Video blog – Hawkesbury Council rate rises and the Valuer General

Further to an earlier post on Hawkesbury Council’s rates rises, I’ve done some further analysis on the factors contributing to sharp rate rises for many Hawkesbury ratepayers, especially those in Oakville, Maraylya and Vineyard.

The maps referenced in the above video can also be downloaded here.

thumbnail of Hawkesbury Council Rate rises 2017 (Councillor Zamprogno) — CLICK FOR PDF FILE – Hawkesbury Council Rate rises 2017 (Councillor Zamprogno)

Remember, subscribe, like and share for updates!

Facebook Comments Box

Play

Condolence motion to Council, Peter Speet AFSM

The Hawkesbury community lays Peter Speet AFSM to rest today, former Captain and Group Captain with the Oakville Rural Fire Brigade.
This is the condolence motion brought to Council on Tuesday night.
It's so cruel to have this happening under COVID lockdown conditions.
To see the family having to make agonising choices about which grandchildren will have to miss their grandfather's funeral.
To see the RFS banned from giving him an honour guard or vehicle procession to the service at St James' in Pitt Town.
Farewell, Pete. ... See MoreSee Less

4 days ago

View on Facebook

View Comments

Likes: 3
Shares: 8
Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook 243681491098663

Covid19 has been difficult for the whole community, and we all feel for the family of Peter Speet,thanks for his lifelong commitment to the community

As the road out of lockdown is taking shape, this is a great initiative to have Hawkesbury local businesses hear directly from two State Ministers about what they need to know.
I strongly support this initiative and look forward to joining you on-line for this meeting.
Share this to your network and spread the word.

Registration for this event is at
tinyurl.com/hawkesburybusiness ... See MoreSee Less

5 days ago

View on Facebook

View Comments

Likes: 0
Shares: 2
Comments: 1

Comment on Facebook GETTING BACK TO ...

Are you supporting the lockout of Non Vaxxed??????????

Play

Joint Address with US President and UK Prime Minister

🇦🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸 🇦🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸 🇦🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸 🇦🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸
Nuclear submarines aren’t usual Council business, but the exceptional importance of this announcement makes it worthy of comment.

I support this initiative. I’ve supported the CANZUK movement for decades, goading the English-speaking democracies of the world to unite promoting trade, defence and shared values.

I also think that Australia is long overdue to employ nuclear power. We tick all the boxes: we’re a stable, responsible democracy. Our geology allows us to play our part in the processing and disposal of waste in the far outback at a huge profit. Our deposits of ore and especially Thorium could open the door to new and safer generative technologies. It would massively contribute to our zero-Carbon aspirations.

Lastly, the initiative recognises that Australia has a special role in staring down rivals in the Indo-Pacific. China must understand free democracies will defend our freedom and that of our neighbours.

The submarine deal we inked with the French was a hot mess. Let’s hope this deal sets a new path, strengthening the ties between three countries committed to upholding and strengthening the liberal, rules-based order, and ensuring Australia has the capabilities needed to defend & deter in a more contested regional environment.

🇦🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸 🇦🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸 🇦🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸 🇦🇺🇬🇧🇺🇸 ... See MoreSee Less

7 days ago

View on Facebook

View Comments

Likes: 6
Shares: 1
Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook 242299157903563

Play

Hawkesbury Council's position on the new Hawkesbury River bridge at North Richmond

Last night Council considered the submission we would make to the consultation process on the route of the new Hawkesbury River crossing at North Richmond.

My position is guided by an awareness that this is not Council’s project. Like the Windsor Bridge project before, we neither decide nor craft its appearance, budget or timeline.

However, Council does have a role to listen to residents and then represent their concerns clearly. And other tiers of government, if they are wise, should listen. I’ve been contacted by dozens of residents and had long conversations both for and against the preferred ‘green route’.

I’m persuaded that the briefings conducted by Transport for NSW make a good case for the preferred ‘green route’. The modelling clearly shows it saves the greatest amount of travel time, is subject to fewer ‘major’ constraints, has a superior cost-benefit ratio compared to the purple route, will draw more traffic away from the already-congested current crossing, and will have a lower impact on the landscape in terms of earthworks, heritage and ecology.

That said, there are still substantial unanswered questions before us, and many ways in which the proposed route could be improved. If we don’t ‘hustle’, the community won’t get what we deserve.

I remain concerned about the impacts on the residents of Hobartville, and especially on Southee Road and Inalls Lane.
I think the intersection of Kurrajong Road, Old Kurrajong Road and Yarramundi Lane should be an elevated flyover – not just to reduce traffic congestion, but to provide better flood resilience as well.
I’m happy for Council to acknowledge the strengths of the green route, but continue to press for investigations to continue into a hybrid green/yellow route – especially if that benefits the users of the playing fields on Yarramundi Lane.
Lastly, the community needs to know whether the status of the Grose River crossing – contractually bound on the Redbank developers, but much delayed and still no certainty, affects the modelling.

