The NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the use of e-bikes was handed down late yesterday afternoon.

While we are still digesting the report I am pleased to say that at first pass it appears they have listened to Council and our community and have recommended a range of measures to improve pedestrian and rider safety.

These include speed limits on footpaths for e-bikes, establishing safety standards, updating the Road Rules and Driver Knowledge Test and implementing a social media campaign to target young riders. See the full report.

We have led the way in getting action on these important issues. It’s now up to the NSW government to consider the report and respond to the recommendations within it.

With the ongoing commentary on the special rates variation, I would like to remind everyone that we have lots of information available so please visit the Your Say project page for fact sheets, rates calculator and FAQs.

This week there were claims that Northern Beaches staffing costs are millions more than they would have been under the 3 former Council areas had the merger not occurred. This is not true.

There are net 28 fewer positions since amalgamation with savings in executive and several back-office operations. This allowed Council to create some new community-facing services including a new 40-place preschool at North Harbour (operating without cost to ratepayers) and to expand frontline operations.

Northern Beaches Council has more than doubled the state government’s amalgamation savings target, with an estimated $161.6 million net present value saved over 10 years following the merger. These savings were invested back into the community through additional services and infrastructure and reduced domestic waste charges for ratepayers. Without these savings, our funding gap would be larger.

And we continue to identify and make savings. At the end of last year we made the difficult decision to cut a number of Hop Skip Jump bus routes and we have just notified families that Vacation Care services will no longer be provided due to decreasing attendance and increasing costs.

On a final note, head to Manly tomorrow for the Manly Health & Wellness Day, showcasing local health and wellness businesses with great activities and events from 9am.

Have a great weekend.
Mayor Sue Heins

Dear Community,

I am pleased to share the outstanding success of this year's Sun Run. Last Sunday, a record-breaking 10,000 participants hit the pavement and ran either a 10km or 7km course along the scenic route from Dee Why to Manly. Congratulations to all the winners and participants – your determination, athleticism and fundraising capabilities are inspiring.

Winners crossed the finish line in remarkable times of 30:06 minutes for the 10km and 26:18 for the 7km. This year we saw multiple records shattered - personal bests achieved, the most runners ever and an impressive $114,000 raised for charities across Australia, surpassing our $100k goal.

It is wonderful to see many locals and visitors getting out and running with friends and family, supporting their favourite charities, and spending up at local businesses afterwards (there wasn’t an empty restaurant/cafe table in sight in Manly!). More than half the competitors were visitors to our area, with many here for the day and spending with our local businesses.

To everyone who joined the run, whether to compete, cheer on a participant, raise money for a worthy cause, or simply have fun, you have helped make this year’s event unforgettable.

This week Council submitted the application for a Special Variation to rates to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). IPART will undertake its own assessment including community consultation in the coming months and we expect a decision sometime in May. Learn about the IPART assessment process.

We understand there are a range of views in the community and I encourage you to visit our Special Variation to rates page for the latest updates and to get the facts, follow the project at Your Say and use the calculator to see what the proposal will mean for you.

Have a good weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

This week Council voted to apply to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a Special Variation to increase rates to improve services and ensure ongoing quality service delivery to our community (Option 3 of the proposals).

There is no question it was a very difficult decision which I know weighed heavily on every Councillor. No one wants to ask our community to pay more for services, but the gap in our income from rates has put Council’s long-term financial stability at risk.

If approved, the proposal will equate to an increase for the average residential ratepayer of $2.70 per week next year, $3.12 per week in 2026/27 and $3.60 per week in 2027/28, on top of the usual rate peg increase.

Skyrocketing inflation, increasing construction costs, loss of income from the pandemic and massive cost shifting from other tiers of government is something we cannot catch up with by cutting services alone. In fact, an average of $379 per year from your rates funds costs that were shifted to us from state and federal governments.

The existing rate cap funding model for all councils is broken and this application process is hurting communities across the state. We are aware of 5 other councils considering a rates variation this year and there are 57 others who have had IPART approve variations in the last 9 years.

Clearly the system the government has in place is not sustainable for councils and the only way we can keep on top of maintaining our pools, playgrounds, beaches, libraries etc. is to go through this difficult IPART process.

It needs a complete shake up so other councils don't suffer what our community is going through - which is exactly what the recent NSW parliamentary inquiry recommended.

Be assured, your elected Council is considering a range of other cost cutting measures including some cut already (voted on in December 2024) and there’s a detailed improvement and productivity plan, Attachment 4, page 192 of the Council Report, that will accompany our IPART application.

These savings are on top of the $29.5 million per year saved on amalgamation.

Some Councillors are proposing cancelling events including Christmas carols and New Years Eve fireworks or selling off public land and assets. While everything is on the table for consideration there is no quick fix to address the shortfall, from inflation alone, of $24 million per year needed to maintain our assets that won’t leave a massive maintenance burden for future generations.

If approved by IPART, the proposed variation in rates will allow us to better invest in roads and footpaths and to address stormwater backlogs and respond to the more frequent and unpredictable extreme weather events.

It will allow us to better protect the bushland and coastal environment that make our area so special. And we will be able to adequately fund improvements to sportsfields, aquatic centres, playgrounds, surf lifesaving buildings, town centres and more complex environmental restoration programs.

We understand this proposal will result in increased rates for our community. However, we believe it is the right way forward to manage the many challenges we face and to protect the things our community value. It will mean the difference between delivering the assets, services and infrastructure our community can be proud of, or just doing the bare minimum of repairs to keep them functional.

Once the application is submitted to IPART, they then conduct their own community consultation and will advise us of their decision around May. I will keep you updated with the details once they become available.

Unfortunately, the issue has elicited some misinformation and inaccurate reporting in the media and on social media. I encourage you to get the facts, visit the project page and use the calculator to see what the proposal will mean for your property.

Mayor Sue Heins

This week I was alerted via the media to a proposal by the NSW Government to provide Council beach parking permits to renters in the same way they are provided to ratepayers.

In a utopian world we’d have 240,000 parking spots available at our beaches for all our residents and no need for permits or to charge for beachside parking at all.

However, we live in the real world where there are limited spots available and the cost to maintain, clean and staff our beaches and rockpools, and surrounding infrastructure, is increasing in line with the cost to provide all council infrastructure and services.

This idea costs the state government nothing (in fact it gives them a great headline), yet once again Council ratepayers pick up the costs.

I have sought an urgent meeting with the Minister to find out his plans to cover the funds ratepayers will lose, potentially over half a million dollars a year, if this proposal is implemented. I will keep the community updated.

Next week is the first council meeting of the year where we will be considering Council's long term financial sustainability. Ongoing cost shifting from the state government is a key reason we need to be having these discussions.

On a much happier note, a huge congratulations to all our Australia Day award winners. This year’s winners showcase the many incredible ways our locals contribute to our community. From surf lifesaving and emergency service volunteers to an inspiring endurance athlete, and community events and groups raising funds for essential services. All the winners embody the strength and spirit that make the Northern Beaches community so special.

Have a good weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

Happy new year. I hope you all enjoyed the holiday period here on one of the best places on the planet. We had more than 30,000 people ringing in the new year on our shores watching Council's fireworks and tens of thousands of others enjoying our Christmas and summer events.

We have lots planned for the year ahead and I look forward to keeping you informed and involved.

A shout out to the quick work of Council clean up crews on our beaches this week following the discovery of unidentified pollution balls washed up on nine of our southern beaches.

Both Council and the EPA have undertaken testing and we’re hopeful these tests will help the EPA to identify the source of this pollution. This type of issue has affected a number of beaches in NSW in recent months and we want to ensure it’s not the start of a return to the bad old days of beach pollution.

Our crews are continuing to monitor the beaches and encourage residents to get in touch if they see any of the small balls – call Customer Service on 1300 434 434 or EPA Environment Line on 131 555.

On a lighter note, with Australia Day just around the corner we have a number of events you can enjoy leading into and on the day. Check out the Australian Made Markets this Sunday and the outdoor movie, pool parties and a food truck party next week.

Mayor Sue Heins

Transcript

As we near the end of another huge year I would l like to thank all of you who engaged with Council throughout the year.

If you visited one the many libraries or community centres, or said thanks to your waste collector or public place cleaner.

If you played sport on one of the 122 local fields or cooled off at one of the many beaches or pools.  

If your kids had fun at a Council early learning centre or at one of the 219 playgrounds we maintain across the area.  

Perhaps you enjoyed an art exhibition, a show at Glen St Theatre or soaked up the community spirit at one of the many local Council events.

Almost 10,000 of you made a submission on a council project or initiative and over 210,000 contacted our fantastic customer service team to report an issue or seek advice.

