Management
General Manager's Division
General Manager - Scott Phillips
As Chief Executive Officer, the General Manager implements the decisions of Council's elected representatives. He is also responsible for the day-to-day management of Council as a corporate organisation.
The General Manager's Division acts as a liaison between Councillors and staff in the effective development and implementation of policy decisions. This includes internal auditing and monitoring to ensure Council's services meet professional and industry standards and live up to community expectations.
Human Resources
Council's Human Resources branch manages employment, learning and development, occupational health and safety and payroll.
Strategy and Communications
The Strategy and Communications Branch handles Council's public affairs activities, including media liaison, event co-ordination, corporate communication and also coordinates Council's monthly Citizenship ceremonies. The team is also responsible for coordinating positive change within the Council, including setting strategic goals with management and the elected members. This branch also works to ensure Council is meeting community expectations in providing services to Hornsby Shire.
Internal Auditing
The Internal Auditor's role is to examine and evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of the systems of management / internal control established by Council in accordance with the Local Government Act, Regulations, Council Policy and the General Manager's instruction.
Key team:
- Executive Manager, Corporate & Community Services - Gary Bensley
- Executive Manager, Environment Services - Steve Federow (acting)
- Executive Manager, Planning - James Farrington (acting)
- Executive Manager, Works - Robert Stephens (acting)
- Manager, Human Resources - Jim Mitchell
- Manager, Strategy and Communications - Julie Williams
- Internal Auditor - Brian Thompson
Corporate and Community Division
Corporate and Community provides a wide range of external services to the community, and internal services to the organisation.
Executive Manager, Corporate & Community Division - Gary Bensley
The Corporate and Community Division is responsible for providing high quality and cost effective information, services and facilities and to identify, provide, co-ordinate and encourage support services and facilities which assist in developing and maintaining the quality of life for people in the Shire. The Corporate arm of the Division comprises the Governance and Customer Service, Financial Services and Information Systems Branches whilst the Community arm comprises the Library and Information Services and Community Services Branches.
Governance and Customer Service Branch
The Governance and Customer Service Branch provides a diverse range of services both to the organisation internally and to members of the public. These include: coordination of Council Meetings including the preparation of Agendas, Business Papers, and Minutes; Council's main Customer Service Unit; Council's Records Management Services; Risk and Insurance matters; public access to information held by Council in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) (GIPA) Act as well as Privacy Management issues. We also take care of a range of internal services such as the management of Council's light vehicles fleet, security for the Administration Building and the storage and retrieval of Council's Legal Documents. The Manager of the Governance and Customer Service Branch also holds the position of Council's Public Officer and Council's Privacy Contact Officer.
Financial Services Branch
The Financial Services Branch is responsible for raising and collecting rates, paying the bills, investing funds, co-ordinating and reporting on the annual budget, procurement sourcing and advice preparing GST and FBT returns and providing corporate financial advice.
Library & Information Services Branch
The Hornsby Shire Library and Information Service operates the Central Library in Hornsby, branches at Pennant Hills, Epping, Berowra and Galston, and a Home Library Service provides material to people who are incapacitated and unable to visit their local library. Each Library offers an information service and a variety of resources including books, magazines, DVDs and CD-ROMs to support education and recreational needs. The online catalogue, Community Directory and a range of database can be accessed from the Library web page, both at work and at home. The Library offers programs and seminars including storytime sessions, book clubs, internet and computer skills training, Higher School Certificate seminars, and family and local history presentations. Resources not held within the Shire may be obtained on Inter Library Loan.
Community Services Branch
Community Services operates out of the premises adjoining the Central Library on George Street, Hornsby. The Branch provides a range of services to all sections of the community, including Child Care, Youth Development, Over 55 services and events, Home Modification and Maintenance and Community Centre Management. The Branch is also active in Social Planning issues and provides advice on Access and Equity Issues to community based organisations.
Information Systems Branch
The Information Systems team is located on Level 1 of the main Council Administration building. The areas of focus are in continuous improvement and development of Council's Information Technology Systems, which includes the networking infrastructure and applications, communications systems, and internet services. Also, this Branch focuses on the continuous improvement of Council's business processes and associated use of the Corporate Software Solution through process review, ongoing improvements, and maximising the usage of this solution across the organisation.
Public Officer, Privacy Contact Officer and Right to Information Officer
Council has nominated the Manager, Governance and Customer Service Branch, as its Public Officer, Privacy Contact Officer and Right to Information Officer. Among other duties, the Public Officer may deal with requests from the public concerning the Council's affairs and has the responsibility of assisting people gain access to public documents of the Council.
The Privacy Contact Officer is responsible for responding to any concerns raised by members of the public regarding the collection, use and disclosure of their personal information and for ensuring Council's practices comply with the requirements of Council's Privacy Management Plan. The Right to Information Officer has overall responsibility for the determination of applications from the public for access to information held by Council.
Enquiries regarding the above areas of responsibility should be marked for the attention of either the Public Officer, Right to Information Officer, or Privacy Contact Officer and forwarded to:
The Manager, Governance and Customer Service,
Hornsby Shire Council, 296 Pacific Highway, Hornsby 2077
Post: PO Box 37, Hornsby 1630 Phone: (02) 9847 6608 (8.30am to 5pm, Mon - Fri)
Email: rabicair@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Key team:
- Manager, Governance and Customer Service - Robyn Abicair
- Manager, Community Services - David Johnston
- Manager, Financial Services - Glen Magus
- Manager, Information Systems - Craig Munns
- Manager, Library and Information Services - Cheryl Etheridge
Environment Division
Executive Manager - Stephen Federow (acting)
Your Council is committed to maintaining the natural beauty which makes Hornsby Shire a great place to live. The Environment Division looks after all of the environment you live in, from the bush and waterways to streets and shops.
