Client: Hornsby Shire Council, NSW | Project timeframe: 2023-2024
“We used some Liveability Census results to support a grant application to Thriving Suburbs (federal funding to support housing growth) and were successful in our ask for $12.158 mil for Hornsby Park – Field of Play project.”
Hornsby Shire Council, NSW
The problem
Hornsby Shire is experiencing significant growth, particularly in areas identified for increased housing density. As population and its diversity increase, Council needs clear and defensible data to guide and attract public and private investment in critical social infrastructure, ensuring new and existing communities will be well-supported.
The solution
As a Liveability Census partner since 2021, Hornsby Shire has progressively embedded community insights into its decision-making. In 2025, Hornsby Shire Council committed to aligning Place Score’s 50 liveability metrics with its Community Strategic Plan – ensuring community outcomes are directly embedded into strategic planning and delivery priorities.
By leveraging Place Score’s liveability data, Council built a clear, geographically and demographically nuanced picture of priorities across places and groups. This enabled them to demonstrate where infrastructure gaps were most acute, particularly in high-growth areas targeted for increased housing.
The use of robust, community-derived insights provided credible, defensible evidence to support funding advocacy.
The outcome
Armed with strong, evidence-based justification, Hornsby Shire Council successfully advocated for and secured millions in State Government funding for critical social infrastructure.
This approach not only strengthened their funding submission, but reinforced Council’s long-term commitment to creating liveable, well-supported communities as housing density increases – ensuring growth is matched with the infrastructure communities value most.
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