At our last meeting of the year this week Council ticked off a number of important items - reductions to parking fees at Rowland Reserve, renewal for the playground at Manly Warringah War Memorial Park (Manly Dam), rules to control share bikes and support for an international surfing event to name a few.

One of the most exciting items endorsed for public exhibition is what is known as our Walking Plan. It includes a proposal for the doubling of the investment in footpaths over the next ten years to more than $30million, funded by developer contributions, grants and Council’s operating surplus.

Footpaths, their condition and their placement are one of the issues most raised with me as I travel around the area so I am pleased we are giving them the priority our community expect. I have asked Council’s team to go even further and see if we can get more done, faster – one for every street. The plan will be available for comment from mid-January and I encourage you to jump online and have your say.

I’d like to thank the thousands of people who gave us input this year on more than 50 projects we had out for consultation. Many provided comments or submissions, others attended our face-to-face sessions or even fronted Council meetings and our projects improved as a result. We’d love to have even more people share their views and we are looking at innovative ways to ensure people of all backgrounds and ages contribute to the exciting infrastructure, arts and cultural projects we are planning next year.

Finally, a shout out to all those who are keeping us safe and entertained over the holiday period. Our lifeguards, customer service and parks staff, our cleaning, waste and events teams and our aquatic centre and library staff are all on deck periodically over the next few weeks. Check out all our opening hours on the website.

I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and safe holiday season. I look forward to doing more fantastic things together in 2019.

Michael Regan

The sign of a strong community is an inclusive community. At Council we’re passionate about ensuring all residents are considered when we’re upgrading or building new facilities. Our progress report for our Disability Inclusion Action Plan provides an insight into how we’re reducing and removing barriers for people with disability, with 39 actions completed over the 2017/18 period already.

We’ve improved accessible amenities on the Marine Parade section of Coast Walk, at our newly refurbished Harbour View Children’s Centre, Collaroy rockpool, Manly Soldiers Memorial Hall, Cromer Park, Warriewood Rugby Park and the Berry Reserve Playground. Additionally, 28 percent of our playgrounds are now accessible; up from 19 percent last year. While we are making progress, there is still a lot to do and we have more planned in the coming year. Construction has commenced at Lionel Watts all-abilities playground and Tania Park will kick-off in February.

If you are like me, and tend to leave Christmas gift shopping to the last minute, our Creative Made Makers Market is the place to shop. On today at the newly refurbished Tramshed at Narrabeen, there will be plenty of creative and unique gifts on offer.

On a more cultural note, feast your eyes on a new exhibition at Manly Art Gallery & Museum - Destination Sydney: Re-imagined. Responding to the inspiring works of trailblazing Australian artist Ethel Carrick Fox (1872 -1952), Northern Beaches’ artist Peta Dzubiel will have her paintings transformed into a large-scale outdoor photographic installation. I can assure you the exhibition is well worth a look.

And don’t forget to head to Dee Why Beach this Friday, where Santa will make an appearance along with some great stage entertainment for the kids for Christmas by the Beach.

Have a great weekend.

Michael Regan

Next Wednesday is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and is being marked here and around the world as a time to raise awareness about the terrible violence perpetrated against women, often by those closest to them.

Thanks to trailblazers like Rosie Batty, in Australia family violence has been chased out of the shadows, revealing that on average one woman a week is murdered by her current or former partner.

Everyone has the right to respect and safety in their relationship and it will take a community-wide response from us all to turn these dire statistics around. We all have an obligation to stand up, speak out and act to prevent violence against women.

That’s why I am so proud that as a Council we are well on our way to being accredited as a White Ribbon workplace. This is a significant commitment to looking at our culture, our policies and everything to we do to ensure we contribute to addressing this issue.

I encourage you to seek out one of the many White Ribbon or other family violence events happening in our community over the next week or join me on Wednesday at Queenscliff Surf Club from 7am for the Northern Beaches Domestic Violence Network’s White Ribbon Walk.

On a lighter note, Council’s cleaners, landscapers and painters are gearing up for a major blitz of Manly Corso next week. Our S.W.A.T (Special Works and Transformation) Team is on the attack for a Spring offensive to get Manly in tip top shape for the busy holiday period. The plan is to roll out similar blitzes to other town centres across the Northern Beaches over the next few months.

Finally, I am looking forward to spending some time at the cricket this weekend. Tomorrow, Manly plays host to a one day international match of the over-50s Cricket World Cup. The calibre of players is extraordinary, so come and watch Australia and England renew old rivalries.

Have a great weekend.

Michael Regan

Tomorrow, on 11 November at 11am, the world will pause to reflect on one of the most significant turning points in modern history.

It was on that date and at that time precisely 100 years ago that the German General Staff began putting into effect the terms of the Armistice of Compiègne, so effectively concluding The Great War of 1914 to 1918.

By war’s end, millions had died, and millions more had endured immense suffering.

In this nation, the Armistice ushered in a period of prolonged mourning that has continued to this day.

Across our Northern Beaches, one in every six men who enlisted for service abroad during the Great War did not come home, the conflict having a vast and enduring impact on the culture, heritage and memories of our local population.

It was the vain hope of the generation of 1918 that The Great War would be ‘The War To End All Wars’.

Of course, that wasn’t to be.

However, a grateful community still remembers the sacrifices of 100 years ago by local men and women, and this Sunday we will reflect solemnly on the suffering of all those who have been touched by conflict.

However you choose to do so, please take a minute then to reflect on our connection with the heroes who landed at Gallipoli Peninsula, on those who struggled in the other great battles in France, Belgium and elsewhere, on land, at sea and in the air, and pledge to never forget the unspeakable suffering that took the lives of 60,000 Australians in The Great War of 1914 to 1918.

And in reciting The Ode, let us pledge ourselves to remember, too, the 40,000 Australians who died in World War Two; those 2,000 other Australians who lost their lives in conflicts since 1945; and to reflect with appropriate solemnity on all those having suffered in wars.

Lest we forget.

Michael Regan