Plenty has changed on council over the last couple of months with Karina Page sworn in to represent Pittwater and new CEO Scott Phillips on the job from July 24. With a marathon June council meeting that was adjourned part way through until August 1 - due to the volume of business on the agenda - this councillor is only now catching up on her report!
The budget, which has received plenty of publicity, was the most important item to come to the chamber. Other issues that created plenty of controversy included a proposal to support a “No take” Aquatic reserve at Bongin Bongin Bay; whether council should promote discussion of a First Nations’ Voice to federal Parliament; and returning citizenship ceremonies to Newport for January 26 next year.
New faces at the table
One new face at the June 27 council meeting was Pittwater Liberal Councillor Karina Page, who replaces former Pittwater Liberal Rory Amon. Ms Page signed her Oath of Office in the lead up to the meeting, which was officially recognised on the night. Mr Amon resigned his post after being elected as the Pittwater state MP at the March poll. Ms Page was selected on a countback of votes from the December 2021 council election.
And joining the council table for the first time at the reconvened meeting on August 1 was new CEO Scott Phillips, who has a five year contract for the post. An urban planner by profession, Mr Phillips has more than 30 years experience in local government, most recently as chief executive of Local Government NSW. He has also served as general manager at Sutherland and Hornsby Shire councils, and spent time living and working in Denmark. Having held executive roles at state and local levels in the planning profession, he also serves on several industry boards, ministerial advisory committees, and panels.
Meeting overflow - July back on the books for next year
If nothing else, I believe this meeting showed that the previous mayor - now Frenchs Forest Your Northern Beaches Councillor as well as Wakehurst Independent MP - Michael Regan’s proposal to scrap the July council meeting was a mistake. At the September 2022 meeting, I moved an amendment to the proposal for this year’s meeting dates to keep the one in July, however, it was voted down by all councillors, except Pittwater Your Northern Beaches Councillor Michael Gencher, Curl Curl Liberal (and now Deputy Mayor) David Walton, Narrabeen Independent Councillor Vince de Luca and Curl Curl Greens Councillor Kristyn Glanville.
The June meeting is always likely to be a long one, with discussion of the budget on the agenda. When at the June 27 meeting we reached 11pm with 12 items remaining, the majority of councillors voted to adjourn until a later date. However, because councillors had not expected a July meeting, some of us were on holiday during that month or at the beginning of August. So when the meeting reconvened on August 1, we had only nine councillors in the chamber, with Frenchs Forest Liberal Stuart Sprott and Manly Liberal Georgia Ryburn joining remotely (and Narrabeen Your Northern Beaches Councillor Ruth Robins for part of the meeting), and Mr Regan, Mr Gencher and Ms Page absent.
Budget raids Mona Vale cemetery fund to finance new software
Plenty has already been written about the budget but here’s my take on it for those who’ve missed the discussions.
A raid on Mona Vale Cemetery’s Reserve Fund will part-finance a new software management system for Northern Beaches Council, following a vote at the June meeting.
The measure was contained in the 2023/24 budget papers, passed by all councillors except me and Narrabeen Independent Vince de Luca at the meeting.
In summary, the budget provides for total spending of $507 million, including capital works worth $102 million and loan repayments of $4 million - leading to a loans balance of $9 million by June 30 next year and an operating surplus of $0.4 million. Rates will rise by 3.7 per cent with an average of $58 pa and the domestic waste charge by $50 to $550.
Read on for my speech to the meeting about funding the $20 million “Enterprise Resource Planning system”.
"First of all I’d like to thank council staff for their work on the budget at a time when money is tight.
This was aggravated by the state govt’s last minute demand for a $3.1 million increase to the Emergency Services Levy after the draft budget had already been put on public exhibition.
However, as the Long term Financial Plan outlined in the budget papers indicates, we have an underlying problem with restrictions on our income compared to expected spending.
The papers foreshadow that next year we will either need to cut spending on asset renewal, maintenance and services or expect a rate increase of 7.7 per cent plus the govt’s approved rate peg, if we are to overcome the current backlog in asset renewal and maintenance.
