NSW · North-Western Sydney (Hawkesbury) · Local council, made simple
Hawkesbury City Council
A large, largely rural north-western Sydney council on the Hawkesbury River — around 68,700 people across historic river towns like Windsor and Richmond and rural localities from Pitt Town to Bilpin, and home to RAAF Base Richmond. Much of the LGA is flood-prone, and the council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, libraries, parks, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.
Everyday essentials
The things people actually need from the council — fast.
Open for your feedback
See all →Things Hawkesbury City Council wants your say on right now. Your view counts for more before the deadline.
- Open — see source for the closing date
Bradley Road Reserve Playground
Have your say → - Open — see source for the closing date
Hawkesbury Streets: Activate and Celebrate
Have your say → - Open — see source for the closing date
Exhibition of Planning Proposal LEP002/25 (PP - 2025-1561)
Have your say →
Get to know your council
The basics, in one tap — open any card for key facts and a link to the official source.
This year's rate rise, how it compares across NSW, and why bills differ.
2026–27: 8.66% special rate variation (year 1 of 4)
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
Meets 5 of 9 OLG financial benchmarks
Open →Crime & safetyHawkesbury's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
11 of 12 major offences below the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Les Sheather (Independent)
Open →Elections & votingWhen the next council election is, and how voting works.
Next election: Sat 9 Sep 2028
Open →Contact & servicesHow to reach the council and report a problem.
Customer service: (02) 4560 4444
Open →City profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~68,700
Open →What's happening
17 updatesAuto-collected from Hawkesbury City Council's public channels and drafted in plain language (pending review).
- Have your say
Additional Slab Barn Heritage Listings
Council is exhibiting a Planning Proposal that seeks to amend the Hawkesbury Local Environmental Plan 2012 to add 11 new local heritage items, amend 16 existing items and remove 1 item from Schedule 5 Part 1.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Presentation of Financial Statement
In accordance with Section 418 (3) of the Local Government Act 1993 (NSW), Hawkesbury City Council advises that the ordinary Council meeting to be held on Tuesday, 17 November 2026 will include the presentation of the audited Financial Statements and the Auditor's Reports for the financial year ending 30 June 2026.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Waste
Proposed Easement - Deerubbin Park
At its meeting on 13 October 2026, Council considered a report seeking endorsement to provide an easement over part of Deerubbin Park, 8 Cornwallis Road, Cornwallis. The easement would accommodate overhead power lines to upgrade the park's electricity supply.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Our Paths, Our Stories: Community Storytelling and Safety
Hawkesbury City Council has received $150,000 in funding through the NSW Government's Safer Cities: Her Way 2 Program to deliver a creative communications campaign in Windsor, focused on improving the experiences and perceptions of safety for women, girls and gender-diverse people in public spaces.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Exhibition of Planning Proposal LEP002/25 (PP - 2025-1561)
Detached Dual Occupancy in Rural and Conservation Zones Council is exhibiting a Planning Proposal seeking to permit detached dual occupancy development with consent within the following rural and conservation zones where attached dual occupancies are currently permitted with consent.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Hawkesbury Streets: Activate and Celebrate
Hawkesbury City Council is exploring ways to make selected public spaces in Windsor easier, quicker and more affordable to use for events, activities and community activation. The Permit/Plug/Play project will look at both the physical infrastructure available in public spaces and the processes involved in using them.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Draft Investment Policy
Hawkesbury City Council is exhibiting its draft Investment Policy following a Council resolution on Tuesday, 11 August 2026 endorsing the Policy to proceed to community consultation. The purpose of the Investment Policy is to establish the framework that Hawkesbury City Council adopts in investing its surplus funds having due consideration of all legislative requirements.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
Update of Planning Proposal Policy and Guidelines
Council is exhibiting a draft update of the Planning Proposal Policy and Guidelines along with the associated amended Fees and Charges of the Hawkesbury City Council Operational Plan 2026/2027 relating to Planning Proposals.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Draft Conservation Management Plan - Australiana Pioneer Village
Council is exhibiting a Draft Conservation Management Plan for the Australiana Pioneer Village at 496 Wilberforce Road, Wilberforce.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Draft Voluntary Planning Agreement 322 Grose Vale Road, North Richmond
Council is inviting community members to view and comment on the Draft Voluntary Planning Agreement that will apply to the proposed Kemsley Park development at 322 Grose Vale Road, North Richmond Lot 260 DP 123727 which is being publicly exhibited for a period of 28 days from 10 August 2026 to 7 September 2026.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Draft Naming of Roads and Places Policy
The current Naming of Roads and Places Policy was adopted by Council at its meeting on 22 November 2022 and provides guidance in respect to the naming of suburbs, roads, parks and reserves, buildings and other locations such as gardens, car parks and open spaces. The policy has undergone the review process to ensure that it is still compliant and relevant to Council's naming activities.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Exhibition of Draft Development Control Plan for Kemsley Park
Council is inviting community members to view and comment on the Draft Development Control Plan for Kemsley Park which will be on public exhibition for a period of 28 days from 10 August 2026 to 7 September 2026 The Draf
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Bradley Road Reserve Playground
Submission for the Bradley Road Reserve Playground is now CLOSED. Hawkesbury City Council is planning the renewal of the playground at Bradley Rd Reserve, South Windsor.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Brinsley Park, Pitt Town - Masterplan
Hawkesbury City Council has prepared a draft concept masterplan for Brinsley Park, Pitt Town and is seeking community feedback on the proposed future vision for the reserve. The masterplan aims to improve recreation opportunities, accessibility, connectivity, safety, landscaping and sporting facilities while preserving the park's important role as a community sporting and gathering space.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
IPART approves Hawkesbury's four-year special rate variation
On 2 June 2026 IPART approved a Special Rate Variation allowing the council to lift general rates income by 8.66% per year for four years (2026–27 to 2029–30), inclusive of the rate peg — a cumulative increase of about 39.4%.
What this means for you: Rates will rise more than the standard rate peg (which would have been 3.1% for 2026–27); the extra revenue is legally quarantined for infrastructure renewal, chiefly roads, and the council must report each year on how it is spent.
- Waste
Council defers FOGO rollout and starts a waste-to-resource trial
The council has deferred its combined food-and-garden (FOGO) bin rollout to 1 July 2029 and begun a 12-month trial (from January 2026) with ARC Ento Tech on a black-soldier-fly waste-to-resource facility.
What this means for you: For now, the green bin stays garden-organics only and food scraps still go in the red general-waste bin; a FOGO service is required across NSW by 2030.
Source: Waste Management Review — NSW council defers FOGO transition
- Policy
Council adopts 'Our Hawkesbury 2045' Community Strategic Plan
Following community engagement through 2024–25, the council endorsed its updated 20-year Community Strategic Plan, 'Our Hawkesbury 2045', alongside a Delivery Program 2025–2029, with continued flood recovery and resilience among its priorities.
What this means for you: The plan sets the council's long-term goals and shapes the annual Operational Plan and budget; you can read it and the supporting documents on the council's page.
Source: Hawkesbury City Council — Community Strategic Plan (Our Hawkesbury 2045)
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We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Hawkesbury City Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.