Over the past month, I have had the privilege to attend many end-of-year award services at local schools and have been impressed with students' bright minds and achievements.

Special congratulations to our 2023 Higher School Certificate (HSC) students, who will have all received their marks this week. Whatever your results were, this milestone marks 13 years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. Best of luck for your next endeavours.

This week, our highly valued Meals on Wheels service hosted a special Christmas-themed lunch with regular customers and a few new faces. This vital service holds a free community lunch most weeks of the year, bringing people together. The service also provides some 20,600 tasty and nutritious home-delivered meals to residents over 65 or those aged over 50 years and who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. 

Meals on Wheels is more than a tasty and nutritious home-delivered food service. The team, made up mostly of volunteers, offer a friendly smile, a sympathetic ear and a helping hand to older people in our community.

I am so proud and grateful for the work of Council's army of volunteers. Earlier this week we shared a meal to celebrate Christmas and an amazing year of selfless dedication with this special group of people. We are fortunate to have over 1,000 volunteers on the Beaches who dedicate their time to our community, helping to deliver services across Meals on Wheels, libraries, bush care, and visitor services. Thank you for all your do for our community.

Have a lovely weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

Summer has landed with a bang, and we are set for extreme heat this weekend. Hot weather can affect everyone, with some at greater risk, including seniors with existing medical conditions, babies and young children, pregnant women and others. Learn more about what to do in heatwaves.

As we embrace the extreme weather, we are concerned our beaches will be extremely busy with locals and visitors seeking relief from the heat. More people on beaches could mean more rescues and drownings.

Last year, over 10.8 million people visited our beaches, with 1,427 rescues and 4,300 first aid cases requiring attention. Sadly, six people lost their lives in the Sydney Northern Beaches Surf Life Saving Branch area over the last year.

We're doing our bit to arm beachgoers with tips to stay safe this beach season with a new 'Be Beach Safe' campaign. Please do your bit by taking beach safety seriously and spreading the word with your visiting friends and relatives.

This week, Council hosted our annual Disability Services Expo, where over 35 local service providers connected with people with disability, their families, and carers. I am so proud that we have so many local services committed to a more inclusive Northern Beaches. We all want to make life better for people with disability. We are proud of our Disability Inclusion Action Plan, which has 62 actions, from disability awareness training for staff to delivering new accessible parking spaces, and we report on our progress each year to keep ourselves accountable.

Finally, as Christmas approaches, I encourage you to shop local as much as possible. While you’re out and about, view the beautiful shop front windows participating in the Northern Beaches Christmas Window Competition. This joyful initiative features local shopfronts transformed into enchanting displays spreading warmth and cheer. Don’t forget to vote for your favourite!

Have a lovely weekend.

Mayor Sue Heins

This week, the Hon. Paul Scully MP, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, announced significant planning reforms to expedite a diverse range of housing options in NSW. The proposed changes allow more diverse and affordable housing near transport hubs and town centres in an attempt to boost the housing supply.

This news comes just weeks after the Minister wrote to mayors of all councils emphasising the need for councils to review policies. While NSW needs to address this housing crisis, the abrupt shift from consulting councils to proposing a broad State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) raises significant concerns.

Council recognises housing challenges and is already working on solutions aligned with our endorsed Local Housing Strategy. Still, a one-size-fits-all approach limits local planning flexibility, eliminates proper community consultation and removes local strategic planning for housing growth.

Council agreed this week to voice our apprehensions to the Minister and prepare a submission against the proposal for the forthcoming SEPP public consultation.

On a lighter note, last night, we marked a spectacular celebration of our 30th Ocean Festival, where we awarded the winners of the UNDERWATER! 2023 Photo Competition. 

A stunning image of a giant cuttlefish swooshing through shallow water at Cabbage Tree Bay Aquatic Reserve won the overall winner's prize. Seven other entries were also awarded, with winners sharing in a prize pool of $4,400.

'UNDERWATER!' is a competition that highlights local photographers' incredible talent and shines a light on our pristine Aquatic reserves.

There's a valuable world of marine life in our waterways. The Ocean Festival and this competition bring to the surface an opportunity to look at what lies beneath and value and protect our marine environment for future generations.

Congratulations to all the winners and judges, and thank you to all entrants for participating in the competition.

View all images from the finalists.

Have a lovely weekend.

As we approach the season of giving and gratitude, we must address an issue that continues to mar the lives of far too many in our community—gender-based violence. Together, we must unite against such acts and build a community where safety, respect, and equality are non-negotiable.

The United Nations' 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign for global action starts tomorrow, 25 November and runs until 10 December. I encourage everyone to engage with the campaign, learn more about the issue, and be part of the solution. Education is a powerful tool, and by understanding the signs of domestic violence and challenging harmful stereotypes, we can create an environment where victims feel supported and empowered to seek help.

Another issue that affects everyone in our community, particularly as we approach the Christmas period, is cyber security and scams.

Next week is Scams Awareness Week, a time to slow down and think about who we’re really dealing with before acting or purchasing.

We increasingly hear frightening stories of friends and family being victims of scams and fraud. Scammers can reach us in many ways like text, messaging apps, websites, social media, email or phone. At the recent Community Safety Advisory Committee meeting, it was alarming to hear from Police that cyber fraud is rising, especially targeting older people in our community.

If you are aware of a scam, help others by reporting the scam to the National Anti-Scam Centre via Scamwatch.gov.au.

Council is hosting a series of information and tech help sessions at our libraries to help people who might need a little guidance to develop new skills to spot a scam and keep safe online. Find one near you.

I also encourage the seniors in our community to visit their local Computer Pals branch for some one-on-one help.

Stay safe and have a lovely weekend.

As a forward-thinking community committed to looking after the environment, we recognise that local businesses can collectively reduce their carbon footprint by joining forces to lower electricity costs.

To support our business community, we are actively supporting the formation of a buyers’ group from the Northern Beaches business community to secure a 100% renewable, long-term electricity Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The initiative represents a crucial step towards attaining net zero emissions by 2050 and offers a fantastic framework for positive change.

The more businesses that participate, the greater the discounts and benefits. I encourage businesses to register interest by 15 December 2023. Get more information about the initiative being run by Business Green Energy here.

This week is National Recycling Week, and the 2023 theme is 'What Goes Around Comes Around', emphasising the need to give resources a second life, consume less, and reduce the need for new items. The campaign aligns well with Council's draft Waste and Circular Economy Strategy 2040 – Rethink. Reduce. Reuse, currently on public exhibition. Share your thoughts on shifting habits, managing waste differently and planning for a cleaner future by 10 December.

You may have noticed that it's starting to feel a little Christmassy around our town centres and villages. Council has been busy putting decorations up and is preparing for a wonderful lead up to Christmas with popular markets and events at Dee Why and Manly. Visit our what's on page to view our Christmas events.

If you plan to celebrate with your neighbourhood, have you considered applying to have your street closed off for a street party? Our website has some helpful guides to plan a neighbourhood party and you can apply there too.

Have a lovely weekend.

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day, a special occasion for us to honour all those who died while serving in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations around the world.

Remembrance Day commemorates the Armistice which formally concluded hostilities in World War I, the ceasefire taking effect at 11am on 11 November 1918 after more than four years of continuous warfare.

Our community has a proud history of commemorating all those who have served in wars and conflicts, with memorials across the peninsula. Today, we are holding a ceremony at Manly Dam, open to all. We will also see many schoolchildren join us. We also expect a big turnout tomorrow at Council’s Manly event on The Corso, and other services happening across the Beaches, which you are welcome to join.

Lest we forget.

Earlier this week, Council opened registrations with an early bird special for the Sun Run 2024. Being 12 weeks away, this is a great opportunity to get fit, train along the coastline race route from Dee Why to Manly, and do something fun with your family and community.

Don't be deterred if you are not a runner, as the event is for everyone, with many opting to walk the 7km or 10km course. Get more information at our event website sunrun.com.au

On a final note, I'd like to congratulate our local North Narrabeen surfer Laura Enever, who just this week has officially set a new WSL World Record for a monster wave as high as a four-storey building she surfed earlier this year. What an inspiration to all young surfers. I wish her the best of luck as she chases her professional surfing dreams.

Have a lovely weekend.

Our community is so blessed to include many wonderful and diverse cultures. I look forward to seeing our community celebrate the Indian Festival of Diwali this weekend. 

Tomorrow, Saturday, 4 November, Dee Why will come alive in an explosion of colour and live music, with Bollywood dancers, Henna art and kid's crafts. Council has been working with local businesses to bring a great event together for everyone to enjoy. Diwali's message of light and hope resonates with people of all backgrounds, and everyone is welcome. Get more information here. 

