It's been an extremely sad week as we mourn the life of a young boy following the tragic accident at Griffith Park, Collaroy. The pain and devastation caused by this incident are unimaginable, and our thoughts remain with the family, all those present at the time and the Collaroy Cougars and Dural rugby clubs’ communities.

I was heartened to hear that the Cougars Club has received generous offers of assistance for the family from local businesses and members of the community. Thank you to all those who have offered their support. 

It is currently Local Government Week, an annual event that allows all NSW councils to showcase the vital role we play in our communities. For our Council, it is a time to reflect on our achievements and contributions and highlight the highly-valuable work that our staff do.

You can learn more about what some of our staff do here. If you are looking for a local role, explore opportunities to work with our Council here.

Last night Council awarded the winners of the Northern Beaches Environmental Art and Design Prize. This prestigious award recognises the talent and creativity of individuals who use their artistic skills to raise awareness about environmental issues and inspire positive change. Congratulations to all winners across the nine categories.

I encourage you to see the finalists’ works which are on exhibition from today until 27 August. While you’re there, you can vote for your favourite work in the People's Choice Award. Learn more about the exhibition running across three local venues here.

Have a great weekend,

The importance of early education in shaping the future of our children and community cannot be overstated. In celebration of Early Learning Matters Week, I enjoyed visiting one of our nine children's centres. It was a delightful experience. I talked to our exceptional early learning educators at Narrabeen Children’s Centre and met some of the children enrolled at the centre.

I was fascinated to learn that a child's brain develops faster in the first five years of their life than at any other time, with some 90% of brain development occurring during these early years.

Driven by their passion for delivering high-quality early education to our local children, Council's dedicated teams work tirelessly to provide a range of services including long day care, pre-school, vacation care and family day care. I encourage you to explore our services and discover the opportunities available for your child's early education.

For anyone interested in pursuing a career in this field, Council is currently recruiting! You can learn more here.

Yesterday we also marked the start of Creative Open 2023, which runs until Sunday 30 July. This winter arts festival celebrates the vibrant art, design, and music scene of the Northern Beaches. You can visit and experience over 50 events local creative spaces, exhibitions, performances, talks, and workshops.   

Finally, this Sunday is National Tree Day, a time to come together and contribute to the greening of the Northern Beaches. You can get involved at either Avalon or Curl Curl and help revegetate the area with native plants. Everyone is welcome, but please book your spot in advance to ensure you don’t miss out. Want to plant at Avalon? Book here. Want to plant up Curl Curl? Book here.

Earlier this week, I had the privilege of attending Long Reef Surf Lifesaving Club when Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC paid a visit to our area. Her Excellency expressed her gratitude for the volunteers and admiration for our new building and facilities, which serve as a hub for our community. This visit was a testament to our volunteers' incredible work, and I am grateful to have witnessed this recognition first-hand.

In line with our pursuit of a greener community and keeping up with the community's transition to electric vehicles, we are partnering with JOLT to deploy eight more free public charging stations across the Beaches. We've identified eight locations providing good accessibility and convenience. Take a look and provide your comments by this Sunday.  

Council has an excellent opportunity for local businesses to help them gain exposure and raise the profile of our community's unique character and offerings with a Shop Local campaign. We're looking to work with interested businesses to develop photography and videography content, so if you are a business owner or know someone who might be interested, learn more and express your interest.

Finally, excitement is in the air as we embrace the FIFA Women's World Cup. Make the most of this event by watching the matches at one of our local venues and supporting our beloved local businesses. It's also a great opportunity to meet new people and strengthen the bonds within our community. Check with your favourite venues for screening times.

Have a great weekend.

I recently learnt that our local area has one of the highest rates of volunteering in the country. Clearly our community knows that volunteering is a meaningful way to contribute to our community and create positive change.

Our thriving network of individuals supporting community services offered by Council includes more than 800 dedicated volunteers. From delivering library books to protecting our marine life and hosting community Meals on Wheels lunches, they are all making a huge difference in our community. There are also many more people offering their time to charities, not for profits and schools.  

