The Hills Shire

The Hills Shire NSW
Population:	170,965
• Density:	385/km² (997.1/sq mi)
Area:	401 km² (154.8 sq mi)
Mayor:	Clr Peter Dimbrowsky
Council Seat:	Castle Hill
Region:	Metropolitan Sydney
State District:	Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Hawkesbury, Parramatta
Federal Division:	Berowra, Mitchell, Parramatta
Website: http://www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/
LGAs around The Hills Shire: City of Hawkesbury City of Gosford Hornsby Shire City of Blacktown The Hills Shire Hornsby Shire City of Blacktown City of Parramatta City of Parramatta

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The Hills Shire (previously Baulkham Hills Shire) is a local government area of in the north western region of Sydney, Australia. The area encompasses 380 square kilometres stretching from North Parramatta in the south to Wisemans Ferry on the Hawkesbury River in the north.

Home to bushland such as Bidjigal Reserve, market gardens and urban sprawl, it is the 2nd fastest growing area in Sydney with population growth projected to exceed the average for both Western Sydney and Sydney.

The Hills Shire offers appealing lifestyle aspects, such as a wide expanse of parks, reserves and rural land - hence its nickname "The Garden Shire".

In past years, The Hills Shire has attracted a large number of 'upwardly mobile', young families seeking a less congested living environment. This has led to the construction of a large number of project homes dubbed 'McMansions' earlier this decade. The considerable influence of Pentecostal Christianity in the area, most notably by the Hillsong Church, has led to The Hills Shire sometimes being dubbed the 'Bible Belt' of Sydney.

Economy

By 2031, the local population will grow by 100,000 residents and 47,000 jobs making The Hills Shire is one of the largest and fastest growing areas in Western Sydney - a region accounting for approximately $15 billion in output and 55,000 jobs.

The Shire Shire has a $15 Billion economy contributing significantly to Western Sydney Gross Regional Product.

There is a higher concentration of employment in business services, education and wholesale trade, and less reliance on manufacturing, than Western Sydney overall.

Sydney Hills business commercial precints and industrial parks lie within the southern growth corridor. Five precincts comprise over 1,000 hectres of commercial office, retail, showroom, light industry & prime office space. All precincts have close access to the M2 & M7 motorways, and are just 30–40 minutes to both the Sydney CBD & International airport.

Norwest Business Park is the major specialised Centre, comprising approximately 377 hectares of business park and residential zoned land. The special 10(A) Employment Zone, which provided flexibility and encourages the co-location of advanced industrial, distribution, and office activities, was a catalyst for the attraction of higher order jobs.

Existing development is mainly composed of light industrial units, business suites, warehousing and large-scale commercial buildings. is close to the North West Transitway and home to several world class companies.

• 60 Hectares Parkland & Residential
• Flexible Zoning Allowing 24/7 Operations
• 1.7 M m2 Potential; 675,000 m2 Committed
• 800 Firms; 15,000 Employees (2009)

Incomes

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics ^[1] during 2003-04, there:

• were 70,259 wage and salary earners (ranked 6th in New South Wales and 13th in Australia, 2.7% of New South Wales's 2,558,415 and 0.9% of Australia's 7,831,856)
• was a total income of $3,330,824,367 (around $3.3 billion) (ranked 4th in New South Wales and 8th in Australia, 3.1% of New South Wales's $107,179,688,262 (around $107 billion) and 1.1% of Australia's $304,034,755,876 (around $304 billion))
• was an estimated average income per wage and salary earner of $47,408 (ranked 15th in New South Wales and 40th in Australia, 114% of New South Wales's $41,407 and 122% of Australia's $38,820)
• was an estimated median income per wage and salary earner of $40,106 (ranked 11th in New South Wales and 33rd in Australia, 113% of New South Wales's $35,479 and 117% of Australia's $34,149).

Suburbs in the local government area

Suburbs at least partially within The Hills Shire are:

• Annangrove (North Ward)
• Baulkham Hills (West Ward/Central Ward/East Ward)
• Beaumont Hills (North Ward)
• Bella Vista (West Ward)
• Box Hill (North Ward)
• Carlingford (East Ward)
• Castle Hill (Central Ward/West Ward)
• Cattai (North Ward)
• Dural (North Ward)
• Glenhaven (North Ward/Central Ward)
• Glenorie (North Ward)
• Kellyville (North Ward/West Ward)
• Kenthurst (North Ward)
• Leets Vale (North Ward)
• Lower Portland (North Ward)
• Maraylya (North Ward)
• Maroota (North Ward)
• Middle Dural (North Ward)
• Nelson (North Ward)
• Northmead (East Ward)
• North Parramatta (East Ward)
• North Rocks (East Ward)
• Oatlands (East Ward)
• Rouse Hill (North Ward)
• Sackville North (North Ward)
• South Maroota (North Ward)
• West Pennant Hills (East Ward/Central Ward)
• Wisemans Ferry (North Ward)

Council

The Hills Shire Council is composed of twelve councillors elected proportionally. The shire is divided into four wards, each electing three councillors. The mayor is not directly elected.^[2] The current makeup of the council is as follows:^[2]

The current council, elected in 2008, is:^[2]

Sister cities

• County Wexford, Ireland
• Cootamundra, Australia

References

External links

• The Hills Shire Council
• Invest Sydney Hills
• Sydney Hills Tourism Information
• 2001 Census Information

Coordinates: 33°46′S 151°00′E / 33.767°S 151°E / -33.767; 151