We handle all Waste Management, including garbage collections, street sweeping, kerbside clean-ups and liquid waste removal from rural properties. The Environment Division also manages and promotes recycling throughout the Shire, operating a weekly service to collect paper, glass bottles and jars, plastic milk bottles, PET plastic bottles and aluminium cans.
Your Council is responsible for some 6,000 hectares of bushland, not including National Parks, the largest area of bushland under the control of a single Council in NSW. The Bushland and Biodiversity Team manages the bushland and works in partnership with volunteer Bush Care groups on projects including tree planting and bushland regeneration. The Water Catchments Team manages waterways to preserve and enhance these precious natural assets. They monitor the rivers and creeks and carry out projects to improve water quality.
Hornsby Shire's Open Space network also includes 174 developed parks. Council develops and maintains these parks in consultation with the community, including 134 playgrounds, 12 garden parks and 55 separate playing fields. The Parks and Landscapes Team also advises on and enforces Hornsby Shire's Tree Preservation Order, which is designed to protect the Shire's tree canopy.
Fire poses an annual threat to both bushland and properties. The Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Rural Fire Service, with more than 600 volunteer firefighters, works all year round to protect the Shire and promote fire safety.
Enforcing laws to protect the environment and raising community awareness is also a Council priority. The Environment Division carries out regular health studies of the Shire's food handling premises, enforces animal control regulations including dog registration and raises awareness of issues including dog control, immunisation, food safety and pollution. Council's Rangers and Honorary Rangers also patrol throughout the Shire to monitor and protect your recreation and bushland areas.
Key team:
- Manager, Bushland and Biodiversity - Diane Campbell
- Manager, Environmental Sustainability & Health - vacant
- Manager, Parks and Landscapes - Peter Kemp
- Manager, Waste Management - Rob Holliday
- Manager, Water Catchments - Ross McPherson
Planning Division
Executive Manager - James Farrington (acting)
The Planning Division seeks to strike a sustainable balance between meeting the needs of Hornsby Shire's growing population and protecting our natural environment.
The Town Services Planning Branch prepares comprehensive strategies for the development and future use of all land within the Shire. These include Local Environmental Plans, which determine what types of development are allowed in an area, and Development Control Plans, which set standards for developments including environmental protection, heritage conservation, social and economic considerations.
Three assessment teams consider all development applications. These teams comprise Environmental Health and Building Inspectors, Town Planners and Engineers. They provide expert evaluation of DAs to ensure that new developments comply with State laws and Council Local Environmental Plans and Development Control Plans. They also monitor development consents to ensure that conditions of approval are complied with.
Development applications are subject to rigorous inspections to ensure appropriate standards of health and safety are met. The Planning Division also issues building certificates, strata subdivision plans and investigates health and building complaints.
The Planning Division is supported by the Customer Service Branch, a team of officers responsible for handling over-the-counter and telephone enquiries and registering applications.
Customer Service staff are able to advise Council's customers on application procedures and give advice on the progress of applications.
Key team:
- Manager, Assessments Team (1) - Simon Evans
- Manager, Assessments Team (2) - Rodney Pickles
- Manager, Customer Service -
- Manager, Subdivisions - Paul David
- Manager, Town Planning Services -
Works Division
Executive Manager - Robert Stephens (acting)
The Works Division provides technical, management and education services to develop and maintain Hornsby Shire's infrastructure, including roads, drains and Council and community buildings and amenities.
Council is responsible for a Local Roads network including more than 1,300 local roads, 26 regional roads and more than 260 kilometres of footpaths. The Works Division carries out ongoing repairs to roads and footpaths, as well as planning and implementing road improvement programs. It also provides computerised mapping and land survey services and monitors and assesses street lighting.
For road users, Works manages the Shire's traffic needs, accommodating around half a million vehicle movements within Hornsby Shire every day. Traffic Engineering identifies and implements measures to improve traffic flow, reduce the risk of accident and increase driver and pedestrian safety.
Your Council's Drainage Systems play a vital role in maintaining the environment, through effective management of stormwater. There are 300 kilometres of drainage infrastructure throughout the Shire, requiring repair and maintenance. Works crews also carry out improvement projects to mitigate and control flooding, sediment build-up and pollution, while technical staff prepare policies including comprehensive Management Plans for water catchments.
At the other end of the waterways, the Works Division enhances some 200 km of foreshore, designing, building and maintaining public facilities including wharves, tidal pools, boat ramps and sea walls.
Community Buildings form a focal point for residents and community groups within your Shire. Council designs, constructs and maintains buildings and facilities including Community Centres, Senior Citizens Clubs, Child Care Centres, Libraries, public toilets and bus shelters. The Works Division is also responsible for maintaining and upgrading all Council administration buildings.
Council also operates three Aquatic Centres at Hornsby, Epping and Galston, offering heated swimming pools, fitness facilities and learn to swim lessons. New centres are planned for Cherrybrook and Berowra.
Key team:
- Manager, Aquatic Centres - Scott Hewitt
- Manager, Assets -
- Manager, Design and Construction - Rob Rajca
- Manager, Engineering Services - Peter Powell
- Manager, Property Development - Peter Thompson
- Manager, Traffic & Road Safety - Lawrence Nagy
- Works Support Co-ordinator - Lyndon Taylor
