News

Blacktown City Council is reminding all those with green thumbs that entries close in a few weeks in the 2022 Blacktown City Garden Competition. Local residents, businesses, schools and community organisations are encouraged to showcase their creative flair in the garden. Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale said: “Our city is home to some spectacular gardens […]

Gender equality, costs of living pressures and youth mental health were just some of the issues our future leaders discussed at Blacktown City Council’s third Youth Forum. This year’s Youth Forum was the first held by Council in 2 years and brought together about 80 students and their teachers from 14 high schools across Blacktown […]

The Hawkesbury Flood Relief Concert which featured iconic Australian guitarist Kevin Borich and supported by local talent, Jed Zarb, Mady Disbray, Matt Charnley, and the James Brothers, was held at the Richmond Club at the end of last month. The event organized by Pulse 89.9 FM Community Radio in Hawkesbury raised $3489.00 for people affected […]

Minister for the Arts Ben Franklin and Member for Castle Hill Ray Williams MP are calling for applications from Castle Hill to the NSW Government’s Arts and Cultural Funding Program (ACFP) for Annual Organisation, Projects and Creative Koori Projects’ categories. Minister for the Arts Ben Franklin encouraged professional artists and creatives, arts and cultural organisations, […]

What do you love most about Bilpin, Kurmond or Kurrajong, what you would like to change and what would you like to stay the same? Local residents, rate payers, employees and business owners are being encouraged to complete a survey at www.yourhawkesbury-yoursay.com.au as part of Council’s place plans for Bilpin, Kurmond and Kurrajong. Respondents can […]

As Local Government Week celebrations begin to wrap up around the country, The Hills Shire Council is continuing the festivities after winning a Gold Award at the Australasian Reporting Awards (ARAs). Council received the coveted Award for its 2021-2022 Annual Report, which outlines Council’s achievements and progress in reaching its long-term vision and goals for the region. Mayor of […]

Three boys have been arrested and faced court today (Tuesday) after assaulting an off-duty police officer at Rooty Hill Railway Station overnight. About 4.25am (Monday 1 August), three boys were at Rooty Hill Railway Station allegedly behaving in an offensive manner and abusing passengers and railway staff. Blacktown Chief Inspector Bob Fitzgerald, who is also […]

The 2022-23 NSW Budget included $128 million to help up to an initial 30,000 eligible households install solar or replace appliances with more energy efficient ones Applications for the NSW Government’s Energy Bill Buster program to help households slash their power bills by up to $600 a year with clean energy options, opened this week, […]

Local news is critical to regional communities across Australia – Communications Minister Michelle Rowland. Following our coverage in the past two editions of the Independent, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has confirmed grants are now open to help local and regional publications keep afloat with the exorbitant rise in print costs. Applications opened today (1 August) […]

A man has been charged after a taxi driver was assaulted in Blacktown tonight (31 July). Police said two men left a licensed premises on Main Street, Blacktown, where they approached a vehicle and engaged in an altercation with a number of people before travelling to another licenced premises on Kildare Road. After the pair […]

Hornsby Shire Mayor Phillip Ruddock, AO, has commended the emergency services and volunteers for their work in the July floods: “This month’s extraordinary weather event has once again been a challenging time for many of us, resulting in flooding and damage across the Shire,” he announced. “The community at Wisemans Ferry was in disbelief as […]

We are doing everything we can to ensure businesses and not-for-profits get back on their feet as quickly as possible from these floods. Hawkesbury MP Robyn Preston. Grants of up to $50,000 are now available to small businesses and not-for-profit (NFP) organisations affected by the June-July floods and storms to help them resume trading, Hawkesbury […]