Next week is National Volunteer Week which gives me a fantastic platform to thank the 900 volunteers that work with us here at Council. We could not do without this dedicated army who help protect our bushland and waterways, provide local advice to visitors, assist our library staff and more.

In fact, we are lucky to have a very strong culture of volunteering on the Northern Beaches with thousands every week supporting local sport, helping in schools and community organisations and providing lifesaving and emergency services.

A huge thank you to all of you for your commitment and dedication.

Thomas Stephens Reserve in Church Point is looking fantastic with the completion of the timber walkway, ferry gangway, restored sandstone seawall, landscaping and picnic tables – in addition to the new amenities completed at the end of last year. Over the next few months you'll also see the final stage of the masterplan implemented with improvements to road and traffic infrastructure.

Finally, a reminder to all local artists and designers that the clock is ticking on entries for the 2026 Northern Beaches Environmental Art & Design Prize. There are some great prizes available and the finalists will have an opportunity to have their works exhibited. Submissions close Monday 18 May.

Next week marks 10 years since the formation of Northern Beaches Council.

While bringing 3 diverse councils together was a significant challenge, a decade on we're seeing the benefits of a stronger, more unified organisation. Our area remains truly unique, with its stunning coastline, close-knit communities and enviable lifestyle.

I'm proud of what we've built together and thankful to our past and present Councillors, staff and community for navigating the challenges, building the foundations and their contributions. As we look ahead, we remain focused on caring for our environment, maintaining our assets and ensuring the Northern Beaches continues to be a great place to live, work and visit.

Just this week Council was recognised on an international level for 2 projects that support local business and disability inclusion. Our 'Go Local to Grow Local' economic development campaign gained an Award of Excellence; and our digital series featuring incredible locals promoting feedback on the Disability Inclusion Action Plan attained an Award of Distinction, in the Communicator Awards. Up against applications from around the world, these awards are incredible recognition for the work Council is doing in these 2 important areas.

Finally, wishing all mothers, guardians and nurture givers a lovely day for Mother's Day on Sunday. And anyone looking for a last-minute gift idea – shop local!

Mayor Sue Heins

This week I was pleased to join Surf Life Saving NSW at Dee Why to announce the rollout of Shark Bite Trauma Kits to every surf club across NSW.

Publicly accessible, these kits will complement existing shark mitigation measures, including drone and jet ski surveillance, drum lines and the great work of lifesavers and lifeguards.

After very serious incidents and increased shark activity over summer, it's important we have every life-saving tool available and I congratulate SLSNSW for this initiative. And I thank the individuals, service clubs and some of the surfing fraternity that have also donated shark bite kits along the beaches as well. Together we all work towards one outcome, to keep our beaches safe.

You may have already spotted the striking green sea turtle image across the area as Council partners with the EPA to support their Nature Hates a Tosser campaign to help reduce litter in town centres and popular beach areas across the Northern Beaches.

Litter dropped in the street often ends up in our ocean or waterways and can have fatal consequences for bird and marine life. The campaign aims to remind us all to ‘Bin it or Bring it’ – put your rubbish in the bin or take it with you. Even small items like bottle caps, cigarette butts and food wrappers can have devastating consequences.

Finally, during a blitz in March, almost 100 building sites were inspected and disappointingly 51 were found to have breaches including uncovered stockpiles, missing controls such sandbags and sediment fencing, uncontained waste materials and sediment tracking from vehicle access points.

As a result Council inspectors issued a range of penalties including Clean-Up Notices, Prevention Notices, Penalty Notices and a large number of written warnings. These blitzes are done on a regular basis and I hope the next one finds more construction sites doing the right thing.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

The red and yellow swimming flags will come down across many local beaches this Anzac Day long weekend, marking the official end of the 2025/26 beach season. While patrols will be extended at Dee Why to run year-round, as they do in Manly, our professional lifeguard service will continue at Freshwater Beach until Sunday 24 May. As cooler months approach, I remind you all to swim between the flags, always follow safety signage and listen to lifeguards.

