We’re seeking community feedback on the Draft Property Management Framework which enables Council to make short, medium, and long-term decisions around its property portfolio.

The intention of the framework is to guide Council’s decision-making with regards to the use of its property, its acquisition needs, any redevelopment or properties that are no longer required.  

Regular acquisition and disposal of land is a healthy activity in a property portfolio as varied and large as that managed by Council over the long term.

“We want to make the right decisions about our property portfolio to ensure it is sustainable and meets our community’s needs,” Northern Beaches CEO Ray Brownlee said.

“This framework will guide our decision making but also provide transparency on how our property portfolio is managed. We invite you to have your say because after all, the lands, buildings, reserves, parks, and facilities we own or manage belong to you, the community.”

Northern Beaches Council has an extensive property portfolio including 542 buildings and 2,900 parcels of land. It includes parks, public reserves, car parks, vacant land, buildings on Council land, and Crown land under the management of Council.

The draft property management framework includes seven key focus areas and 18 specific action items to be achieved over the next five years. Some of the key actions include a review of the existing properties, work to determine future property needs of the community, an evaluation of our leases and licences, and the preparation of a Property Action Plan.

“As a result of this framework being implemented, the community can expect to see future proposals for the repurposing or redevelopment of property, business cases for Council to consider the purchase of land, the sale of surplus land that no longer serves the communities needs, and the establishment of a financial reserve to meet the future needs of our growing population,” Mr. Brownlee said.

“It’s about managing our property portfolio in a smarter and more sustainable way to ensure the needs of our residents are put first.”

The framework proposes to establish a specialist committee of Council – the Property Steering Committee – to ensure Council decisions on property matters are guided by the framework with expert advice and appropriate governance frameworks. It also seeks to strengthen relationships with MetroLALC, Crown Lands, and State and Federal Governments.

Submissions on the Draft Northern Beaches Property Management Framework close on 30 March 2022.

For more information or to have your say visit our website.