The Hills Shire Council has adopted a Plan of Management (PoM) for the long-term stewardship of 23 parks, reserves and lookouts across The Hills.
Council manages Crown land on behalf of the NSW Government by acting as a Crown land manager-maintaining, developing, and regulating its use in line with state legislation, plans of management, and community needs.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne said the Generic Plan of Management - Crown 'Community' Land establishes directions for planning and resource management of the 23 sites, reflecting the variety of uses and management by council of these valued community assets.
"These parks and reserves are some of the most important public spaces in our Shire. They're places for people to gather, relax, enjoy nature and play sport," Mayor Byrne said.
"This Plan of Management guides how these recreational spaces will be used, cared for and developed over time.
"The NSW Government has appointed Council as Crown Land Manager to care, control and manage Crown reserves. While these areas still belong to the Crown, the Crown Land Management Act 2016 allows for Council to manage them as if they were Council land.
"The plan explains how each area is currently used and documents how it should be managed and improved in the future to meet community needs.
"The Hills Shire's population is expanding at an exponential rate. This plan is a guide for how these spaces should be managed to benefit our residents in the long term."
The PoM applies to the following parcels of Crown Land:
- Annangrove Park Reserve, Annangrove
- Dilkera Road Reserve, Glenorie
- Eric Mobbs, Baulkham Hills
- Excelsior Reserve, Baulkham Hills
- Fred Caterson Reserve, Castle Hill
- George Suttor Park, Baulkham Hills
- Heath Road Reserve, North Kellyville
- Hillside Reserve, Glenorie
- Holland Road Reserve, Glenhaven
- Kenthurst Park, Kenthurst
- Les Shore Reserve, Glenorie
- Liverpool Reach Reserve, Lower Portland
- Lucas Avenue Reserve, Kenthurst
- Maroota South Bushland Reserve, South Maroota
- Mount Wilberforce Lookout, West Pennant Hills
- Nelson Reserve, Glenorie
- Newman Road Reserve, Maraylya
- Old Northern Road Reserve, Wisemans Ferry
- Portland Reserve, Lower Portland
- South Maroota Reserve, South Maroota
- Ted Horwood Reserve, Baulkham Hills
- The Deep Hole Reserve, Kenthurst
- Wisemans Ferry Road Reserve, Maroota
The draft PoM was placed on public exhibition from 14 August - 25 September 2025 before being submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for approval. The PoM was given the green light by the Minister for Crown Lands, the Hon. Steve Kamper before being adopted at the 12 May 2026 Council meeting.
Under the PoM, the 23 sites are divided into four categories: sportsgrounds, parks, general community use areas and natural areas. Some of these sites contain more than one category. The core objectives of these categories are:
Sportsgrounds
Core objectives: To encourage, promote and facilitate organised and informal sporting activities and games and to ensure the impact of these activities on nearby residences are managed.
Parks
Core objectives: To encourage, promote and facilitate recreational, cultural, social and educational pastimes and activities as well as passive recreation.
General Community Use Areas
Core objectives: To promote, encourage and provide facilities on the land to meet the current and future needs of the local community and wider public relating to public recreation and physical, cultural, social and intellectual welfare.
Natural Areas
Core objectives: To protect and conserve natural areas by maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health while supporting restoration and regeneration where needed.
To view the Generic Plan of Management - Crown 'Community' Land, visit www.thehills.nsw.gov.au and search for 'Community Land - Plans of Management'.