Our beaches are a wonderful example of volunteering in action, and I'd like to acknowledge and thank our volunteer surf lifesavers who worked with Council lifeguards to keep millions of beachgoers safe during the peak season.

We are such a fortunate community to be supported by thousands of volunteers who give their time to help the Northern Beaches thrive. From sporting clubs and community groups to environmental programs and emergency services, volunteers really are at the heart of what makes the Beaches a very special place to live. Thank you to every volunteer for your contributions.

If you know someone who goes above and beyond for others, you can recognise them by nominating them in the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.

From today the 2026/27 Draft Delivery Program and Budget is on public exhibition. It includes the biggest infrastructure investment our community has ever seen, proposing $588 million in expenditure for 2026/27, including a $125 million capital works program supported by $21.5 million in Special Variation funding to help maintain safe, fit for purpose community assets. I encourage you to review the plan and budget and share your feedback.

This Saturday is Anzac Day. Council is preparing for services at the Manly War Memorial on The Corso, Manly and a dawn service delivered in conjunction with the Manly Warringah Memorial Park Trust at Manly Dam. These services complement the many services and marches being hosted by RSL branches and community groups across the area. I encourage you to find a march or service near you, pause for reflection and honour all who served in past and present conflicts. Their legacy is one we must continue to preserve.

Have a lovely long weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

This week Council held its first Public Forum and Community Engagement Forum providing the opportunity for our community to speak directly to their Councillors.

The Public Forum, held on Tuesday evenings at 6pm in the Council Chambers one week prior to the ordinary Council meeting, gives residents an opportunity to speak directly on agenda items for the upcoming meeting. Registered speakers are allocated 3 minutes to address Councillors. This is followed by a 30 minute Community Engagement Forum, allowing speakers to raise general matters related to Council business.

I encourage anyone interested in speaking at future forums to submit a request via Council's website. Registrations to speak at the forums open online on the same day the Council meeting agenda is published. Support is also available by calling 1300 434 434.

Educating and caring for our youngest residents is a responsibility Council takes very seriously. High quality early education and care deliver lifelong benefits. Council is proud to deliver 7 long day care centres, 3 community preschools and a family day care scheme providing 691 places per day, and delivering education and care to 1221 families.

Belrose Children's Centre is a standout, recognised since 2024 as one of only 29 services in Australia to receive an ‘Excellent’ rating, the highest possible recognition under the national quality system.

At next week's April Council meeting, Council will consider the Draft Early Learning Strategy, which proposes updates to the existing strategy that will ensure our services continue to meet community needs over the next decade.

This week marks some wonderful community milestones, and I was pleased to attend celebrations for the Probus Club of Mona Vale's 30th anniversary, alongside 50 years of Probus in Australia. Probus plays an important role in keeping retirees socially connected and engaged, and I congratulate all members on this achievement.

If you're looking for a creative fix, don't miss the Art Adaptation: Culture Changes Everywhere exhibition, now on across the Northern Beaches. And if you're an artist or know someone looking for a space to create or exhibit, we have plenty of studios and creative spaces available for hire.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

NSW Youth Week might sound like a 7-day celebration, but on the Northern Beaches it's a full month of events, workshops and activities.

Locally, the Youth Week program is a collaboration between Council, young people and local youth services and includes street art, open mic night, car maintenance and a self-defence workshop and a call out for bands for the Beaches' longest-running band comp – Northern Composure. Take a moment to explore the program and share it with the young people in your life.

A special shout out this week for an incredibly talented young artist, Mia Nethery of Mackellar Girls Campus who won the Out Front 2026 KALOF People's Choice Award for her paintings, A Sunday Afternoon at Hartley. Her work has been on exhibition alongside 24 other local HSC Visual Arts students from 21 Northern Beaches secondary schools in the Out Front exhibition at Manly Art Gallery & Museum. Congratulations Mia and all the students included in the exhibition.

This week I'd also like to encourage local businesses to nominate for the 2026 Local Business Awards. Council proudly sponsors two key categories recognising businesses leading the way in disability inclusion and sustainability.

