General information

Location:  Administration Centre
Street Address:  296 Pacific Highway, Hornsby NSW 2077
Postal Address:  PO Box 37, Hornsby NSW 1630
DX: 9655 Hornsby
(02) 9847 6666
(02) 9847 6999
TTY:  (02) 9847 6577
mailto:hsc@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
Opening hours:  Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm

Welcome to the website of the Bushland Shire, brought to you by Hornsby Shire Council.

From Pearces Corner to Wisemans Ferry and from Beecroft to Brooklyn, Hornsby Shire is a vibrant and beautiful place to visit and to live. As you explore this site you'll discover the range of services provided by your council as well as the many ways you can take part in the decisions and operations of your local government.

Hornsby Shire Council is a member of the Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC) -  www.nsroc.org. 

Part of the beauty of Hornsby Shire is its rich human and natural heritage. In recognition of the region's Indigenous culture, the following statement is read by the Mayor at the beginning of each council meeting:

We recognise the traditional inhabitants of the land we are meeting on tonight, the Darug and Guringai Aboriginal people, and respect is paid to their elders and their heritage.

Council Meetings

Want to become involved in the decision-making process of Council? You are welcome to come along to Council's weekly meetings. All meetings of Council are open to the public except when dealing with specified confidential matters.

Council meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays each month at 6.30pm to deal with planning issues. Ordinary meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6.30pm and deal with matters other than planning.  Informal Workshops are held on the 4th Wednesday of each month as required to consider relevant items, especially those where a presentation by Council Staff or external organisation is required. Meetings are held in the Council Chambers at 296 Pacific Highway, Hornsby.

Link to the Schedule of Meetings

Business Papers

Business Papers are prepared for each Council Meeting. The Business Paper outlines the matters which will be considered at the Meeting.

If you would like a copy of Council's Business Paper for a particular meeting or a particular item you can:

• View one at your local Library (and make copies)
• Collect one at the Council meeting
• Come to Council and request a copy
• Ring Council and we will send you a copy
• Email Council at hsc@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
• Look up Council's Electronic Business Papers

Addressing Council Meetings - Speak Up

Ordinary and Workshop Meetings (2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month)

Public Forum speaking during Council's Ordinary and Workshop Meetings will be made available as each item comes up for discussion.  This allows you to have your say about any issue Council is considering.  Residents/visitors may speak for a maximum of four (4) minutes on any particular issue.  Persons who wish to speak on matters which are not included on the agenda will be permitted to do so after all items on the Business Paper, in respect of which there is a Public Forum speaker, have been finalised by Council.

A person wishing to speak on an item not on the agenda is to contact Council's Minutes Secretary, on (02) 9847 6836 as early as practicable and in any case by 4.00 pm on the day before the Meeting, to have their name and subject matter recorded on a Speaker's registration form.  Alternatively, you may wish to email us at hsc@hornsby.nsw.gov.au.  Priority will be given to those persons who have made a booking prior to the Meeting.

Planning Meetings (1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month)

As for Ordinary and Workshop Meetings, public forum speaking during Council's Planning Meetings will be made available as each item comes up for discussion.  This allows you to have your say about any issue Council is considering.  Residents/visitors may speak for a maximum of three (3) minutes on any particular issue on the Agenda.  Persons will not be allowed to address Council on non agenda items at Planning Meetings.

Registration prior to the meeting is not necessary for Planning Meetings, however you should fill out a speaker form on your arrival and hand it to the Meeting Attendant.

Council's Public Forum Policy for speaking at the meeting.

You might also like to visit Council's Code of Meeting Practice.

Information for Assignments

The first place you should visit if you require assistance with school assignments is Hornsby Library, located on George Street, Hornsby. Alternatively you could call the library on (02) 9847 6811.

Here is some information that might help you get started

Hornsby Shire Council is currently governed by nine Councillors and a popularly elected Mayor, who are all elected every four years, by its residents. The Councillors' role is to direct and control the affairs of Council according to the Local Government Act and other relevant legislation. Councillors are required to represent the interests of residents and ratepayers, provide leadership and guidance to the community and encourage communication between Council and the community.

Councillor Information

The General Manager is the Chief Executive Officer of the Council and is responsible for implementing its decisions. The General Manager is also responsible for day-to-day management, exercising any functions delegated by Council, appointing, directing, and dismissing staff and implementing Council's equal opportunity management plan.

Did You Know?

Method of Electing the Mayor

In the past, the Mayor of Hornsby Shire Council was elected by the Councillors in September of each year.  At the most recent Local Government Election held in March 2004, this process changed and the Mayor was elected by all electors from across the Hornsby Shire, i.e. popularly elected Mayor.  The Mayor has the same role as a Councillor and also takes on additional responsibilities such as attending various functions on behalf of the Councillors and the Council, carrying out the civic and ceremonial functions, and chairing weekly Council Meetings. He is the 'public face' of Council. 

Every 4 years, Local Government Elections are held across the State. The returning officer (a person appointed by the Electoral Commission) calls for nominations for Mayor and/or Councillor. People wishing to run for election are required to lodge their nomination, which must be accompanied by a prescribed fee, and signed by two other persons, who are enrolled to vote on the electoral roll. Candidates must be enrolled to vote in the area that they wish to represent.

Candidates then seek the support of members of their community. At the Local Government Elections held in March 2004, the total number of Councillors elected was ten (10), three from each of the three Wards, and including a popularly elected Mayor as described above. 

If you have any queries regarding this Web page, or you require additional information, please contact Council's Administration Centre on (02) 9847 6566