On Sunday, Council is partnering with Kimbriki and local not-for-profits to bring a Reuse and Recycling event to the Beaches. This event is the perfect opportunity to declutter and responsibly dispose of things you no longer need, like clothing, manchester, bicycles, and lots more. Events like this are part of what we know as the 'circular economy' - you can learn more about it and what Council is doing to embrace it here. Before you load the car up and head to the event, please review the list of accepted items and only bring items that are in good condition. 

Less than a week ago, Council recommenced engaging with the community on plans for a new Manly Lifesaving Club. Thanks for everyone's feedback so far. Given this iconic club is valued by so many in our community, I'm not surprised that within just a few days, we have had considerable interest and feedback. 

It's well known that we need a practical, better life saving club at this popular and stunning location and the very best facilities to support our volunteer life savers, Council Lifeguards, club members and community. Rather than indicating what a new building will look like, the concept designs give you an idea of the potential footprint of both a two and three story building and provide options for the public amenities to be contained within the club building or separately.

The plans highlight all the options and benefits that a future building could deliver, but what the final building will look like is still very much on the design table. Please take a look at the concept plans and provide your feedback here. 

Have a lovely weekend, 

While our community is excellent at recycling and is making strides at diverting waste from landfill, we still create over 100,000 tonnes of household waste per year, which must be collected, transported, sorted and processed at waste facilities.

Today, I am pleased to say we are opening our draft Waste and Circular Economy Strategy 2040 – Rethink. Reduce. Reuse. for public consultation. We're on a mission to completely rethink waste management with a waste and litter service that delivers the cleanest public spaces in Sydney.

We understand that our community wants a cleaner and greener environment and is happy to embrace a little change to make it happen. Several new and exciting initiatives are planned, from piloting hubs for local reuse, repair and recycling to a food waste collection and increasing the types of waste that can be recycled.

To expedite this journey, we will collaborate with other metropolitan councils facing similar issues and urge state and federal governments to join forces to provide better planning for future pressures and more significant grant funding and infrastructure.

You can learn more about the strategy and the circular economy and get involved here.

This week, Council announced that we are supporting some 57 new community projects initiated by not-for-profits, artists, and creatives with $292,000 in grant funding. I am so proud of the successful recipients whose projects are destined to promote equality, reduce disparities, and benefit our communities and the environment.

If you know someone, a community group or a special event that makes a difference in our community, please take a few minutes to recognise them and enter them in the annual Australia Day Awards. There are six categories, and nominations close this coming Monday, 30 October.

Have a lovely weekend,

Last night, the Glen Street Theatre was buzzing with excitement as we crowned the winners of this year's 24/7 Film Festival Competition. Talented young teams from across the Beaches poured their hearts into their film projects, competing for thousands of dollars’ worth of prizes.

Among the standout entrants, 'T.Warp PTY LTD' earned three well-deserved awards for their submission, A Day in The Life Of A Travelling Entrepreneur. But they were not alone; the other winning teams were equally talented. It's inspiring to witness our incredible filmmaking talent right here in our backyard. Congratulations to all the winners.

Time is running out to have your say to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment on the the Patyegarang Planning Proposal (previously known as ‘Lizard Rock'). Council wholeheartedly support the intent of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act – after all, this land always was and always will be Aboriginal land – but we simply cannot condone this particular proposal due to the extreme risks and impacts it presents. The planning proposal, if successful, would see the destruction of around 45 football size fields of bushland to build 450 dwellings. You have just over 2-weeks to make a submission at the department’s website.

Earlier this week, our Meals on Wheels team received the prestigious 'Helping Hands' award at the recent Annual General Meeting of the NSW Meals on Wheels Association. We are immensely proud of this service, the dedicated staff and volunteers, and their positive impact on the community. 

Council services the suburbs between North Curl Curl, Seaforth and Manly with meals. If you live in any other suburb of the Northern Beaches, The Village Chef by Meals on Wheels provides meals to your area. If you think the service could help you or someone in your life, you can find out more here.

Tonight, our World Food Markets kick-off at Collaroy Plateau. Please bring your friends and family and enjoy a trip around the globe with the many cuisines on offer.

Have a great weekend,