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.

Following extensive groundworks at the former Hornsby Quarry, we are committed to delivering the first stage of the Hornsby Park project which will transform the former Hornsby Quarry into a unique new parkland.

Stage 1 will feature:

• an impressive canopy skywalk and cable bridge linking Hornsby Town Centre with the site of the old Crusher Plant on a fully accessible pathway immersing visitors into the bush
• a platform around the Crusher Plant with a lookout, a lawn, car park, and toilet facilities
• additional bushwalking tracks and trails leading to two more lookouts to the west and north-west of the site
• renovations to the Crusher Plant administration building.

The first works are targeted to be open to the public in 2024.

Under Part 5 of the New South Wales (NSW) Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EP&A Act), a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is required to identify the significance of any adverse environmental impacts that could arise from the Stage 1 works and to determine whether there is a need for further assessment through an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or Species Impact Statement.

The Hornsby Park Embellishments - Stage 1 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. A total of 1.15ha of vegetation will be disturbed for the proposal including 0.29ha of Blue Gum Diatreme Forest and 0.67ha 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 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: Thursday, 25 May 2023.