Ordinary Meeting of Council - 23 March 2026

Topics

• Hunters Hill heritage homeowners invited to comment on draft solar-panel rules
  Council has endorsed draft guidance for solar panels in heritage conservation areas and on heritage items and will publicly exhibit it for at least 28 days.
  The guideline may influence how affected property owners plan and seek approval for solar installations, while Council must consider public submissions before adoption.
• Council waives $4,756.95 Town Hall hire fee for Hunters Hill Quilters’ show
  Council will support the Hunters Hill Quilters’ 2026 Show with a Town Hall hire-fee waiver while retaining a cleaning fee and after-hours call-out charges.
  The decision affects the cost of staging a prominent local community event and illustrates how Council applies event-support concessions.
• Hunters Hill adopts strategy to combat antisemitism
  Council adopted its draft Strategy to Combat Antisemitism after hearing from two community speakers.
  The adoption gives Council a formal policy position on antisemitism and community inclusion.

Decisions

• Strategy to Combat Antisemitism adopted
  Council adopted the draft Strategy to Combat Antisemitism after hearing from Ms Sheina Gutnik and Ms Michele Goldman.
  Sets Council’s formal approach to addressing antisemitism in the local community.
• Heritage solar-panel guideline endorsed for public exhibition
  Council endorsed the draft Hunters Hill Solar Panel Guideline for Heritage Conservation Areas and Heritage Items, placed it on public exhibition for at least 28 days, and requested a further report considering submissions before formal adoption.
  Residents and property owners in heritage areas will have an opportunity to comment before the guideline is finalised.
• Revised Data Breach Policy adopted
  Council received the report and adopted the revised Data Breach Policy.
  Updates Council’s internal approach to responding to data breaches and managing information-security risks.
• Support for Hunters Hill Quilters’ 2026 Show
  Council waived Town Hall hire fees for the event from 13 to 16 August 2026, reported as $4,756.95, and required the organisers to pay a $250 cleaning fee. After-hours call-outs to Council officers will be charged at $160 per hour, with a one-hour minimum followed by 15-minute increments. The organisers must acknowledge Council sponsorship.
  Supports a local community event while retaining cleaning and after-hours service charges.

Discussion

• Heritage solar panels
  A draft guideline for solar panels in Heritage Conservation Areas and on Heritage Items will be publicly exhibited for at least 28 days.
  Affected property owners and residents can make submissions before Council considers formal adoption.
• Community event fees and sponsorship
  The Hunters Hill Quilters’ 2026 Show received a Town Hall hire-fee waiver, with separate cleaning and after-hours officer charges applying.
  Shows how Council is supporting a community event while recovering some event-related costs.
• Antisemitism strategy
  Council adopted a draft Strategy to Combat Antisemitism following community addresses to the meeting.
  Provides a formal policy basis for Council’s work on antisemitism and community inclusion.
• Information security
  Council adopted a revised Data Breach Policy.
  Strengthens the policy framework for handling potential breaches of Council-held information.

Impacts

• Submissions can be made on the draft heritage solar-panel guideline during the 28-day public exhibition period; the exhibition dates were not stated in the extracted minutes.
• The Hunters Hill Quilters’ 2026 Show will be held at Town Hall from 13 to 16 August 2026, with hire fees waived.
• The event organisers must pay a $250 Town Hall cleaning fee and may incur after-hours officer call-out charges of $160 per hour, subject to the stated minimum and increments.
• Council has adopted a strategy addressing antisemitism and a revised policy for data-breach management.

Places

• Hunters Hill (locality)
  Council area and location associated with the solar-panel guideline and Hunters Hill Quilters.
• Town Hall (facility)
  Venue for the Hunters Hill Quilters’ 2026 Show from 13 to 16 August 2026.
• Heritage Conservation Areas and Heritage Items (heritage area)
  Properties and areas covered by the draft solar-panel guideline.

Next

• Place the endorsed draft Hunters Hill Solar Panel Guideline on public exhibition and invite public submissions.
  For at least 28 days; exact dates were not stated.
• Prepare a further report on the solar-panel guideline, including submissions received during the exhibition period, before formal adoption.
  After the public exhibition period.
• Hunters Hill Quilters to pay the $250 cleaning fee and acknowledge Council sponsorship for the 2026 Show.
  In connection with the event from 13 to 16 August 2026.

Extract

MINUTES OF ORDINARY MEETING held 23 March 2026 Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on 23 March 2026. This is COMMENCEMENT The meeting opened with Acknowledgement of Country and Prayer at 6.01pm. IN ATTENDANCE The Mayor Zac Miles, Deputy Mayor Julia Prieston, Councillors Carla Kassab, Carol Tannous Sleiman, Tatyana Virgara, Marc Lane and Ross Williams. ALSO PRESENT General Manager Nick Tobin, Director Planning and Infrastructure Sally Hamilton, Director Community and Customer Services Annie Goodman, Manager Communications and Events Shery Demian, Chief Financial Officer Christian Menday, Recording Steven Spagnolo and Minute-taker Sarah Valentine. APOLOGIES No apologies were received. DECLAR...