It’s been a big year and with a new council elected in October we have big plans ahead.
We can’t wait to continue to work with you, our community, alongside our dedicated staff and volunteers, to map the way forward.

It’s worth saying that this time of year can be a really difficult and lonely time for some. If you can, reach out to your neighbours and colleagues – connection can really help.

If you or someone you know needs support, councils website provides a wealth of information about all types of support services in the local area.

To all, have a very safe and happy Christmas and best wishes for the holiday season. I look forward to seeing you 2025.

Dear Community,

As many of you would be aware, we are well into consultation on how to sustainably fund Council into the future. So why propose a rate increase now and how did it get to this?

The fact is high inflation, natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic and shifts in costs to Council from other areas of government have put increasing pressure on our ability to maintain services.

For the last few years, we’ve had a finely balanced budget. But the gap between the high cost of building and delivering services is outstripping income from rates.

We’ve found millions in savings year on year. And we will continue to look to save costs wherever we can. But it’s not enough - skyrocketing costs have left us with a $24 million gap from inflation alone.

And it’s not just us - every NSW council is facing this issue. Two in 3 councils increased rates through a Special Variation over the past 10 years.

In fact, a Parliamentary inquiry into local government funding released just last week found that the whole sector is at risk under the current arrangements.

We know inflation is putting pressure on household budgets - just like at Council.

Any changes are proposed to be phased in over 3 years with the average rate payer in the first year paying between $3.19 and $4.49 extra per week.

I encourage ratepayers to look at the rate options Council is considering and use the online rates calculator to see exactly what your weekly and annual increases phased over 3 years will be under each option.

I look forward to your feedback as your Councillors consider the future funding for the Northern Beaches at a special meeting in late January.

Mayor Sue Heins

The much-anticipated gymnastics Centre of Excellence for the Northern Beaches is a step closer after Manly Warringah Gymnastics Club (MWGC) secured a grant from the Commonwealth Government this week.

This is welcome news and means the Club can now get on with transforming the former North Manly Bowling Club site into a modern, state-of-the-art facility to meet the growing needs of recreational and professional gymnasts for many years to come.

With construction underway across the road for a new golf clubhouse, squash and tennis facilities, North Manly will soon be home to a range of fantastic new recreational facilities, complementing Nolan Reserve’s highly utilised sporting fields.

Our information sessions on the 4 proposed rate options to ensure we can fund your roads, footpaths, pools, libraries, sportsfields and other services into the future are well underway and it's great to see people using the online rates calculator and providing feedback. If you’d like to learn more about the proposals, our team will be at Avalon Woolworths this morning, Berry Reserve Markets next Saturday and hosting an online session next Wednesday evening.

Have you seen the incredible photos and videos from the winners of the Underwater Photography Competition? From Port Jackson sharks to green sea turtles, the incredible colours of the giant cuttlefish to the geometric patterns of sea slugs, you can enjoy this rare glimpse into the world beneath the waves.

And finally, as the end of the year approaches, happy 100th birthday to Royal Far West, celebrating one hundred years of dedication to improving the health and wellbeing of country children and their families. A huge congratulations to all the team.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

Everyone has the right to feel and be safe, and you can play a big part in that. Gender-based violence is a tragic reality that affects many women and children on the Northern Beaches. 

As an executive member of the Northern Beaches Domestic Violence Network, Council is proud to be involved in the United Nations' 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign that started this week. Stand with us and your community by attending one of the workshops and events planned and Walk Against Violence next Friday 6 December.

You may have heard in the news that the construction company building the new Frenchs Forest High has been fined by the EPA for serious environmental pollution that impacted Curl Curl Creek and Manly Dam (Manly Warringah War Memorial Park).

We welcome this news and hope it sends a strong message to other such large companies to properly secure and contain their sites to prevent damage to their neighbours and the environment. Council has stood with the community on this issue and advocated for the EPA to act and hold the construction company to account.

Families looking for a little outdoor fun and activity now have a new playground to head to. Freshwater Beach’s renovated all-accessible playground is bound to be wildly popular with locals and visitors, and complements the recently installed picnic shelters, BBQs, an accessible ramp, and stairs.

This week I had the privilege to attend the renaming of North Steyne Playground to the Jean Hay AM Playground. This playground, set right on Manly beachfront, now honours one of the Northern Beaches longest serving Mayors who also dedicated more than 50 years of service to the people of Manly. 

Have a great weekend
Mayor Sue Heins