This doesn’t sound to me like the former NSW state government’s promises of savings and increased services with council amalgamations.
The other issue is the need for a new software system, for Enterprise Resource Planning - managing all council operations. The supplier of the current system will switch off support next year so we can’t delay its purchase.
The budget posits spending $20 million on this - although it’s not identified as a separate line item anywhere, rather is subsumed under Corporate Support Services, to be spent over four years. I note also that this system is part of operational spending and not classed as an asset because the supplier can switch it off at any time.
My problem with this budget item is that it proposes borrowing $4.6 million towards its cost from the Mona Vale Cemetery Reserve Fund.
First of all, I believe this “borrowing from the dead” is unacceptable on principle. Families face considerable expense at the time of burials and some of it goes toward this fund to maintain the graveyard in perpetuity.
Secondly, this is an internally restricted fund - meaning that like those for Employee Leave Entitlements and Kimbriki Land Remediation, the money in them is meant to be retained for that specific use.
On this count alone, I am reluctant to support this budget.
However, there are other issues. In Avalon the council spent years developing the Avalon Place Plan and recently creating the shared zone - when all residents wanted was new footpaths to replace those full of trip hazards; similarly for Newport and Mona Vale villages; rockpools deteriorating at Palm Beach and Bilgola; and finally nothing for Bayview Baths or Catherine Park on Scotland Is.
Then we have, for example, roadwork eliminated to balance the budget after the Emergency Services Levy was imposed - so Grandview Dr between Newport and Bilgola Plateau will now miss out on resurfacing despite being patched and repatched after the La Nina rains.”
For those reasons, I voted against the budget.
However, with all other councillors, I supported council staff’s proposal that we enter into negotiations with software providers, Technology One Limited teamed with KPMG Australia Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, as well as separate supplier Civica Pty Ltd, with a view to contracting for a new Enterprise Resource Planning system.
Proposal to Declare Bongin Bongin Bay a “No Take” Aquatic Reserve
A “No Take” Aquatic Reserve proposed for Bongin Bongin Bay by a new environmental group, Friends of Bongin Bongin Bay, created some intense debate at the meeting. The gallery was overflowing with fishers opposed and some supporters, and so the item was moved from near the end of the agenda to the top, taking precedence even over the budget! Given the level of interest, amount of passion and discussion, I’ll go into some detail about this item.
The Friends sprang up in February from a group of swimmers who were inspired by the blue gropers, turtles and other marine creatures they see on their morning swims across the bay at Mona Vale beach. However, they were also troubled by the dramatic disappearance of marine life, including from the local rockshelf. The group approached councillors and three of us (Manly Independent Councillor Candy Bingham, Mr Gencher and I) met with the Friends, along with Mackellar Independent MP, Sophie Scamps to discuss the issue. They asked for our support in creating a “No take” Aquatic Reserve at Bongin Bongin Bay to protect marine life and increase biodiversity in the area (See website https://www.bonginbonginbay.com/index.html).
In the meantime, the Friends created a petition and gathered 6,000 signatures in 16 weeks, showing a high level of support from the community - not surprising given the council’s research showing the environment is our top priority.
With the support of me and Mr Gencher, Ms Bingham drafted a motion for the council to advance the cause by contacting NSW Fisheries for their view, and to notify NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty and Environment Minister Penny Sharpe.
However, the fishing lobby got wind of the proposal and fishers (and yes they were mostly men) flooded the gallery to oppose the motion at the meeting. And while the Friends had their 6,000 supporters on their petition, the fishers - some identifiable as from outside Sydney - sent dozens of emails to councillors arguing against the reserve.
A young local, Ellia Buhagiar, spoke at the meeting, saying no-take aquatic reserves created eco-systems that were free from exploitation and removed ambiguity about what could be removed from the area, making it easier to enforce. They could also aid public education, she said. At Manly’s Cabbage Tree Bay, designated a No-take Aquatic Reserve 21 years ago (see https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/marine-protected-areas/aquatic-reserves/cabbage-tree-bay-aquatic-reserve), scuba divers and snorkelers had observed increased biological diversity.
Regular swimmer and Friends spokesman Greg Pride tabled the petition at the meeting and said Cabbage Tree Bay had previously been a “marine desert”, before its transformation into a no-take aquatic reserve. According to Tripadvisor, snorkelling there was now one of the top 10 things to do in Sydney, Mr Pride said. He sought to calm the fears of the “voices of dissent”, saying that fishers would benefit from what scientists call the “spillover effect”, in which the increased survival rates of fish means they spawn as older adults so that their offspring are larger and fish stocks at nearby fishing spots have increased stocks.
Opposing the motion was Marcus Lincoln-Smith, a consultant with a Phd in Aquatic Ecology, who told the meeting Cabbage Tree Bay was a “fantastic place” but very different from Bongin Bongin Bay. He disputed elements of the Friends research, such as the presence of sea grass at the bay and was critical of swimmers’ impact at the site.
Another speaker against the motion was John Duggan, who identified himself as being employed in the fishing industry. Mr Dugan said the proposal was “divisive and elitist” as well as without scientific merit. Anglers had been fishing at Bongin Bongin Bay for more than 100 years, “so there’s clearly not a problem”, he told the meeting.
During debate, Ms Bingham said the Northern Beaches had 12 aquatic reserves and all but Cabbage Tree Bay allowed fishing. She noted the decision on the reserve would not be made by NBC, rather by the Department of Primary Industries. However, the number of signatures on the petition showed major support for the proposal.
In my speech to council I said aquatic reserves helped us fight the extinction crisis along with the combined threats to sea life of pollution, particularly from plastics, warming and acidifying oceans and over-fishing.
I noted that at a Friends forum in June, Marine Ecology Professor Dave Booth, from the University of Technology Sydney, had said most people supported no-take aquatic reserves. Only about 10 per cent of Australia’s coast was covered by marine sanctuaries but the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change had called for an increase to 30 per cent of our coastline.
He described how “no-take aquatic reserves”, like Cabbage Tree Bay at Manly, were the only places we see increased biodiversity. Even a small area of 50 hectares could have a profound effect, he said.
I also cited research showing aquatic reserves, and especially no-take reserves, were particularly effective at supporting marine creatures. An analysis of all previous research, carried out in 2017, found that the
“biomass of whole fish assemblages in marine reserves is, on average, 670% greater (that is nearly seven times greater) than in adjacent unprotected areas, and 343% greater (or three and a half times greater) than in partially-protected MPAs”.
(See the ICES Journal of Marine Science, Volume 75, Issue 3, May-June 2018, pp 1166–1168, https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsx059).
“This critical point for environmentalists translates for amateur anglers into a bigger catch at spots near aquatic reserves. It’s a win, win, win situation - for sea life, environmentalists and fishers,” I said.
However, Narrabeen Independent Councillor Vince de Luca moved an amendment to the motion weakening its intent, by proposing that any correspondence to council from the community be sent to government ministers.
Mr Gencher supported the amendment because he said it “progresses the intent of the motion”, and the community would have an opportunity to voice their views through the consultation process.
The Deputy Mayor, however, said he was against both the original motion and the amendment because it was outside the scope of council business. “We’re overstepping the mark and creating division within the community,” he said.
All councillors except me, Curl Curl Greens Councillor Kristyn Glanville, and Deputy Mayor Walton supported the amendment, which was adopted, and then the motion was passed unanimously, except by Mr Walton who opposed it.
Promoting Community Discussion on "The Voice"
A call to support community discussion of “The Voice’ was another controversial item on the agenda. First of all, the motion was delayed until the August 1 meeting, and then after a decision was reached on that night, staff informed councillors the next day they had received a motion to rescind that decision. Consequently, no action can be carried out towards fulfilling the motion unless the rescission motion fails at the August 22 council meeting. Given the referendum is likely to be held in October, it would then allow very little time to implement.
I regard this as a waste of council time, with those submitting the rescission motion probably hoping councillors absent from the August 1 meeting will support their case on August 22. This is yet another consequence of the failure to schedule a July council meeting.
