What happened in the May 2020 Council meeting?

Published Date
27/05/2020
News Topic
Council
May Council wrap up

From creating more car parking and opposing incinerators to providing and investigating an old-fashioned drive-in cinema, here’s a wrap-up of some of things Randwick City Councillors discussed at the Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday 26 May 2020. This meeting was held online due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Extra clean-up services

Randwick City households will be given an additional two free clean-up services this year to help get through the COVID-19 pandemic. With more people staying home, there has been an increase in the amount of material put out for kerbside clean-ups as well as an increase in dumped rubbish. Booked clean-ups increased from 400 tonnes in April 2019 to over 500 tonnes in April 2020, while reports of illegally dumped rubbish increased by 20 per cent to 5,450 reports for the first four months of 2020. The extra services mean each household is now entitled to seven free oncall clean-ups and one free scheduled collection. Clean-ups can be booked online at www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/bookmycleanup or by calling 1300 722 542.

Council fast-tracks additional parking in Kingsford

One hundred and fifty new parking spaces will be created in Kingsford as an interim measure to support local businesses recovering from the impacts of light rail construction and COVID-19. The new spaces will be located on a former light construction compound at the corner of Anzac Parade and Rainbow Street. The site was purchased by Council in 2017 and is earmarked for future development. Work to formalise the interim car park will commence in June and be completed by August 2020.

Council joins community opposition to incinerator stack

A plan to build a waste to energy facility at a Matraville papermill near residential properties has been strongly criticised by Council. The plan by Opal Paper Mill (previously Orora) and waste company Suez is to truck in processed rubbish for incineration to produce energy to help power the papermill. There are serious concerns about the environmental and health impacts of the proposal and Council will now work with the local community to oppose the plan. More details and join the campaign: www.facebook.com/NoMoreIncinerators

Drive-in cinema revival idea for charity

An old-fashioned drive-in cinema could be created in Randwick City as part of an idea to provide a safe social outlet during COVID-19 and to raise funds for programs supporting the mental and physical health of health care workers. Council will explore the temporary initiative in partnership with local resident Steven Macarounas who suggested the idea.

Green plans for Kingsford and Kensington

New landscaping, garden beds and trees will be planted in key public spaces in Kensington and Kingsford as part of a Council plan to increase gre­­­enery. The locations include the intersections of Anzac Pde / Gardeners Rd, Sturt St and Bunnerong Rd and Anzac Pde and Avoca St. A dedicated Council crew of horticultural specialists will maintain the garden beds.

Masterplan adopted for Clovelly Road

After many years of work and community consultation, a streetscape masterplan and vision for Clovelly Road from Centennial Park to Clovelly Beach has been adopted by Council. This plan will guide future improvements and streetscape upgrades to the precinct over the coming decade. The plan proposes to enhance the area’s village character, encourage walking and cycling, increase tree canopy coverage by 30 per cent, activate the street frontages and increase safety. The plan also proposes making the Clovelly Beach car park area more people focused with increased greenery, tree plantings and outdoor gym equipment.

Signage a lifeline for those in need

Council will work with Lifeline to install signage at coastal suicide hotspots in Clovelly, Coogee, South Maroubra and Malabar. Tragically, there have been 16 reported deaths by suicide in Randwick City since July 2019. The simple signage – which includes a Lifeline phone number – is already used in other locations across Australia and has been found to lead to an increase in emergency assistance and safer outcomes. The proposal has been developed and supported by a whole of community approach including police, the Black Dog Institute, Lifeline and Council officers.

Street trees put up in lights

Trees in Randwick City are set to twinkle and sparkle into the night with Council resolving to consider decorative lighting of trees in all future public domain upgrades. The use of uplights or fairy lights on trees in town centres or at key locations creates a strong visual presence and an attractive place for people to gather to support local businesses. The first areas to sparkle could be the new plazas planned for Meeks St in Kingsford and Waratah St in Randwick as well as The Spot, Maroubra Junction, Maroubra Beach and Clovelly Road.

Native wildflower plan for Coogee Park

A small park in Coogee will be planted with native wildflower garden beds around the perimeter as part of a beautification plan. Leete Park is a small, triangular-shaped park on Dudley Street opposite Baker Park and was dedicated to Council as a public reserve in 1924.

An audio recording of the meeting will be available online shortly.

Last Updated: 1 March 2022
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