After 25 years of dedicated volunteer management, the iconic Wilberforce School of Arts is transitioning back to the care of Hawkesbury City Council. Built in 1925, this cherished landmark holds a special place in the hearts of many locals, embodying a sense of history, love, and, above all, belonging.Neville Wearne, a 77-year-old resident of Wilberforce, has been a steadfast volunteer at the School of Arts for over two decades. As the deeds were being signed to officially remove the building from community management and hand it back to Council, he spoke to the Hawkesbury Post about the small building at 531 Wilberforce Road, Wilberforce, his fellow volunteers and its enduring place in the Hawkesbury community. For a moment, his voice briefly faltered when he recounted holding his wife's wake in the very hall he worked so hard to preserve.The decision to hand over management was part of a broader move by the Department of Local Government to centralise the administration of community facilities, many of which have been run by ageing volunteer committees. "It's disappointing in certain ways," Neville admitted. "We've been doing it for over 20 years, some close to 25 years, and there's no one new coming in. Volunteerism these days is on the decline."The dedication and hard work of the volunteers ensured the hall remained in excellent condition. Neville described the multifaceted role of the volunteers, which included general maintenance, cleaning, and lawn care. "The money we got from the hire went into improving the hall," he said. Over the years, the volunteers ensured the hall remained well-appointed, with upgrades like heaters, air conditioning, LED lights, and soundproofing. The building's upkeep has been a community effort, with the Council contributing significantly to its refurbishment."Council put money into refurbishing the place. We've upgraded the disabled access, which also acts as a mother's room with a pop-down baby changing table," said Neville. These enhancements have made the hall more accessible and comfortable for everyone. "We stood in front of bulldozers," Neville recalled, describing the community's efforts to save the building from demolition over 25 years ago. "It's now the best-appointed hall in the district." The hall has hosted countless events, from weddings and birthday parties to community meetings and reunions. It has even served as a hub for helping people in need, especially after the 2019 fires.The Wilberforce School of Arts, built as a community hall, has a rich history of community involvement and support. It was constructed in 1925 and later expanded to include a commemorative room for First World War veterans. This building, with its tasteful and unadorned architecture, stands as a symbol of Hawkesbury's heritage and community spirit.Despite the change in management, Neville remains hopeful. "Council is taking over seamlessly," he said. "We just hope they maintain the same level of care that we did." His commitment to the hall is rooted in a deep sense of community service, a value that has driven him to volunteer at the School of Arts and the Rural Fire Service.The role of volunteers in managing the Wilberforce School of Arts was well organised. "We had a roster system for maintenance," Neville explained. "It should take a month around that's at a time, you know. So in that it was just putting out the garbage, cleaning the hall, cleaning the toilets, and making sure the papers were there. It was just general maintenance." The hall was always in top condition for the community to use, Neville said.However, as the cost of living pressures and time weigh heavily on families today, Neville spoke about the challenges of maintaining volunteer interest and participation. "There's no one new coming in. Nobody wants to do it," he said. "You know, volunteerism is these days, it's knocked on the head. You very rarely get volunteers to do anything. I'm in the rural fire service as well. We struggle to get people for many reasons, particularly financial situations and things like that. People just haven't got that time, or it's not in their ethos to volunteer anymore."Neville's connection to the Wilberforce School of Arts is deeply personal. He moved to the Hawkesbury over 30 years ago with his wife, a local girl. "My wife's wake was in there," he shared, his voice trembling. "It's a special place for me and my family." This personal connection underscores the emotional significance of the hall for many in the community. "It's there for the community," Neville emphasised. "It's not there to sit as a glorified piece of building. It's there to be used and enjoyed by everyone."As Neville reflected on his years of service, he expressed a sense of fulfilment and pride. "We did what we did," he said. "We just hope people are happy with it."

As the epicentre of equestrian sports in Australia, the Hawkesbury boasts many remarkable riders, but Christopher Burton’s performance at the Paris Olympics might have just earned him the title of the greatest.When the world watched Christopher Burton complete a flawless cross-country round on the second day of eventing at the Paris Olympics, it became evident that it would take an extraordinary effort to surpass him. And it did. Sitting in bronze position heading into the final test, the show jumping, Burton faced a formidable opponent: Germany’s Michael Jung, a man who has won three individual gold medals in eventing and now a fourth. Burton needed to jump double clear and hope for Jung to have two rails down. In the end, Jung only took one rail and claimed the gold. Burton secured the silver.Team mate Shane Rose knew Burton was a serious chance of a medal. “It’s always great to be on a team with Chris, he is the ultimate competitor. We knew going into the Paris Olympics he was a real individual medal chance and he delivered,” Rose told the HP.It was a spectacular result, especially considering it had been 24 years since Australia last took individual gold at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Even more extraordinary was that Burton was shortlisted not just for the eventing team in Paris but also the show jumping team - a feat never accomplished before at one Olympics. The only other rider to have competed in two disciplines at the Olympics is equestrian legend, Vicky Roycroft.Known as the fastest cross-country rider in the world, a perfectionist in dressage, and a highly skilled showjumper, Burton was always favoured. However, his recent shift towards showjumping and away from eventing may have overshadowed just how exceptional he truly is.“Burto,” as he is affectionately known, was born in Queensland on a grain and cattle farm at Brymaroo. He rode from a young age but did not win his first competition until he was 16 years old, relatively late for those who prefer to spot talent and winners at a much younger age. In an interview with Equestrian LIfe Magazine, Burton fondly recalled one of his first ponies “Spice.”“I remember we were so little we couldn’t saddle her up and if we fell off, we would keep hold of the reins and try to find some food to get her to lower her head so we could climb onto her neck and hold onto her ears, and she would lift her head up and we would scramble on and ride home.”With riding now a career, Burton moved to New South Wales to further his eventing, spending ten of his formative years in the heartland of horse sports - the Hawkesbury. While pursuing his eventing career, he rode track work for Philippe and Tara Vigouroux from Vigouroux Racing Stables at Clarendon to pay the bills. There were ups and downs, but it was perhaps the downs that crystallised his internal grit and gave him the confidence in his natural talent to tough it out for years in the most competitive eventing platform in the world. In 2011, he moved to the United Kingdom to compete against the world’s best on the toughest courses.Burton was selected for the 2012 team for the London Olympics and came home with a team bronze at the Rio Olympics, shared with Shane Rose, Stuart Tinney, and Sam Griffiths. Individually, he came fifth, but this was perhaps overlooked by the team result and the public following a hilarious post-event media interview given by the team. Although selected for Tokyo, his horse Quality Purdey was ruled out due to injury before stepping on the plane to Japan. In 2024 Burton was selected on the eventing team for Paris, even though he had turned his focus to show jumping and had only been campaigning his horse Shadow Man for six months before the games. Burton had his eye on Shadow Man for years. “I honestly think he’s the best horse in the world. He’s the most beautiful animal, very easy to get to know,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald. Burton had tried to buy him years ago without success, but luck and circumstance allowed Burton to lease the 14-year-old gelding for six months to aim for the Olympics.The rest is they now say is history and “Burto” has etched himself into the annals of Australia’s sporting history. What next? Burton and his family after years abroad will head back to Australia permanently, having purchased a property in Goulburn where he hopes to focus on teaching and showjumping.But for any equestrian watching Burton's dressage test, cross-country phase, or show jumping performance during the Paris Olympics, it was evident that Shadow Man was spectacular, almost as spectacular as the Australian boy from the bush who become one of the best riders in the world.