The motion, proposed by Ms Glanville and seconded by me, included provisions for staff to:
- consult with the community on the federal government referendum on creating a First Nations Voice to Parliament.
- set up a working group to promote discussion of the issue or support Aboriginal groups (either in kind or financially) planning activities concerning the Voice.
- and to print extra copies of the federal government’s Information Booklet “Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Through a Voice” for distribution at Council’s libraries and by request by community groups.
Ms Glanville told the meeting 1,700 First Nations people currently lived on the Northern Beaches and the Voice referendum, expected later this year, would be an opportunity for the community to review the Constitution and “show who we are”. She was concerned about inaccurate information being spread opposing the Voice and said the proposed measures would help facilitate democratic discussion, giving residents the opportunity to listen to a range of view points.
Council staff said some councils, such as the Blue Mountains, had endorsed a yes vote for the Voice, and NBC staff could investigate what others were doing with regards to the referendum. However, copies of the federal government’s Information Booklet about the Voice were available at Northern Beaches local libraries.
I said I supported the Voice and condemned misinformation being created by opponents to it, saying that in fact the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), set up in 1990 by the Hawke Labor government (and scrapped by Howard’s Liberal government in 2005) gave First Nations people more control over their destiny than the Voice would. While the Voice would be an elected chamber, it would be purely consultative. By contrast, ATSIC had an elected membership but was actually responsible for development and implementation of policy, along with distribution of funding. I encouraged other councillors to support the motion to help ensure accurate information was provided to the community.
However, some councillors were opposed to involvement in the Voice debate. Deputy Mayor Mr Walton indicated he thought the Voice referendum was a federal government issue, which was already spending millions of dollars on pamphlets, a website and for other organisations to provide information about the issues. “This council is local government (and) should be concerned with issues close to home,” Mr Walton told the meeting.
Similarly, Manly Liberal Councillor Georgia Ryburn said she did not believe the Voice was a council issue and would vote against the motion, although she told the meeting that: “I agree with Councillor Glanville that the Voice is important, also that misinformation is a problem.”
And Frenchs Forest Your Northern Beaches Councillor Jose Menano-Peres asked why, if staff were to consult with the Aboriginal community, wouldn’t they consult “with the rest of us?” “I can’t in all conscience support a motion that ignores the majority of the community,” he said.
Ms Bingham reflected on the fact she was shocked when she found out recently that Aboriginal people did not get the vote until 1967. “This is not a political issue but a social issue,” she told the meeting. “Anything done is within the council budget (and) the outcome will effect 1,700 Indigenous people living on the Northern Beaches.
Also from Manly, Your Northern Beaches Councillor Sarah Grattan said she was “concerned about emails we’ve received with wild claims”. “Information is being shared in the community with extreme and inaccurate views,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mr De Luca drew a parallel with the 1967 referendum that gave First Nations people citizenship and the vote, saying the coming referendum was of similar significance. “Local government is not just about roads and rubbish,” he said, noting it was also a social services provider. The motion was not “stating a position, it is merely to educate”, he said.
Ms Heins, Mr Walton, Narrabeen Liberal Bianca Crvelin, Mr Menano-Pires, and Ms Ryburn all voted against the motion, leading to a tied vote, with Ms Glanville, Ms Bingham, Mr De Luca, Ms Grattan and me voting for. At that point Ms Heins changed her vote to support the motion, so that the motion was carried. Councillor Sprott was absent for the vote.
Australia Day citizenship ceremonies
In a convoluted demonstration of the limited control Pittwater residents have over our own activities, a Pittwater councillor motion for staff to investigate holding “Australia Day” citizenship ceremonies in Newport or another place in the Pittwater ward, was overturned by councillors from other parts of the LGA.
The motion was proposed by Mr Gencher and seconded by Ms Page, in response to a staff report originating from a resolution at the May 2023 meeting, requiring staff to prepare a proposal for trialling a citizenship ceremony in Newport on Australia Day in 2024.
The report included five options:
- Australia Day Newport ceremony only, with estimated cost $27,300.
