We are redeveloping the abandoned Hornsby Quarry and adjacent Old Mans Valley, approximately 1km west of the Hornsby town centre, and transforming the site into open space for community recreation and entertainment. The area features approximately 60 hectares of bushland and open space and is home to several features of Aboriginal significance, historical and community interest, including the Hornsby Diatreme Area, early settler relics, the State Heritage listed Old Mans Valley (Higgins Family) Cemetery and remnant buildings of the quarry crusher plant.

The Hornsby Quarry Rehabilitation Works Development Application (DA/101/2019) was approved by the Sydney North Regional Planning panel on 4 November 2020. The approved works are now nearing completion.

On 8 March 2023, HSC resolved to undertake Stage 1 Embellishment Works which are also nearing completion.

HSC are now preparing to complete Circulation Works which aim to connect the rehabilitation and stage 1 embellishment works through the completion of the Quarry Loop around the rim of the Quarry. This will enable visitors to safely experience the former quarry and unify the various constructed elements into a cohesive site.

While much of the park will remain in an unembellished or temporary state, the Circulation Works will reintroduce Hornsby to a landscape that is very close to the town centre but has been off limits for a century.

The final specifications for Circulation Works will be determined based on the available funding, which will in turn determine the staging. This REF considers the highest possible environmental impact and any specification / staging will ensure that there is no greater impact than that which this REF assesses.

The Hornsby Park Embellishments – Circulation Works REF assesses possible impacts the project will have on the environment and details steps to be carried out to avoid, minimise or mitigate those impacts.

The assessment considers:

• Air and water impacts
• Soil and stability impacts
• Noise and vibration impacts
• Fauna and flora impacts
• Ecological impacts
• Threatened species considerations
• Community and natural resources
• Social and economic factors
• Heritage, aesthetic and cultural impacts
• Landuse impacts
• Transportation impacts

It also includes proposed environmental safeguards, disposal of waste and materials recommendations, monitoring and public safety factors.

The proposal will result in a number of impacts to environmental values, including impacts to threatened species and vegetation communities however, the vast majority of the proposal is delivered in areas assessed with previous REFs with only three very small areas creating additional impacts. A total of 0.063ha of vegetation will be disturbed for the proposal including 0.001ha of Blue Gum Diatreme Forest and 0.002ha of Blackbutt Gully Forest. Irrespective of the condition of the impacted vegetation, compensatory measures will be implemented for the loss of native vegetation in line with the Biodiversity Offsets Strategy, Hornsby Quarry Rehabilitation, DA/101/2019 (HSC 2020).

There is some potential for minor short-term impacts to the physical environment to occur, including an increase in noise and vibration and a decrease in air quality due to increased dust during construction.

Mitigation measures will be put in place to avoid or minimise any potential environmental impacts that are associated with the proposal.

The assessment considers that impacts to environmental values are manageable and not significant. As a result, the proposal is unlikely to significantly affect the environment and an EIS or Species Impact Statement is not required.

View the Review of Environmental Factors, including the Executive Summary.

Make a submission on the Hornsby Park Master Circulation Plan Stage 1 REF by:

• completing the submission form below
• emailing hsc@hornsby.nsw.gov.au
• writing to the General Manager, Hornsby Shire Council, PO Box 37, Hornsby 1630 marked 'Hornsby Park REF'.

Submissions close: 5pm on Monday 20 January 2025