Volunteering at Council just got a whole lot easier with our new online platform called Be Collective. It’s designed to connect people wanting to volunteer with meaningful volunteer opportunities available at Council. If you are interested in signing up, it’s open to everyone. You can learn more and view current opportunities here.

Thank you to all our current volunteers for your support and dedication to our community. It is your passion and commitment that make the Northern Beaches the vibrant and extraordinary place that it is.

A big shout out to all the amazing local businesses recognised in the Local Business Awards on Tuesday night. Council was honoured to once again be the major sponsor for the Disability Inclusion Award and Business Sustainability Award categories. 

Inclusion is a fundamental value that we uphold on the Beaches, and I believe everyone, regardless of their abilities, deserves equal opportunities and access to all aspects of community life. Our Disability Inclusion Award aims to recognise and honour businesses that have that have gone above and beyond in promoting disability inclusion, removing barriers and promoting accessibility within our community. 

Local businesses also play a vital role in driving positive change and setting an example for others to follow regarding sustainability. This is why we sponsor the Business Sustainability Award that recognises and celebrates local businesses that have made outstanding efforts towards creating a sustainable and environmentally friendly community. 

Congratulations to all the winners. You can read more about them here. 

Have a lovely weekend. 

Earlier this week, I met the former yellow Wiggle Greg Page, as we publicly launched the roll-out of 15 new defibrillators (AEDs) in 15 key locations across the Beaches. This life-saving equipment, generously donated by Heart of the Nation and Mounties Group, will mean any member of our community can access devices, any time of the day.

Using an AED within 3 to 5 minutes of a sudden cardiac arrest, can increase the chance of survival to 70 per cent. I encourage you to see where they are located, learn how to perform CPR and use the devices through the Heart of the Nation campaign and their free app. 

The Beaches is made up of so many great people, groups and organisations that make our area an amazing place to work and live. They are the lifeblood of our community.  That is why we have a fantastic grants program to help support and fund ideas that will benefit our people and environment.

Our 2023/24 grants cover a wide range of initiatives from arts & creativity, community development, environmental initiatives, events, and sponsorship, placemaking and sports and recreation. This is a great opportunity so please see if there is a grant for your idea, or someone you know, here.

This month we are again celebrating Plastic Free July. This global movement, followed by millions worldwide, aims to reduce our reliance on harmful plastics.

Our Council has been actively supporting this important cause for many years, working together with the community to raise awareness and make conscious choices that will have a lasting positive impact on our environment.

Throughout July, we have organised a series of engaging and educational activities, including 3D painting of a whale, workshops and webinar and an interactive theatre experience. I hope you can come along.   

Have a lovely weekend

Mayor Heins 

This Sunday marks the beginning of NAIDOC Week, a special time to celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and achievements of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

While NAIDOC Week allows us to reflect on the invaluable contributions of our First Nations peoples, it's important to remember that supporting and learning about the oldest living culture on the planet should extend beyond this week alone. By learning about Indigenous histories, traditions, and perspectives, we can foster a greater sense of respect and unity within our community.

If you haven't already, I encourage you to visit our local Aboriginal Heritage Office Museum in Freshwater village open Tuesday to Thursday, 9am – 3pm or explore their online resources to learn about local clans, sites of significance, and culture.

Council has also organised a range of NAIDOC Week events and activities to promote understanding, appreciation, and reconciliation. You can find more information about these events here.

Earlier this week Council endorsed the budget for the upcoming year, which includes a robust capital works program. Despite facing significant external financial pressures, we have successfully balanced our budget and are committed to delivering essential infrastructure and services to our community.

The endorsed budget for the year 2023/24 projects a total expenditure of $507 million, with a significant allocation of $102 million dedicated to our capital works program. This program represents a substantial investment in improving our area and meeting your needs as residents and businesses owners.

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to keep the Northern Beaches a vibrant and thriving area and connected community.

