Randwick Councillors met on 26 November 2024 for their second Ordinary Council Meeting of the 2024-28 term.

Councillors discussed a number of important matters including road safety improvements for Maroubra, Kensington and Kingsford, a new multicultural festival, a new indoor sports facility for cricket and rugby and completing the Coastal Walkway at South Coogee.

The following is a summary of some items discussed:

Land purchase paves way to complete missing Coastal Walkway link
A South Coogee property purchased by Council for $4.9m will be demolished to build a public walkway to connect South Coogee and Lurline Bay. Currently there is no direct Coastal Walkway with walkers forced to detour to Malabar Road. The recent land purchase realises a plan 22 years in the making to complete this section. The new walkway will be named in honour of the former owner of the property, the late Ellen Waugh. A design concept is being prepared for consultation. Works are proposed take place in 2025-26.

Maroubra Road safety upgrades approved
Safety for pedestrians and motorists in Maroubra is being improved with Randwick City Councillors giving the go-ahead for works to upgrade nine intersections along Maroubra Road between Bunnerong Road and Malabar Road. The $8m upgrade over multiple years will see new roundabouts, traffic signals, pedestrian crossings, pedestrian refuge islands and shared paths built.

The first works will be the creation of a single-lane roundabout and pedestrian crossings at the Cooper Street / Mons Avenue intersection. [see full story]

New Kensington festival planned
A new multicultural festival will be held in Kensington Park in October 2025. Councillors endorsed an afternoon / evening event to celebrate the 123 culturally diverse ancestral groups that call Randwick City home. Funding for the event will be considered in the 2025-26 budget.

Indoor sporting facility for Snape Park
A proposal for a new indoor sporting facility for cricket and rugby training at Snape Park in Maroubra will be put to the community for feedback. Councillors endorsed the draft concept for a new training facility on Storey Street. The facility is estimated to cost $6.3m and would be the first stage of a $13.3m longer term plan to upgrade the adjacent car park and amenities building.

Summer beachside park alcohol restrictions
Alcohol will be prohibited at all Randwick City beachside parks this holiday period. Councillors resolved to prohibit alcohol consumption over the popular Christmas, New Year and Australia Day period. The annual restrictions have been in place for many years and are designed to increase public safety and reduce the potential for large anti-social gatherings. Alcohol is permanently prohibited on all Randwick City beaches.

40km speed limit plan for Kensington and Kingsford
A proposal to lower speed limits to 40km and install traffic safety devices across Kensington and Kingsford will be put to community consultation in early 2025. The $7.25m proposal, funded by $6.25m from Transport for NSW’s Safer Roads Program and $1m from Council, is proposed to be rolled out in stages, pending feedback from the community. The plan proposes a range of devices including speed bumps, signalised intersections, pedestrian crossings and refuge islands to increase safety.

Masterplan for Burrows Park to proceed to consultation
A plan for a new amenities building and larger sportsfield at Burrows Park in Clovelly will be put to community consultation for feedback. The popular park is used by local rugby league and rugby clubs as well as residents and dog walkers. Initial options investigated by the Council have found the site can accommodate a larger sports field to increase usage of the field without overly significant alterations to the landscape or aspects of the par loved by the local community. It is proposed to build the new amenities building first and put aside funds for the sports field upgrade in 2027-28.