Randwick Council meeting wrap-up for May 2023
- Published Date
- 24/05/2023
- News Topic
- Council
Randwick Councillors met at Randwick Town Hall on Tuesday 23 May 2023 for their monthly Council Meeting.
Councillors discussed a range of matters including opposing an overdevelopment in Zetland, trialling extended park lighting, reinvigorating Randwick Town Centre and a memorial for well-known local elder Tim Ella.
Council submission raises concern with former Holden Suttons site redevelopment
Randwick Council will lodge a submission against a proposal to build more than 800 new homes including a childcare facility, general retail and supermarket on the former Holden Suttons site on Link Road, Zetland. Councillors raised significant concern with the scale of the development and impact on nearby residents. Council’s submission requests a full assessment of traffic impacts be undertaken along with a heritage impact assessment. Council will now forward the submission to the City of Sydney for consideration.
Council partnership to deliver on affordable housing
Randwick Council will partner with neighbouring Waverley and Woollahra Councils to deliver more affordable housing for the eastern suburbs. The councils will work together to identify available grants and funding as well as to identity potential sites where more affordable housing could be built through a partnership approach.
Trial to light up park
Sports field lights at Nagle Park in Maroubra will be turned on five nights a week as part of a trial to support residents exercise and dog walking during the winter months. A recent Council community consultation found 93% support to proceed with the trial. The trial will now run until September 2023 and be evaluated afterwards.
Memorial for the late Tim Ella
A memorial bench and plaque will be installed at Bombora Point overlooking Yarra Bay in memory of the late Tim Ella, the youngest of the Ella family of La Perouse, who died in August 2022. Tim was a respected member of the local community and particularly well-known for his involvement in the annual ‘mullet run’ at Yarra Bay – an Aboriginal cultural practice dating back thousands of years. The memorial bench was requested by family members.
Minute’s silence for Little Bay drowning victim
Councillors held a minute’s silence for a man who drowned at Little Bay Beach on 23 April 2023. The man aged in his 30s was walking along the rocks when he was washed into the water. Despite a quick response from nearby golfers who performed CPR and Randwick Lifeguards who arrived on scene within three minutes of receiving the distress signal, the man died later in hospital. Council is currently reviewing service levels including the provision of Lifeguard services across our beaches including at Little Bay Beach.
Public to have their say on proposed Malabar Ocean Pool Amenities building
A proposal to build an amenities building near the Malabar Ocean Pool will be put out for community consultation commencing Monday 29 May 2023. The proposal follows community consultation in 2020 which found general support for an amenities building to meet the needs of pool users. Community feedback indicated the building should be compact, preserve nearby sensitive bushland and retain views from nearby properties. The draft concept design has been carefully created to respond to community concerns and can be viewed at www.yoursay.randwick.nsw.gov.au.
A quarter by numbers – January to March 2023
It was a busy start to the year for Council staff as highlighted by Council’s Quarterly Progress Report for January to March. During the quarter Council’s call centre received more than 18,000 calls, 792 planning certificates were issued, 129 Development Applications were determined, 478 home maintenance jobs completed, 5,344 people visited the La Perouse Museum, 4,163 native and indigenous plantings were undertaken and 1,400 meals provided to people in need.
Randwick Junction Planning Proposal update
A draft planning proposal to reinvigorate Randwick Town Centre will now be progressed to the Randwick Local Planning Panel for advice after Randwick Councillors considered the matter. A major review of the town centre has been conducted over the past few years to develop a 15-year vision and actions to guide the sustainable growth and physical development of the town centre. The draft strategy encourages renewal of existing sites to meet future commercial and retail demand as well as to revitalise the shopping and retail experience of the town.
To see the full Council reports and minutes check out the Council Meeting Business paper on Council’s website. Audio from the meeting is available on Council’s Youtube channel