Have a nice weekend,

Mayor Heins

Thank you to TAFE NSW for helping members of our community from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with its Northern Beaches Multicultural Expo this week. I attended the event, and it was wonderful to see TAFE students and other community members accessing information on education, employment, and support services. Everyone should have equal access to services, and the more we celebrate diversity in our community, the better we all are.

This week I also had the pleasure of attending the Girls on Fire Rainbow Program, which provides our LGBTQIA+ youth with an opportunity to learn about the role that fire and emergency agencies play in our community. I was honoured to meet the participants and see how the program is building resilience within our community.

Speaking of fire and emergencies, I will be helping to open the new Rural Fire Service Brigade building at Duffys Forest this weekend. The state-of-the-art facilities, including energy-efficient lighting systems, rainwater harvesting, and water wise showers and tapware, will enable our amazing volunteers to better respond to emergencies. Thank you to everyone involved, including the local Brigade, RFS and Council staff, for bringing this project to life.

Next week at the Council meeting, we will welcome Councillor Karina Page to the Council chambers. Councillor Page is the successful candidate in the countback election for the vacant Pittwater Ward Councillor position following Rory Amon’s resignation from Council. Congratulations, Councillor Page. I look forward to working with you to serve the community. Please join me in welcoming Councillor Page.

Have a lovely weekend,

Mayor Heins 

My heart goes out to the Singleton and Hunter Valley community, and families and friends affected by the horrific tragedy that claimed the lives of 10 people – including one of our own who was born here on the Northern Beaches. They were travelling home after celebrating what should have been a joyous occasion. It’s hard to imagine how people can get through such devastation. I find comfort in knowing that when a strong community bands together they can face grief and adversity together. Please continue to send your prayers and support to these families and the community from afar. We sent a message to our local government counterparts in Singleton to send our condolences at this terrible time.

If you have been to Manly recently you would have seen the major pipe repair works happening in the eastern end of The Corso. We are aware of the inconvenience caused to local businesses while we replace some 30 meters of collapsed clay pipes and thank them for staying open and their patience while we complete this work.

While pedestrians can still walk from one end of The Corso to another without stopping, the work site has impacted the local takeaway business’ seating and access. I encourage everyone to come and visit these businesses for takeaway then head across to the beachfront to eat. It’s always great to support local and even better to support local businesses doing it a little tough. Works should be complete by August/September weather permitting. 

Today we announce the 215 finalists in our 2023 Environmental Art & Design Prize. The Prize is now in its third year and brings together artists and designers from across Australia to shine a spotlight on environmental concerns and hopes for the future. It’s also a great opportunity for local artists and everyone who enjoys art and design. Work will go on exhibition across three local venues in early August. You can view the list of finalists and find out more about the exhibition here.

Have a lovely weekend,

Mayor Heins

I am pleased to announce that after an extensive and competitive recruitment process, Council has appointed Mr Scott Phillips as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) this week.

Mr Philips is highly experienced in local government as he was Chief Executive of the Local Government industry body. With his insight and understanding, Mr Phillips will support our Council in navigating the complex challenges and opportunities ahead. I look forward to working with him to deliver great outcomes for the community. He will join Council in late July.

Earlier this week, I welcomed 133 new Australians to the Northern Beaches in a very moving Citizenship Ceremony. It was wonderful to witness the joy experienced as one takes their oath. I will always remember my first citizenship ceremony as Mayor.

It was very special to welcome the Lund family as new Australians. This family of five with three children, one of whom lives with disability, has certainly been on a long journey to get citizenship. I am proud of their grit and never giving up and thank the many people who fought to keep the family in our Northern Beaches community

Last night, our new Deputy Mayor, Cr David Walton presented some of our incredible local eco-warriors with Northern Beaches Eco Awards. The deserving winners make the Northern Beaches a unique and beautiful place to live, work and visit. We are so proud to support and promote the work of these dedicated individuals and the organisations they represent. Congratulations and thank you to all these deserving individuals and groups.

Have a lovely weekend,

Mayor Heins