Whether you’re a commercial poultry keeper or a hobbyist with backyard chooks, NSW authorities encourage Hawkesbury residents to view the continued containment of avian influenza as a community-wide effort.After the HPAI H7N8 strain was detected in the Hawkesbury in mid-June, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development moved swiftly to contain the highly-pathogenic strain, with Emergency Order restrictions applying to all keepers of poultry, including hobbyists. There remains minimal concern over any potential risk to humans.Current information detailing the Emergency Order advises that exhibitions, displays, auctions and other means of selling domestic poultry or birds remains prohibited within the Restricted Emergency and the Control Emergency Zones, as do “roadside” sales of eggs, with surveillance of the area continuing to take place. Retail egg sales, such as those from the supermarket, are permitted.A DPIRD spokesperson tells the Post, “Avian influenza is a low risk to the public because it rarely affects humans unless there is direct and close contact with sick birds. Eggs and poultry meat are safe to eat provided they are handled and cooked according to safe food handling practices.”The DPIRD’s advice directs any Hawkesbury residents wishing to move any birds, manure, eggs, and materials to check the interactive map on the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website, to see whether they are located in a zone where restrictions apply.The DPIRD spokesperson says, “If located in a zone where restrictions apply, residents are required to apply for a permit to move birds, manure, eggs, and materials. Exemptions may be provided upon the granting of this movement permit. Each permit application will be subject to a risk assessment, and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.”If you live in the area and you are concerned about the health of your pet birds:First, check if you are in an emergency zone. Enter your address in the DPIRD website’s interactive map to find out.Call the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888 (monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).Call your local veterinary clinic to advise of the issue and confirm that they will provide treatment for your bird.When taking your bird to the vet, you must adhere to the conditions outlined in the Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit (movement of birds for veterinary treatment).

Over 100 sites, including 24 early childhood education centers, are alleged to have had their environmental reports falsified by the consulting firm N G Child & Associates. The alleged falsifications span 135 sites across 33 councils in NSW, including the Hawkesbury area.The New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has launched an investigation into claims that environmental consultant Noel Child falsified sample results in these reports. The affected sites include residential properties, industrial or commercial sites, and undeveloped land. Among these, 24 early childhood education centers and 18 residential properties are currently in operation. However, the EPA assures the public that there are no immediate health risks, with no history of contamination or exposure pathways that could endanger public health.The alleged falsifications primarily concern contaminated land assessments involving soil, groundwater, surface water, and air sampling. Impacted councils include Hawkesbury City, City of Sydney, Hornsby, Parramatta, Central Coast, Blacktown, and Randwick.“As the consent authority for developments subject to alleged falsified records we will continue to support identified local councils affected as they undertake their own review of the individual sites affected in their LGA,” the EPA said.“As part of our investigation into alleged falsified sampling results in environmental reports, councils with properties subject to alleged falsified reports have been notified and we will continue to provide them advice and ongoing support. 33 Councils are impacted,” it said.EPA officers have already inspected 22 of the 24 early childhood education centers, with the remaining two to be inspected shortly. These visits have not altered the EPA's assessment that there are no immediate risks associated with the alleged falsifications.As part of the investigation, EPA officers have seized over 10,000 pieces of data and reviewed 2,460 files, with ongoing scrutiny of remaining files to determine the full extent of the alleged falsifications. All affected councils have been advised to review development applications that included reports from N G Child & Associates.Childcare owners and operators and land developers who have received environmental reports from N G Child & Associates and submitted these as part of a Development Application should contact the relevant local council, the EPA said.This investigation is separate from the ongoing asbestos in mulch investigation.

