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

Yesterday, I opened the much-anticipated new feature at Manly Warringah War Memorial State Park, the Manly Dam Link Trail. The new 400m boardwalk and viewing decks have made the trail more accessible for everyone, making it easier to move through this amazing park. The new trail is designed to complement the peaceful bushland setting and is sensitive to the existing natural environment. Thank you to everyone involved in bringing this project to life.

This week we launched the community engagement program to seek feedback about options for a special variation to rates. We're committed to making sure everyone has the opportunity to understand what the options mean and how they will impact Council’s ability to deliver services and infrastructure, now and into the future. We know this is a difficult conversation but also one we need to have. With cost increases outpacing income from rates, our long-term financial stability is now at a critical point. I encourage you to learn about the proposed options by visiting the Funding our Future project page, using the online Rates Calculator and giving us your feedback. There are also a number of community pop-up information sessions and webinars coming soon, so please join us to find out more.

In other news, Council is looking for volunteers to help with the Northern Beaches' first Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) program. Facilitators will help develop practical and effective emergency plans for members of our community who may be vulnerable and need support, ensuring they are prepared with a clear plan when responding to an emergency. If you are interested, you can apply via our website. Applications close 17 January 2025 and training commences in February 2025.

Finally, you may have noticed that Council’s elves have decorated our local town centres and villages across the Beaches with decorations and lights. Starting 11 December, local musicians will also provide festive tunes with 12 Days of Busking. We hope that by bringing festive cheer to our commercial centres, you’ll be keen to spend some time and do your Christmas shopping locally. By doing so you’re helping keep jobs and support our local businesses.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

Earlier this week, Council resolved to start a conversation with the community about the rates we pay to provide local services and infrastructure across the Northern Beaches.

A conversation about the need to raise rates is not something any councillor approaches lightly, however current circumstances mean it’s an important discussion to protect the long-term financial sustainability of our area.

At Council we are not immune to the rising cost of inflation. Costs to maintain, renew and improve our ageing roads, sportsfields, playgrounds, pools, libraries and other community infrastructure are escalating. And the gap between those costs and the income we receive from rates is growing. Since amalgamation Council has saved millions of dollars in efforts to reduce costs and improve productivity but it’s not enough to cover the gap.

The reality is, unless we intervene, our assets will deteriorate and we will need to make the tough decisions to cut services. Or we could choose an option to make real improvements to community infrastructure, enhance our environmental protection programs and ensure we have a reserve to manage future emergencies.

We need your input. Consultation begins next Monday and I ask you to get informed. There will be resources available online and at all our libraries, customer service centres and more to help you understand each of the four options, what it means to you and for our community. Please get along to a face-to-face pop up near you or join an online information session. You can use our rates calculator to get an estimate on each of the proposed options over three years. Take the time to answer the survey and have your say.

And if you’d like to be notified when the consultation is live and get updates on the project along the way, please register to follow the project page.

Mayor Sue Heins

Next Monday we mark Remembrance Day, commemorating the Armistice and acknowledging all those who have suffered or died in wars and armed conflicts across the world. It’s an important opportunity for us all to mark a minute’s silence and think of the sacrifice and commitment of our armed service personnel, past and present. Join a Council service or one of the many being hosted by RSL branches across the area.

A reminder that the first stage of consultation on the Community Strategic Plan closes at the end of next week. We’re asking if the visions and aspirations for the future of our area are still relevant for today. What should our goals be in relation to our environment, local economy and community? We’d love to hear the diverse views of people young and old, from different cultural backgrounds and from across the area. Take the short survey to have your say before 17 November.

As we hurtle towards December, save the date for our popular family Christmas events. With carols, markets and a visit from Santa they are a must on the festive calendar.

This week registrations were also opened for Sun Run 2025, a picturesque 10km or 7km course along the coast from Dee Why to Manly Beach. Over 1000 people have already registered and with the event filling up quickly last year, enter now to avoid disappointment.

Finally, congratulations to our staff for bringing home the Community Impact & Industry Excellence award at the 2024 Parking Industry Awards, recognising Council’s commitment to our ambitious goal of achieving a 30% reduction in vehicle emissions by 2038. More than 20 Electric Vehicle charging stations have been installed across our region, supporting more residents to transition to a more eco-friendly alternative.

And our incredible early learning team must be finding it hard to find the space for all their accolades, winning the Large Community Metropolitan Service Award at the Excellence in Early Childhood Education Awards on Saturday Night, another prestigious recognition for their commitment to local families.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

This week Council staff gave evidence at the NSW Government Inquiry into the use of e-scooters, e-bikes and related mobility vehicles. While the growth of these transport options has some great benefits, it’s clear regulation and education is lagging and action is needed to address both pedestrian and rider safety.

The Inquiry provided the opportunity to share resident concerns with the state parliament and call once again for reforms.

Among other things what’s needed is clear unambiguous legislation to enable police enforcement, speed management and a framework to define types of devices, linked to a range of regulations such as age and passenger limits, permissibility to use footpaths and other areas and licencing requirements. Manufacturing standards and import regulations are also needed so, for example, if an e-bike is not permitted to go above 25km/hour it should not be made to reach speeds greater than this.

The NSW Government flagged their intention to legalise e-scooters as part of a new E-micromobility Action Plan. I look forward to hearing more about how this will work and how the potential impacts of this on local government and the community will be ameliorated.

A final reminder to nominate someone in our Australia Day awards. With applications closing Monday don’t miss your chance to nominate a deserving individual, senior or young citizen, sportsperson, community event or community group.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

A greasy pizza box. A plastic milk container with lid. A takeaway coffee cup. If, like me, you have ever stood at your coloured household bins wondering where to put something, you’ll find the answer in our new Bin it right campaign.

(BTW: greasy pizza box = blue, milk container = yellow and coffee cup = red.)

If we all put our rubbish in the right bin, we’d increase our recycling, reduce costs and divert more waste from landfill. Check out common items which are found in the wrong bin.

Happy 10th birthday to Avalon Car Boot Sale. Join the celebrations this Saturday with roving entertainment, kids' games and facepainting, live music and even some special offers from local businesses. And of course, bag a bargain or two from a range of stallholders selling pre-loved items.

While we are marking anniversaries, congratulations to Fisher Road School for an incredible 50 years. The school’s committed teachers and staff provide a fantastic learning environment for young people with disabilities and are critical to the fabric of our Northern Beaches community.

And a shout out to all the students and their families in the throws of the HSC – hang in there, it’s not long now!

Finally, it has been great getting to know all the new Councillors as induction and briefings continue. If you’d like to learn more about the backgrounds and passions of your elected representatives, you can read their bios and watch their inaugural speeches.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

At the start of every new Council term we review our Community Strategic Plan to ensure our focus now and for the future aligns with the priorities of our community and new councillors. We’d love your input!

Are the goals and outcomes around our local environment, housing, community, transport, arts and local economy still relevant and reflect the direction we should be heading? Take our quick survey and the feedback will be used as we develop the more detailed plan early next year.

We’re celebrating Small Business Month by supporting our local business community to stay well and active. From personal experience I know that when you are juggling the demands of running a small business, self-care drops way down the to-do list, if it’s on there at all. That’s why Council is offering business owners a month of activities across the Northern Beaches. Try reformer, yoga, Zumba or self-defence - check out the program and register for a free class near you.

Finally, it’s great to announce the list of successful recipients for our annual grants program this week. They will support local community groups and individuals to reduce social isolation, support people with disability, improve our local environment and fix local sports infrastructure.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins