Table of Contents
COMMENTARY
Since the Hawkesbury Council Chambers were built, the Hawkesbury Gazette has had a designated press desk—a modest but vital space for journalists to work during council meetings. Last night, however, our editorial team members returned to find it otherwise occupied.
Seated at the desk was the very pleasant Andrew Kearns, Hawkesbury’s Chief Strategic Planner. Mr. Kearns uses the press desk to position himself close to the microphone of the Director of City Planning, enabling him to respond quickly to Councillor queries on planning matters. Throughout the evening, we watched as he knelt on the floor beside the microphone to provide answers, while the Director of City Planning rolled her chair aside to accommodate him.
This unusual scene is the result of a significant staffing decision made in 2023, when Council—at the request of the General Manager—abandoned a merit-based recruitment process for the role of Director of City Planning. Rather than hiring a qualified applicant, an internal staff member was promoted and with the promise of upskilling into the position. The result key support staff now share the burden of leadership responsibilities in a public setting, while journalists are left perching laptops on their knees and juggling notes without a proper work surface.
Despite the challenges, several important matters came before Council last night that deserve the community’s attention.
1. Dual Occupancy Development Moves Forward
Council received praise from two speakers representing different business groups for their unusually rapid advancement of dual occupancy housing policies. Councillor Nathan Zamprogno commended Council staff for moving at “lightning speed,” a phrase not often heard in the context of local planning. Final approval is anticipated before the end of 2025, offering potentially significant opportunities for housing and development in the region.
2. Agreement with Hawkesbury Sports Council Deferred
Discussion around a proposed agreement between Hawkesbury Council and the Hawkesbury Sports Council stirred tensions. The agreement is intended to clearly define responsibilities between the two bodies and reduce Council’s exposure to legal and operational risk.
The Mayor, who is also a founding member of the Sports Council, downplayed the significance of any controversy, remarking: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” He went on to say the agreement required just two signatures—his and the Sports Council’s. Ultimately, the matter was deferred by vote, with the issue unresolved. The Gazette will be following this story.
- Vic 100 Bicycle Race Approved Despite BLOR Road Closure
Council also heard from Vic 100, an organisation hosting a charity cycling event to raise funds for three mental health organisations:
- Lifeline H2H (servicing Hawkesbury (Brooklyn) to the Lower North Shore from its Gordon office),
- Lifeline Macarthur (based in Campbelltown LGA),
- and Lifeline Bathurst.
The Vic 100 race will start at Penrith Park, travel up Bells Line of Road, and conclude at Mount Victoria, introducing cyclists and spectators to the Hawkesbury LGA along the way.
However, the event will require temporary closure of Bells Line of Road—on a Sunday, the busiest day for local tourism operators. To offset potential economic impacts, the organisers are offering free or low-cost stalls at the Mount Victoria finish line, allowing affected Hawkesbury businesses to sell goods and promote themselves to attendees.
Councillors acknowledged the value of the event—for both mental health and regional exposure—and voted in favour of the proposal. The Gazette will be following this story.
- Hawkesbury Boat Club Race Stymied by Lack of Campsite Decision
The final item of major interest was a request from the Hawkesbury Power Boat Club for permission to use a site in Windsor as a temporary camping area for an upcoming racing event, often described as the Bathurst of boat racing.
Organisers warned that participants are withdrawing due to a lack of available accommodation. While camping had previously been allowed on the site, no such approvals have been granted in the last five years, despite repeated requests from the club and affected local businesses.
The issue sparked a clear divide within the chamber. Several Councillors advocated strongly for a solution to be found in favour of the club, citing the event’s economic value to Windsor and the broader LGA. However, the General Manager intervened multiple times, reminding Councillors that the decision rests not with them, but with Council planning staff.
As the meeting concluded, the matter remained unresolved. The General Manager reiterated several times that it was now too late to do anything, with the event scheduled to take place in just three weeks while the Councillors pushed for a resolution. The Gazette will be following this story.
- We left before the blue...
The Gazette left the meeting with the last members of the public to speak on a matters on the Council agenda and didn't witness Councillors abusing each other before the close of the meeting.
Looking Ahead
While many residents may not follow Council meetings closely, last night’s session highlighted some deeper issues—particularly around community engagement, transparency, and the shifting balance of power in local government.
Since the 2017 changes to the Local Government Act, councillors have had their powers significantly curtailed when it comes to planning decisions, with those responsibilities transferred to unelected bureaucrats and Local Planning Panels. In exchange, councillors were given formal responsibility for employing the General Manager—a move intended to preserve democratic accountability within the system.
If councillors were our direct employer, most of us would probably go out of our way to keep them onside.
Yet with the press desk now repurposed to accommodate workarounds for usual bureaucratic staffing choices, it’s worth asking: What else has been happening while we have been absence?