Local businesses around shopping precincts in the Hawkesbury are increasingly angry over ongoing parking issues impacting their operations and bottom lines. Owners are repeatedly fined for parking near their own businesses, forcing them to frequently move their vehicles throughout the business day. After years of upheaval due to COVID-19 and flooding, small businesses in the Hawkesbury - the backbone of the local economy - have been doing it tough. Foot traffic is down, and the cost of living crisis is keeping customers away. However, businesses say that rather than looking for ways to assist them during these times, rules and regulations imposed by Hawkesbury Council are making it harder.Businesses in the main shopping strips of Richmond, North Richmond, and Windsor say the parking rules - which make no allowances for business owners who need to park all day - are costing them dearly and making it nearly impossible to operate on a daily basis. Nicola Hayford-Hobbs, owner of Hawkesbury Herbs on Windsor St, Richmond, said the lack of all-day parking for business owners is infuriating. "We have a limited section of all-day parking, which fills up quickly. If you get here by 8:30 am, all the spots are gone. The rest of the parking is either one-hour or four-hour, which means we have to move our cars constantly. This is incredibly disruptive, especially when we can't leave our shops unattended," she said.Hayford-Hobbs estimates that the parking fines have cost her and her two staff about $5,000 over the past three years. "The worst time is Christmas. You can't run errands within an hour, and there's no leniency from the parking officers. They don't care that I can't close the store if there are three people in there," she said.Other small business owners who spoke to the Hawkesbury Post echoed her concerns. They also said they had raised the matter with the council, but to no avail. When asked about the problem, a Council spokesperson said Council has not received "official" requests for longer parking for local businesses. "Council has not received any official requests by business owners or workers at North Richmond to allow them to park for longer periods of time," the spokesperson said.“The success of local businesses relies on a high turnover of parking within customer car parks such as the one at North Richmond. Council supports these needs by enforcing timed parking limits at this car park,” the spokesperson added.This claim, however, appears at odds with the experience of businesses and also contradicts evidence in an email sighted by the Hawkesbury Post. Hazen Quinn, owner of Words and Pixels, wrote an email to Mayor Sarah McMahon dated June 7, 2024."Whilst I understand that you have parking limits for a reason, what I cannot understand is why we cannot pay for a parking permit. For example, $200 per car per year to allow us parking within the shopping centre. You could provide a sticker at minimal cost to the Council and make an extremely healthy profit. I know from speaking to other shop owners and some staff that purchasing a parking permit to avoid moving cars every two hours would be an option most would take. This could be applied to the whole of Hawkesbury and be a guaranteed source of income without the added cost of employing extra parking officers," Quinn wrote.Clr McMahon responded that Council is in the process of engaging consultants to investigate the issue, a process that would take at least nine months. "Staff have scoped out the consultants' brief to undertake the strategic review and parking study for our four main town centres, including North Richmond. This review will take approximately nine months to complete, followed by the next steps for implementing any recommendations. Until then, I can't provide any further advice other than to park lawfully," she wrote.Business owners are skeptical about this approach. "Engaging consultants when they could just issue special parking permits for shop owners and staff seems like a huge waste of ratepayer money in my view. It's not rocket science," said one business owner who wished to remain anonymous.Quinn also voiced dissatisfaction with the current parking situation in North Richmond. "The parking area has a two-hour limit for everyone. As shop owners, and after speaking to other owners in the same situation, we do not understand the need for such extensive patrolling of the car park. Nor do we understand why there isn't an allowance for shop owners and employees."Quinn highlighted the practical issues and financial burdens caused by the current parking enforcement. "Since May 23 we have been fined $360 to simply park in the shopping centre near our shop to work," Quinn said. "Our cars have been vandalized and damaged, which is one reason we park our cars close to the shop so we have camera footage of any incidents to our vehicles. Other business owners have parked their cars on the street, and they've been damaged or had things like batteries stolen."Another shop owner in Richmond, who did not want to be identified,  said the local car parks are not evenly distributed in terms of parking regulations and as a result distort foot traffic to shops.He said Coles has approximately 400 parking spots, with 34 all-day parking spots, 50/60 one-hour spots, and four-hour parking bays. However, the carpark between East Market Street and West Market Street has approximately 290 parking spots, 120 of which are all-day parking. There are 16 one-hour spots and the remainder four hours.“The (West Market Street) car park has become like a morgue because nothing moves around, we have customers complaining all the time because they cannot park, You’ve got to adjust the parking lot in all the areas and make them equal, so everybody has a chance to run a business, go to work, and the customers to have a parking spot. The way it is now, nothing works.”The parking issue affects business owners, their customers, and delivery services. "Couriers have to park down the road and carry heavy loads to our shops because there's no available parking nearby," Hayford-Hobbs said. "It's just not practical."Clr McMahon's response has done little to alleviate the frustration of the business owners. "It defies belief that this is still an issue," Hayford-Hobbs said. "Issuing parking permits is a simple fix that would support small businesses already struggling due to other challenges like flooding. Instead, we're stuck in a cycle of fines and frustration."