- Australia Day Newport and Glen Street Theatre ceremonies. Plan to host either only Pittwater Ward conferees (approximately 13) or a small number of conferees from across the beaches at Newport, with all other conferees from across the beaches to attend Glen Street Theatre (as per advice from Department of Affairs). Estimated to cost $17,100.
- Newport ceremony only (3 days before/ after Australia Day). Plan to host all 270 conferees and attendees at Newport. Estimated cost: $23,250.
- Glen Street Theatre ceremony only (not a public holiday). Plan to host all 270 conferees and attendees from across Northern Beaches. Estimated cost: $3,000.
- Australia Day ceremony at Glen Street Theatre ceremony only (current format). Currently the budget allocation proposed for the Australia Day citizenship ceremony at Glen Street Theatre in 2024 is $6,150.
Speaking at the public address at the start of the meeting, Pittwater locals Peter Middleton spoke on behalf of the Newport Residents Association, describing the January 26th celebrations as follows: “A marquee, specially erected the night before; chairs assembled for those to receive their citizenship, their supporters and audience; a local to lead the singing of the National Anthem – and on the nearby grass, local branches of service clubs catering an Aussie-style take-away breakfast, which in turn was a wonderful demonstration of community fund-raising and the volunteer spirit. And all within fifty paces of the sand, the Surf Club and the ocean!”
He called on councillors to support Option 2, with ceremonies both at Newport and Glens St on January 26.
Similarly, Pittwater resident Dave Murray supported Option 2, saying: “The report highlights that a potential clash could occur with the Australia Day Breakfast at Newport. On the contrary, back in the Pittwater days, the Citizenship Ceremony was the highlight of the breakfast and the celebration.
“Any ‘significant’ changes that would be required to the breakfast event to host a citizenship ceremony are in fact, simply a return to the format that Pittwater folk enjoyed so much.”
However, before it could be voted on, Mr Regan moved an amendment, seconded by Mr Menano-Peres, simply that: ”Council note the report.”
I expressed my discomfort over celebrating “Australia Day” on January 26, which marks the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney Harbour and is regarded as a day of mourning for many First Nations people. However, I still voted against this amendment, along with the other two Pittwater Councillors and all three Narrabeen Ward councillors, because I recognised how much the community appreciated the Newport ceremony.
The vote on this amendment was the clearest indication possible that even when all six councillors representing parts of the former Pittwater Council area vote together on an issue pertinent to Pittwater, we can still be outnumbered by those from other wards. Thus the amendment was adopted as the motion with support from: Mr Regan, Mr Menano-Peres, Ms Glanville, Ms Bingham, Ms Heins, Mr Walton, and Ms Grattan.
However, in a turnaround on the final vote on the motion, Ms Heins joined the Pittwater and Narrabeen Ward councillors to vote against the new motion, so that it was lost.
Proposal for disqualification from council office if elected to state or federal Parliament
The issue of disqualifying councillors elected as MPs from retaining their local government office was the subject of a motion from Mr De Luca, seconded by me, at the August 1 continuation of the meeting.
Mr De Luca said MPs received salaries of $172,576 per annum with a $151,000 allowance on top of that. As a sitting councillor, they also earned a fee of $31,000 and about $10,000 in allowances over the same period. “I think we all recognise that it takes considerable time to be a councillor and an MP,” Mr De Luca said.
However, there was also a conflict of interest involved when the council voted to make representations to local MPs who also sat on the council, he said.
I too commented on the conflict of interest, saying it would also come into play if a councillor followed a course of action as an MP in conflict with a decision taken by the council. “A job as an MP takes over your whole life and I don’t see how anyone could put the time into work as a councillor as well,” I told the meeting.
Ms Glanville noted that the motion would not effect the current council, given that the motion would require council staff to write to NSW government, Opposition and Cross Bench MPs, calling on them to introduce legislation taking effect from 2024, disallowing MPs on election to also hold council positions.
