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Hawkesbury City Council is patting itself on the back for completing 112 out of 131 planned actions in the past six months, but beneath the headline numbers, some of the most important planning work for our region has once again been delayed or abandoned.
What’s Been Achieved
Council points to a long list of community wins, including:
- Adopting the Floodplain Risk Management Plan 2025 and pushing ahead with other major flood studies.
- Securing land at Wilberforce for the new Hawkesbury Fire Control Centre and finalising a masterplan with emergency services.
- Delivering a Child Safety Action Plan and community safety projects with NSW Police and Transport.
- Launching a Social Infrastructure Strategy to guide how parks, community centres and libraries are planned.
- Investing in sport and culture, with new management agreements, museum and gallery programs, and expanded disability inclusion and community sponsorships.
Council says these achievements show it is “delivering for the community.”
What’s Been Deferred
But not everything is moving forward. Seventeen projects have been deferred to future, including:
- The long-awaited review of the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) the document that shapes housing, development, and growth across Hawkesbury. This review is already years overdue.
- New developer contribution plans (including Vineyard), delayed while Council waits for costings and State grants.
- Critical environmental strategies like the Integrated Water Cycle Management Plan and the Nutrient Offset Framework, tied up in Sydney Water decisions.
These deferrals raise serious questions about whether Council is keeping pace with the infrastructure and planning demands of a growing region.
What’s Been Cancelled
Two projects have been quietly cancelled altogether:
- The Liquid Trade Waste Framework, which was meant to regulate how businesses manage wastewater.
- A smaller infrastructure policy item also dropped, again due to Sydney Water delays.
What Residents Are Saying to the Gazette
For many locals, the news feels like a case of “good enough on the small stuff but ducking the hard jobs.” Mick from North Richmond.
“They say they’ve ticked the boxes, but the things they keep pushing back are the ones that matter most. We’re being asked to pay nearly 40% more in rates and yet they still haven’t fixed the big planning issues.” Sonya from Richmond.
“Council talks about financial sustainability, but small businesses are already struggling. If they can’t get the Local Environmental Plan done, how are we meant to plan with confidence?” Mark from Windsor area.
“We moved here for a better life, but it feels like Council isn’t keeping up. Rates go up, childcare and housing are stretched, and the long-term plans keep getting delayed. Where’s the vision for the future?” says Chris Hawkesbury mother.
Gazette Commentary
On paper, an 85% completion rate looks like success. But the reality is that the projects Council keeps putting off, like the LEP, are the ones that most affect housing, development, and future growth.
Residents are being told to brace for a 40% rate hike over the next four years, yet Council is still deferring major planning responsibilities. For many in the community, this feels like a Council quick to take more and never deliver on a desperately needed long-term planning.
The Gazette will continue to track these deferrals closely, especially the stalled LEP review, to ensure Hawkesbury residents are not left in the dark about the plans shaping our future.