The Hawkesbury's own Courtney Nevin is set to compete at the Paris Olympics as a travelling reserve for the Matildas, Australia's national women's football team. Last month, the Australian Olympic Committee announced the 18-member Matildas squad for Paris 2024, with Nevin chosen as one of four travelling reserves. These reserves can replace an athlete in the event of injury or other withdrawal from the team.Member for Hawkesbury Robyn Preston congratulated Nevin in a speech to Parliament; "In Hawkesbury, we claim Courtney and are incredibly proud of her sporting prowess, culminating in her national representation. I would also like to acknowledge Courtney's parents, Angelica and Phil, who must be very proud of their daughter. Courtney is a defender, and the Matildas' first Olympic match is at 3 AM on the 26th of July, where they will take on the formidable German team in Marseille. Mr Speaker, like many Australians and her legions of Hawkesbury fans, I will be cheering Courtney Nevin and the Matildas on their Olympic journey. Go Courtney!"Nevin currently plays fullback for Leicester City in the English Women's Super League and represents Australia on the Matildas team. She began her stellar career with the Oakville Ravens before joining the Blacktown Spartans in the NPL. She is also contracted to the Western Sydney Wanderers in the Women's League.The Matildas, captained by Steph Catley, includes eight athletes who will become the first Australian footballers to compete in three Olympic Games. These athletes are Catley, vice-captain Emily Van Egmond, Mackenzie Arnold, Ellie Carpenter, Caitlin Foord, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne, and Tameka Yallop. Kyra Cooney-Cross, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Michelle Heyman, Teagan Micah, and Hayley Raso are returning for their second Games. At the same time, Clare Hunt, Kaitlyn Torpey, Cortnee Vine, and Clare Wheeler will make their Olympic debut. The Matildas enter Paris following Australia's best-ever finish in Olympic football, having secured fourth place in Tokyo.Matildas Head Coach Tony Gustavsson welcomed the announcement, saying: "This has been an incredibly challenging squad to select with so many quality players competing fiercely for limited spots. It has been a methodical process over the past couple of years to reach this point, and each of the players selected brings unique and beneficial qualities to our team that will be vital for our Paris 2024 campaign. I would like to congratulate all the players selected and the teammates, coaches, family, and friends who have supported them to this moment. I know this team will give everything for the coat of arms and will represent Australia to the best of their ability in the true Aussie way."

After years of anticipation and delays, the long-awaited Pitt Town Bypass is finally set to become a reality.NSW Premier Chris Minns announced the milestone during his visit to the Hawkesbury in June. "Starting today, the construction industry can submit proposals to build the crucial Pitt Town Bypass. This initiative will reduce congestion by diverting traffic away from Pitt Town, providing faster evacuations for Hawkesbury residents during floods. Transport for NSW plans to award the main construction contract for the bypass in 2025," Minns said.Chris Bell, President of the Pitt Town Progress Association, expressed relief at the news after years of uncertainty. "We're eager for this to happen swiftly. We've had promises of funding from successive governments for years," Bell told Channel Nine.Pitt Town has faced mounting congestion, with up to 1000 trucks daily passing through its main street from sand quarries in the Hills district. Discussions about the bypass date back to the 1960s, yet relief for the community has been elusive despite the growing traffic burden.The Pitt Town Bypass will establish a direct link between Pitt Town Road and Cattai Road, effectively bypassing the town center. The $100 million project will extend Pitt Town Road and introduce two new roundabouts, aimed at enhancing road safety, diverting heavy vehicles from the town center, and supporting new residential developments north of Pitt Town."Expressions of Interest (EOI) are invited from pre-qualified contractors under Transport for NSW's National Prequalification Scheme, specifically in roadworks category R3, bridgeworks category B3, and financial level F25," detailed the tender document. The project entails constructing a new 950-meter, two-lane road connecting Pitt Town Road to Cattai Road, a single-lane roundabout over Hortons Creek at the intersection of Pitt Town Road, Bathurst Street, and Glebe Road, a new bridge over Hortons Creek, and another single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Pitt Town Road, Eldon Street, and Old Pitt Town Road," the tender document stated."The Pitt Town Bypass will alleviate traffic congestion in the town center, a notorious bottleneck, and assist in flood evacuations across the Hawkesbury region," NSW Minister for Roads John Graham said."We are finalising plans to widen roads in the area to ensure safe evacuation for families and residents during emergencies," he added.These flood road upgrades are part of a $200 million commitment by the NSW Government to establish major evacuation routes in the flood-prone Hawkesbury-Nepean region.Minns said the government was enhancing flood preparedness and mitigation, focusing on creating safer, more efficient evacuation routes, and strengthening road resilience."The Hawkesbury region faces the highest flood risk nationwide," Minns acknowledged.