Ms Bingham was concerned the motion could be seen as a “personal thing” and that it would result in the cost of a by-election for councils. And Ms Grattan said she was happy with the status quo, and thought there was a lot of overlap with other demanding jobs.
However, Mr De Luca explained there was no need for the cost of a by-election because councils like our own replace councillors using a countback on votes from the previous election. “I don’t care if they’re Liberal, Labor or Callithumpian, if they’re in a dual role, they should step down,” he said.
On the suggestion of Mr Walton, he also introduced a clause that the motion be referred to the next Local Government NSW annual conference.
The motion passed with the support of Ms Glanville, Ms Bingham, Mr Walton, Mr De Luca, Ms Crvelin, Ms Ryburn and myself. Only Ms Heins, Mr Menano-Pires and Ms Grattan opposed it, while Ms Robins and Mr Sprott were absent for the vote.
Housing Affordability on the Northern Beaches
Most of us would be aware there is a housing shortage which is particularly severe for cheaper dwellings on the Northern Beaches - as for other parts of Australia at the moment. To counter this, Ms Glanville proposed a motion calling for a staff briefing: on ways to draw short term rental accommodation (like airbnbs) and vacant properties into the rental market; ways to build social and affordable housing on land already owned by Council; and possible changes to NBC planning rules and our affordable housing contributions scheme to address housing affordability.
The motion also called for staff to write to the NSW government to oppose its recent planning changes that will allow it to declare certain residential development, with a capital investment value over $75m, as State Significant Development as well as to take action on the many issues contributing to the affordable housing crisis.
At the outset of the debate, I asked staff if they could tell us how many sites zoned for residential development are owned by council - which they accepted on notice. This week I received a response: that the council owns 262 parcels of land with a residential zoning. Of these, 137 are zoned R1, R2 or R3 but the majority are drainage reserves. Only a small number have a large enough lot size, under the current relevant LEP, to construct dwellings.
Those zoned for mixed use - ie B2, B3 or B4 - total 64 parcels, with the majority forming carparks across the LGA - including Bungan Lane, Whistler St, and Manly Library.
Finally, another 61 parcels are zoned C3 and C4 - or Conservation Zones - and the majority of these are also drainage or access reserves.
At the meeting, Planning Director Louise Kerr said staff were also going to explore other forms of housing which they would soon present to councillors at a briefing.
Ms Glanville emphasised the shortage of affordable housing on the Northern Beaches, saying many essential workers couldn’t afford to live here anymore and that it was an issue of social equity and public safety. She noted the council had kept an affordable housing policy in place for the last five years, with very little to show for it. “The last three times this has come before council, we have been told the 10 per cent required (in developments) for affordable housing is not realistic,” she said.
As a local landowner, council could increase the supply of affordable housing by building shop top housing or dwellings on top of community centres, for example. “I don’t think any of us want to see high rise on Clareville Beach,” she said, however, “We could have development on transport routes.”
“So I think there’s a lot we could do in terms of getting good outcomes that’s not developer driven and delivers what the council wants,” she said.
Ms Grattan said councillors knew there was tension between the demand for affordable housing and residents wanting to maintain the way they currently lived. “We need to look at everything that is available to us,” she said. Problems recruiting and retaining staff reflected the issue. “We do know that this is a big issue - the exodus of young people from the Northern Beaches.”
Supporting the motion, Mr Walton said we were in a crisis with young people moving out from the Northern Beaches. “We needed to start this five years ago,” he said. “The property committee wants to make hard decisions - we have lots of property that could be repurposed.”
Mr Menano-Peres warned that if the council was going to increase the population with affordable housing, it needed to develop infrastructure beforehand.
Whilst I supported the motion, I voiced some cautions. I told the meeting that affordable housing had been a long-standing concern for myself and Northern Beaches Greens, and we had campaigned on it since at least 2017. “However, we fear this motion could be weaponised under pressure from the state government to force development of housing, with a fraction of it affordable, on environmentally sensitive land in Pittwater, regarded simply as ‘open space’ by some,” I said.
I noted that councillors already knew there was limited land in council’s hands that was suitable for development of any kind - which was reinforced by the figures sent to me by staff this week.