I am pleased that Councillors understood the need for a bipartisan approach on this, and with the exception of Councillor Ross (who votes against everything with what I regard as a very unconsidered attitude), we will be making this submission.

My remarks in this debate are in the video.

councillorzamprogno.info/2021/09/15/hawkesbury-councils-position-concerning-the-new-hawkesbury-ri... ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago

View on Facebook

View Comments

Likes: 8
Shares: 11
Comments: 8

Comment on Facebook 163619185918229

Nathan I appreciate your post, however unless Council undertakes it’s own community engagement, in line with its adopted policy, the true community concern about options is an unknown and therefore difficult for you and your colleagues to present. Engagement by TfNSW by Facebook is simply NOT satisfactory and from what I am reading from attendees not a true record, or report of community concerns. That said I would respectfully request that Council undertake its own engagement and consultation, COVID free process, as soon as possible. The outcome of such a process will place Council in a much stronger position to argue concerns with the Government and test the veracity of the TfNSW consultation. It was also very encouraging that Council has taken a bipartisan approach to this very, very significant issue. A Notice of Motion to undertake Councils own community engagement process, signed by several Councillors would I am sure receive significant community support.

I think Councillor Ross was stating that he felt that a vote should not be taken to-night because the community would be unaware of the alterations, the Mayor stated "Definately take your point etc" I think your comment of Councillor Ross "who votes against everything with what I regard as a very unconsidered attitude" is not called for. As Barry Smith stated below "unless Council undertakes it’s own community engagement, in line with its adopted policy, the true community concern about options is an unknown and therefore difficult for you and your colleagues to present." It appears that this has been left to the last moment with no community engagement.

Grade separated or fly over intersections have been discussed and suggested often at the community working party meetings - they have thus far not been included due to cost and the modelling suggests they aren't needed.

Build the original bridge straight out of Richmond. Our councilors pushed for the bypass which has now effected more people than the original approved proposal to the shit fight that the small opionated groups that held private meetings to come up with this crap.

Another Liberal politician advocates against purple; anything but a bipartisan approach. This is now a referendum on Green Route v Purple Route for all of our elections until the bridge is built.

Build the bypass down I. Pitt Town like it was promised! Forget the bridge we want our bypass

Ash Clif

Elevated Flyover a great idea

View more comments

I will move the following condolence motion to Hawkesbury Council at its meeting tonight, following the passing of significant local leader and dear friend, Peter Speet AFSM, former Captain of Oakville Rural Fire Brigade.
It should be at the front of the meeting from 6:30pm, and will be webcast:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QCjpiGssAU ... See MoreSee Less

1 week ago

View on Facebook

View Comments

Likes: 16
Shares: 9
Comments: 0

Comment on Facebook 1621812811450319_240670218066457

I was tremendously saddened to hear of the passing of Peter Speet AFSM this morning, at home with his family.
Peter, Roslyn and his family have been close friends to us for over 40 years.

When I joined Oakville Rural Fire Brigade in 1988, Peter was Senior Deputy Captain and was my leader and mentor.

He was, in every sense "Mr Oakville". No one better exemplified the kind of broad, laconic, no-nonsense common sense that gets stuff done that only farmers can produce.

My teens were spent on the back of the Studebaker, Oakville 1, rolling from burnoff to bushfire. By Peter's side I learned to admire his self sacrifice, and about serving the community. As a teen, I remember riding my bike to the Speet house and Peter and I would play chess across their kitchen table. He would talk about the importance of giving back, and of how it isn't the government that makes good communities; it's people, pulling together. The lesson stuck.

Peter gave me my first paying job, weeding his strawberry fields at Oakville and at Dutch's farm up at Mountain Lagoon.
But Peter also gave over 60 years of service to the Hawkesbury, and mentored many other young people, as Oakville's standing at the RFS championships year after year attests. That, and the presence of Oakville RFS as one of the largest and most active brigades in the district, if not the State.
Peter rose to become Captain, Group Captain and recently Emeritus Captain of the Brigade.

I joined dignitaries only last November to honour Peter in receiving an extraordinary 4th clasp to his National Medal at a special gathering with RFS and family.

My warmest thoughts are with Roslyn, daughters Sally, Katrina, Melanie and Heidi, sister Di, and the large tribe of grandchildren and extended family.

My hope is that Council, and the community at large will be afforded the opportunity to remember and honour Peter publicly. That this should happen during lockdown is so cruel.
Vale, Peter. ... See MoreSee Less