The NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into the use of e-bikes was handed down late yesterday afternoon.

While we are still digesting the report I am pleased to say that at first pass it appears they have listened to Council and our community and have recommended a range of measures to improve pedestrian and rider safety.

These include speed limits on footpaths for e-bikes, establishing safety standards, updating the Road Rules and Driver Knowledge Test and implementing a social media campaign to target young riders. See the full report.

We have led the way in getting action on these important issues. It’s now up to the NSW government to consider the report and respond to the recommendations within it.

With the ongoing commentary on the special rates variation, I would like to remind everyone that we have lots of information available so please visit the Your Say project page for fact sheets, rates calculator and FAQs.

This week there were claims that Northern Beaches staffing costs are millions more than they would have been under the 3 former Council areas had the merger not occurred. This is not true.

There are net 28 fewer positions since amalgamation with savings in executive and several back-office operations. This allowed Council to create some new community-facing services including a new 40-place preschool at North Harbour (operating without cost to ratepayers) and to expand frontline operations.

Northern Beaches Council has more than doubled the state government’s amalgamation savings target, with an estimated $161.6 million net present value saved over 10 years following the merger. These savings were invested back into the community through additional services and infrastructure and reduced domestic waste charges for ratepayers. Without these savings, our funding gap would be larger.

And we continue to identify and make savings. At the end of last year we made the difficult decision to cut a number of Hop Skip Jump bus routes and we have just notified families that Vacation Care services will no longer be provided due to decreasing attendance and increasing costs.

On a final note, head to Manly tomorrow for the Manly Health & Wellness Day, showcasing local health and wellness businesses with great activities and events from 9am.

Have a great weekend.
Mayor Sue Heins