“However, we also know from census data there are some 9,000 empty dwellings on the Northern Beaches, and if these were brought into use, would well and truly satisfy what I understand to be the targets for Affordable Housing in the LGA. Many of these properties are held by investors, waiting for property prices to rise when they can sell at a profit. Others, formerly rental properties, have now joined the Airbnb market.” (This could be discouraged by increasing rates for properties left empty for extended periods.)
Finally I said the state government sell off and failure to build more public or social housing during the last 10 years was now a major cause of the crisis and the council could not solve the problem on its own.
The motion passed with the support of all nine councillors present at that point in the meeting, with Ms Crvelin, Ms Robins and Mr Sprott all absent for the vote.
Brewarrina Sister City Youth Program
Funding of $10,700 allocated to the Brewarrina Youth Exchange in the 2023/24 operational budget was noted in a report to councillors at the meeting.
Public Exhibition of the Draft Library Strategic Plan
Council voted to place the draft Library Strategic Plan 2023-2028 on public exhibition for a minimum of 28 days. This was carried in a vote by exception (ie with a number of unopposed motions voted on all at once) on June 27. The exhibition period began on July 4 and closed on August 11. However, if you missed this date and are very keen to make a submission, staff will accept late lodgements - while they are still processing them all. (I’d get it in ASAP at this point).
Confidential items
Avalon Beach Surf Life Saving Club Cafe and Restaurant Lease
The council voted to negotiate with Aimelie Pty Ltd, trading as Guinguette Café Bistro Francais (Emilie Mathel), with a view to entering into a lease of the café.
The proposed lease of the restaurant will be delayed for 6 months from the date of the lease for the café, while the operation of the café is evaluated. After 6 months, council will enter into negotiations with Aimelie Pty Ltd for the lease of the restaurant. If those negotiations were unsuccessful, the council would invite fresh tenders for the lease of the restaurant.
Design and Construction Services for the Warriewood Valley Community Centre
The council voted to negotiate with Belmadar Pty Ltd and Kane Constructions Pty Ltd with a view to entering into a contract in relation to design and construction of the Warriewood Community Centre.
Synthetic Sports Field Maintenance
The council voted to accept the tender of Sports Clean Pty Ltd for Synthetic Sports Field Maintenance Services for the initial annual amount of $176,896.25 per annum (ex GST) - subject to cost adjustment by CPI for each year thereafter, for an initial period of 3 years, with two 12 month options to extend at Council’s discretion.
This decision was supported by all councillors present except me and Ms Glanville and I voted against.
A speech from Northern Beaches resident Gregory Hogan, read by staff during the Public Address session on June 27, pointed to a report by the NSW Chief Scientist Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyteon on synthetic fields that was released in June. Mr Hogan said the report included information about maintenance of these fields and he encouraged staff to consider the report before undertaking any maintenance on synthetic fields in the LGA.
Bayview Seawall and Path Renewal Works
Council voted to negotiate with Enter Building Group Pty Ltd with a view to entering into a contract in relation to Bayview Seawall and Path Renewal Works.
And finally, how are our honey bees doing?
Not so well, local beekeeper Michael Syme told the Public Forum on June 27. Mr Syme said European honey bees are under now threat from the Varroa Mite, from the Northern Beaches to Newcastle (see www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/biosecurity/seasonal-pests-and-diseases/spring/varroa-mite). The mite was responsible for mass losses of bees - in Canada 80 per cent of hives, and in the US 50 per cent, he said.
It was first discovered in Newcastle hives in 2020, and the “red zone” now extended to the northern peak of the Northern Beaches. “Palm Beach is now a red zone, Whale Beach is not,” he said. “We have our fingers crossed.”
With local hives under surveillance, and the only strategy to combat the mite being to destroy the host, beekeepers were not currently allowed to catch and rehome swarms - which was usually done by bee clubs. Instead the council must use a professional pest controller, Mr Syme said.
Thinking of all our fuzzy friends facing their own pandemic - and keeping my fingers crossed too for their keepers and our local honey supplies!
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