👉 Endorsed progression of the Hornsby Town Centre Special Entertainment Precinct Planning Proposal to Gateway Determination and exhibition
👉 Endorsed the draft Exempt Council Led Advertising Signage Planning Proposal to Gateway Determination and exhibition
👉 Endorsed the draft Archaeology Heritage Study, draft Landscape Heritage Study, draft Built Heritage Study and draft Heritage Conservation Areas Study for exhibition
👉 Approved a 3.7% increase in Councillor and Mayoral fees for the 2026/27 financial year, based on the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal’s 2026 Report and Determination
👉 Determined to reinstate the 2022 Code of Meeting Practice.

📌 You can access the full minutes of the meeting from 5pm this Friday at: https://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/meetings

📑 Read more about the meeting outcomes in the media release on our website, at: www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au

🎥 Meeting recording available Friday: https://hornsby.webcastcloud.tv

11/06/2026

After an incredible response from the community, the finalists for the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Local Business Awards have been revealed with 276 outstanding local businesses making the list!

🔗 Check out the full list: www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/Business/Local-Business-Awards

We’re proud to be a long standing major sponsor of these awards, celebrating the passion, dedication and hard work that keeps our local economy thriving.

👏 Congratulations to all finalists! We look forward to celebrating with you at the Awards Presentation Evening at Hornsby RSL Club on Monday 13 July 2026.

Local Business Awards

10/06/2026

Got something that needs fixing? 🔧Great news - our second Repair Day of the year is coming to Storey Park Community Centre, Hornsby on Saturday 20 June!

There are still spaces available for:
🛠 Repair Café – Electronic Sessions. Don’t miss out on your chance to give your broken electronics a second life and keep them out of the landfill.

🚲 Bicycle Repair workshop to learn the essentials: safety checks, chain care, wheel alignment and puncture repair plus personalised advice for your own bike.

🪡 Stitch and Fix: clothes mending workshop. Learn how to sew buttons, patch holes, hem like a pro and try visible mending to give your favourite clothes a second life.

Perfect for beginners and anyone keen to refresh their skills.

👉 Bookings are essential at: www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Sustainability/Workshops-and-education

10/06/2026

This meet Gymnopilus allantopus, also known as the golden wood fungus or rust gill fungi! 🍄‍🟫

These small, 15–45mm, rusty-orange mushrooms pop up in autumn and winter, adding bursts of colour to our forest floors. You’ll often spot them on decaying wood, where they play an important role recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Look for their orange-brown gills and white patches along the cap edge.

⚠️ Always be cautious with fungi and wash your hand well if you touch them.

Now’s the perfect time to go exploring! Keep an eye out in damp, sheltered forests across Hornsby and consider joining a local fungi or guided bushwalk to learn more.
👉 www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/bushwalks

👀 Have you spotted any? Share your photos with us below 👇

Images credits via iNaturalist (in order)


(under UV light)
All photos shared under a CC-BY-NC or CC-BY

10/06/2026

House cold in winter and hot in summer? Try this simple hack 👇

Seal the small gaps around doors and windows. It’s one of the quickest ways to stop heat escaping (and cut those power bills).

Want more easy hacks like this? Join our FREE Comfortable Homes in Summer and Winter webinar and learn how to make your home more comfortable year-round.

🗓 Wednesday 17 June
⏰ 6:30–7:30pm
🎤 Presented by Your Energy Friend, Adam Corrigan

Plus – borrow a free thermal detector from our libraries to spot hidden draughts in your home.

👉 Book your spot now: https://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/Community/Events/Sustainability-waste-events-folder/Comfortable-Homes-in-Summer-and-Winter-Free-Webinar

09/06/2026

Your Council is meeting this Wednesday 10 June for a General Meeting at 7pm.

Here are the key items on the agenda:
📝 Planning Proposal - Hornsby Town Centre - Special Entertainment Precinct
📝 Draft Destination Management Plan - Feedback from Public Exhibition
📝 Adoption of 2026-2030 Delivery Program and 2026/27 Operational Plan
📝 Draft Long Term Financial Plan 2026/27 to 2035/36 for Public Exhibition
📝 Local Government Remuneration Tribunal - 2026 Report and Determination - Mayor and Councillor Fees - 2026/27 Financial Year
📝 Report on Submissions - Planning Proposal - Exempt Provisions for Council Led Advertising Signage
📝 Hornsby Heritage Studies 2026

👉 The full agenda is available in the Business Papers for the meeting (via this link): https://www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/meetings

👉 The Public Forum for this meeting will be held prior at 5.30pm and is open to everyone. It will also be live streamed.

👉 Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or watch online.

⚠️ Information on how to attend the Council meetings and Public Forum can be found on our website: www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/Council/About-Council/Council-meetings

09/06/2026

📚⚠️ Pennant Hills Library will be closed for refurbishments from 15–30 June, reopening 1 July. Further details below 👇

PENNANT HILLS LIBRARY TEMPORARY CLOSURE 📚⚠️| Pennant Hills Library will be closed for refurbishments from 15 June to 30 June inclusive.

🎉 We’re excited to welcome you back to a newly refreshed library, reopening on Wednesday 1 July!

What you need to know:
✅ Due dates for Pennant Hills loans will be extended until reopening.
✅ The returns chute will remain accessible throughout the closure.
✅ Hornsby, Berowra and Galston libraries will continue operating as usual.

For any enquiries, please contact Hornsby Library on 9847 6813.

07/06/2026

Looking for something to do this week? There’s plenty happening this week 👇🏽

❄️ Winter Reads - ends 31 August
Prizes for adults and teens 16+
Online (paper copies available)

🔖 Tuesday Chill Zone - Term 2
Tuesday 9 June 4-5pm
Hornsby Library, free, 5-12 year olds

🗣 Community Connections at Hornsby Library
featuring Lifeline Harbour to Hawkesbury Sydney and Mission Australia
Wednesday 10 June 10am-1pm
Hornsby Library, free

📖 Meet the Author – Kathryn Heyman
Wednesday 10 June 6.30-7.30pm
Hornsby Library, free, bookings essential

☕ Hello Hornsby Coffee and Chat
Thursday 11 June 10am-12pm
Wollundry Park, Pennant Hills, free, drop-in

💚 Lifeline Connect Drop In
Thursday 11 June 1-5.30pm
Hornsby Library, free

🚶‍♂️ Lloyd Trig and Deerubbin loop bushwalk, Cowan
Sunday 14 June 9am-1pm
Cowan, free, bookings essential

👉🏼 www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/whatson
🔊 Hosting an event? Submit it here: www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/submityourevent

05/06/2026

🌏 This World Environment Day, scientists warn we’re likely to pass a key global warming threshold within the decade. But there’s good news, real action is happening right here in Hornsby Shire 👇

☀️ Renewable energy is the cheapest option
Over 37% of local households have already made the switch to solar.
Start your home energy journey 👉www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Sustainability/Workshops-and-education

🚗 Electric vehicles are on the rise
We have installed 4 EV chargers, with 20 more kerbside chargers are coming soon to Hornsby Shire.

🍃 Cutting food waste is one of the fastest climate wins
Learn how to compost or start a worm farm through https://idigcompost.com.au or a free workshop. Plus receive a 50% voucher for a compost bin or worm farm.

🌱 Nature is part of the solution
Mangrove forests along the lower Hawkesbury River absorb carbon at twice the rate of forests on dry land. See how we’re growing these at Warada Ngurang Community Nursery 👉 www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tuwd65jata0

For more info on how you can do your part, visit: www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/Environment/Sustainability