If you're running a business, this is your opportunity! Nominate your business, back your team and put your achievements forward. You can also nominate other businesses you know are delivering exceptional results.

Nominations are open from until 20 May. 

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

As Mayor of the Northern Beaches, I'm proud to share an important update about how we're working together to protect the place we all love.

The NSW Government has set a requirement for all councils to introduce a food waste collection service by 2030 – one of the most significant changes to waste management in decades. Here on the Northern Beaches, we're already taking action.

We've begun trialling new food waste collection pilots, and I want to sincerely thank everyone who has participated so far, especially those who’ve taken the time to provide feedback. Your efforts are making a real difference. Thanks to you, around 330 tonnes of combined food and garden waste have already been collected, processed and recycled.

These two-phase trials are helping us understand what works best for our community. By separating food waste from general rubbish, we can turn it into valuable compost for agriculture and other uses, reducing landfill and supporting a more sustainable future.

In April, we're launching Phase 2 of the pilot with around 1,200 households. What we learn from these trials will shape a service that is practical, effective and environmentally responsible for every home across the Northern Beaches.

As Easter approaches, we're reminded just how lucky we are to call this extraordinary part of the world home. Whether you're planning a relaxed staycation or looking for activities to keep the kids entertained during the school holidays, there's no better place to be. Check out ideas for things to do here.

We also know that many visitors will be joining us over the long weekend. I'd like to acknowledge and thank our dedicated Council staff who will be working hard to keep our beaches, parks and streets clean and safe during this busy time.

Finally, I wish you, your families and friends a safe and happy Easter. And a special thank you to our emergency services, healthcare workers, hospitality staff, volunteers and everyone working across the long weekend. Your commitment keeps our community strong.

Happy Easter, Northern Beaches.

Mayor Sue Heins

The brand-new Warriewood Community Centre is complete and ready to service the diverse needs of our community for decades to come.

What an impressive building it is! With a flexible layout to accommodate small meetings and gatherings to large events, it includes a dance studio, caterer’s kitchen, meeting spaces and plenty of outdoor space.

Sustainability and resilience have been a focus, incorporating green concrete, a 100kW solar array, rainwater harvesting and infrastructure ready for future electric vehicle charging. It is also set to operate as a 24 hour recovery centre if needed during emergencies.

This centre has been many years in the making, shaped by extensive community engagement. A particular shout out to the Warriewood Residents Association for championing this project. I encourage you take a look at the centre and consider how you could use it for your next event, meeting, party or community activity.

In other good news this week, the NSW government announced a tender for works to improve safety and traffic flow on Wakehurst Parkway. It includes flood improvement works at Oxford Falls that was designed by Council before being integrated into the current government works.

Council continues with the complementary project which aims to reduce broader flood impacts, working through the complex issues of land tenure, utilities, environmental assessments and Transport for NSW requirements for a State road at key flood risk sections of the Parkway – Oxford Falls West, the Bends and at the Academy of Sport.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

Every day our residents interact with our services and our staff. When your bin is collected or when you borrow a library book; when you report a pothole or get advice from our planners; when you call customer service or participate in a Council-run event. 

Every day, every interaction is an opportunity for us to provide a streamlined, professional and efficient experience. 

Over the past few years we have had a real focus on the customer experience and I am pleased to report that in the last 12 months we have achieved record customer satisfaction levels, with feedback from over 8000 customers consistently rating satisfaction levels at 80% plus, and over 90% in some areas. 
  
We can always do more and this week, following extensive community consultation, Council endorsed a revamped Customer Experience Strategy which plans to boost digital access, cut red tape and ensure interactions continue to be easy, seamless, personal and positive.  

Next week we are expecting NSW Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison to visit the Northern Beaches and I look forward to continuing our work with her and the Government on the complex challenges posed by the Wakehurst Parkway and other State controlled roads in our large local government area.

Finally, a huge welcome to Australia and the Northern Beaches to over 400 new citizens from across the world who made their pledge of commitment to Australia this week. We are so fortunate to have you part of our community. 

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins