News
18 DECEMBER 2024
PLATYPUS SIGHTING IS MADE ONLY 3KM FROM FRED CATERSON RESERVE
Update: A second sighting is made in the same section of waterway on 3rd January 2025.
10 DECEMBER 2024
COUNCIL AGREES TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN EASEMENT AT THE FORMER PONY CLUB SITE
This easement is for the creation of a pad-mount substation and underground cabling.
2 JULY 2024
THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL RELEASES ENVIRONMENT REPORTS TO THE APPLICANT
Reports are also posted online. Click here for links to the Arboricultural Assessment, Ecological Constraints Assessment, and Tree Hollow Inspection Reports.
14 JUNE 2024
NCAT DECIDES THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL IS TO RELEASE ENVIRONMENT REPORTS
Documents are to be released by The Hills Shire Council to the Applicant no later than 28 days from today's date. Sicard v The Hills Shire Council details here.
15 DECEMBER 2023
SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON
FRED CATERSON RESERVE
Council seeks to prioritise the development of the rugby facility and accuses 'people (of) deliberately spreading mistruths'. Details and UPDATE.
14 DECEMBER 2023
NSW CIVIL AND ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL (NCAT) HEARING - DECISION RESERVED
NCAT has reserved its decision about the availability of environment reports for the former Pony Club site. A decision is expected in the new year.
29 NOVEMBER 2023
HON. PETER PRIMROSE (MLC) SPEECH IN
UPPER HOUSE
The Hon. Peter Primrose (MLC) gives a speech about Fred Caterson Reserve in the NSW Upper House. See full transcript.
22 NOVEMBER 2023
LACE MONITOR SIGHTING
A Lace Monitor ("Goanna") was sighted today in a large tree near Field 1.
19 NOVEMBER 2023
ECHIDNA SIGHTING
There have been several echidna sightings in the reserve recently. This one was spotted today.
14 NOVEMBER 2023
DECISION PATHWAY FOR RUGBY FIELDS KNOWN
Mayoral Minute states that assessments for the rugby fields will be carried out under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Transport and Infrastructure) 2021.
10 NOVEMBER 2023
QUESTIONS IN BUDGET ESTIMATES HEARING
During a Budget Estimates Hearing, Greens Dr Amanda Cohn (MLC) asked for an inquiry, under section 430 of the Local Government Act, into The Hills Shire Council's rugby proposal at Fred Caterson Reserve.
25 OCTOBER 2023
HILLS RESIDENTS' PETITION COMMENTS
Our petition has now been tabled. Here is a selection of comments made by Hills residents about the Master Plan.
24 OCTOBER 2023
COUNCIL REJECTS PETITION AND REFUSES TO HOST PUBLIC BRIEFING ON ITS MASTER PLAN
Our Petition with 16,193 signatures was tabled by Greens Councillor, Dr Mila Kasby, who also called for Council to host its first public briefing on its Master Plan. Unfortunately, this was rejected by all but two Councillors present. Listen to the meeting here and read our comments in the video.
3 OCTOBER 2023
ENVIRONMENT REPORTS STILL RESTRICTED
NCAT HEARING DATE SET
Environment Reports for the former Pony Club Site / Proposed Elite Rugby Union Facility will be the subject of an NCAT Hearing to be held on 14th December 2023.
3 AUGUST 2023
PLATYPUS SUCCESSFULLY TRAPPED
IN CATTAI CREEK CATCHMENT
Researchers announce that platypuses have been trapped in the Cattai Creek Catchment in The Hills.
13 JUNE 2023
COUNCIL APPROVES INITIAL
$4.5 MILLION FOR RUGBY FIELDS
The Hills Shire Council approves initial $4.5 million of Showground Precinct developer contributions for community facilities to commence works on elite rugby facility.
21 MAY 2023
GLOSSY BLACK COCKATOOS VISITING
23 APRIL 2023
ENVIRONMENT REPORTS
Friends of Fred Caterson Reserve are still waiting for a copy of the Environment Report that was being prepared. We were advised last year that this report would be ready in December and have been requesting it ever since. On 19th February, Mayor Peter Gangemi advised that whatever information Council is able to release, they will do that as soon as possible. His intention is that as much information as possible is available to the public on this project.
Still waiting for environment reports
17 MARCH 2023
ANOTHER RUGBY CONCEPT
The Hills Shire Council publishes another Concept for elite rugby facility.
1 MARCH 2023
PETITION SIGNATURES REACH 5,000!
Thank you to all who have signed to Stop the Destruction of Fred Caterson Reserve.
27 FEBRUARY 2023
AUST. PLANTS SOCIETY LETTER TO MAYOR
Aust. Plants Society NSW writes to Mayor
Peter Gangemi
19 FEBRUARY 2023
ENVIRONMENT REPORTS
Friends of Fred Caterson Reserve are still waiting for a copy of the Environment Report that was being prepared. We were advised last year that this report would be ready in December and have been requesting it ever since. On 19th February, Mayor Peter Gangemi advised that he has not seen the report himself and is not aware of it being completed. He wrote that when more information on the project is able to be released to the public, it will be made available to us.
Still waiting for environment reports!
14 FEBRUARY 2023
FLYERS ARE READY
Our flyers to inform the community about the Master Plan are ready to go out!
9 JANUARY 2023
TREE TAGGING
