What a lovely Vietnam Veterans' Day service we shared this week. Council is proud to host this annual event and moved by the turnout, despite the chilly and wet weather.

The anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan is a powerful moment to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of Australians who served in the Vietnam War. It was comforting to see our community come together to thank those who served and recognise the families and loved ones who carried their own burdens.

This week, Council endorsed a 12-month trial allowing dogs off-leash at the southern end of Mona Vale Beach. This is a big step forward for our dog-loving community and a response to strong public support for more pet-friendly spaces.

The trial aims to strike a balance between recreational opportunities for dog owners and the needs of beachgoers and the environment. It will run from 14 October 2025 to 13 October 2026. During daylight savings, dogs will be permitted off-leash from 5.30am to 10am and from 5pm to 9pm daily. In standard time, the hours will be 6am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm. Dogs are not permitted in the trial area outside these times and remain prohibited at all times on Mona Vale Beach outside the trial area.  We will be monitoring the trial closely to ensure it works for everyone.

Finally, I have had the privilege of attending several local surf club AGMs recently. These meetings are an important part of club life and offer members a chance to engage and help shape the future of their clubs. A warm welcome to all the new presidents and officials and sincere thanks to those who have served in positions and continue to volunteer their time and energy.

As the rain subsides, if you're looking to get out and about, I encourage you to join our Council’s Coastal Environment Centre for an outdoor adventure or workshop to learn about local biodiversity and come along to the annual open day on Saturday 30 August. Learn more and book in for these events.  

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

Congratulations to the Aboriginal Heritage Office (AHO), celebrating an incredible 25-year anniversary. The AHO is the result of a partnership between Northern Beaches and 4 other northern Sydney councils that has protected and promoted Aboriginal heritage since 2000.

To mark the milestone, all councils have signed a new five-year agreement to support the AHO’s work which includes Aboriginal site management, education and advisory services for partner councils.

We are fortunate to have the AHO Museum and Keeping Place here on our doorstop in Freshwater and I encourage you to drop in to meet the staff and learn more about the Aboriginal heritage of our area.

We are moving to modernise our parking permits over the next 12 months and introduce a digital system that links to registrations. The introduction will be staged, starting with the smaller North Permit Schemes (Western Foreshore, Church Point, Rowland Reserve and Illuka Reserve) later this year. The Beach Parking Permit Scheme is planned to be digitised mid next year.

The new system will put an end to the annual task of removing old stickers from windscreens and streamline the management and delivery.

Importantly there is no need for any permit holders to act yet – we’ll keep you posted when it’s your time to apply and provide easy instructions and FAQs to support the transition.

Finally, if you have littlies, don’t forget to grab you ticket for Picnic in the Park on Saturday 30 August. The kids will love singing and dancing with Elmo, Cookie Monster and the Smurfs. And you'll love the food trucks! Tickets are only $10 and selling fast.

Or if a weekend celebrating jazz is more your style, you can now check out the Manly Jazz 2025 program and get excited for what's coming in mid September.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

It’s Local Government Week, which provides a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the vital role our council plays in shaping the everyday lives of our community.

From maintaining roads, cleaning rockpools and keeping people safe at the beach, to managing local sportsgrounds, running library programs, educating young children and collecting your weekly waste, the breadth of what local government does is extraordinary. These services are the backbone of our daily lives and often go unnoticed, until we need them most.

We’re also passionate about sustainability and want to help our community live more sustainably. We continue to explore ways to help you throw less out and recycle more. One great example is a new event, The Fixery, a repair service staffed by volunteers with skills in electricals, sewing, soldering and woodwork. We’ve held 2 so far and they’ve been so popular that we’ve planned another 3 for this year. The next one is on Saturday 6 September. Bring your damaged electricals, household items, textiles, or knives for a free repair. If you’ve got something in need of fixing, book in early as slots fill fast.

And for our small business owners and sole traders, our popular Let’s Chat Business support sessions have new dates and locations. This free concierge service helps businesses navigate Council and NSW services to grow and thrive. If you’re in or around Forestville or Narrabeen, book in for a free 30-minute business advisory session.

I encourage you to explore the services we offer on our website and follow us on social media to stay connected – on Facebook, Instagram or Linkedin.

Thank you to all Council staff and volunteers whose hard work and commitment ensure our community’s needs are met every day. Their work may sometimes be behind the scenes, but the impact is deeply appreciated.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

Last night I was proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Environmental Art & Design Prize. In its fifth year, this prestigious prize attracts artists and designers from across the country to shine a light on the challenges facing our environment and the powerful role creativity plays in inspiring change.

As always the standard of work submitted this year was exceptional and I am pleased I am not a judge! Congratulations to all the finalists and especially the incredible winners.  

The winners and finalists works will be exhibited at Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Curl Curl Creative Space and Mona Vale Creative Space Gallery from today until 14 September. And be sure to cast a vote for your favourite in the People’s Choice Award while you’re there. 

If you are a local business, you may be familiar with Council’s Business Concierge phone service which is designed to help you navigate Council processes and connect you with the right people to support you. 

We are also currently running a series of face-to-face pop up sessions in our libraries with a range of staff available to offer advice on things like planning and DA requirements, permit applications and environmental health matters. Staff from Service NSW are also on hand to point businesses to other support at the state level. Book your 30 minute appointment online - sessions are running through August and September.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

Some great opportunities coming up for local photographers and videographers. The popular Beaches Young Filmmakers Comp is now open for registrations. Now in its 21st year, this comp asks locals aged 12 to 24 to create a 7-minute film in just 4 days using an item, keyword and phrase which is only released the night before. Top films are screened at HOYTS Warringah Mall and there is a prize pool for the winning entries.

The annual Underwater Photography Competition​​​​​​​ also launches this week. I am always blown away at the images submitted for this competition – the world beneath our ocean is incredible. There are 8 categories including behaviour, human connection and reels. Check out the details and get your entry in by 17 August.

An important heads up for ratepayers this week. Your beach parking permits which have been previously inset in your rates notice will be loose in the envelope instead. This is to prevent the issues we’ve had in the past with the sticker adhesive. So be sure to keep an eye out and don’t inadvertently dispose of them with your envelope!

Finally, it was fantastic to spend some time this week with the grandson and great grandchildren of Francesco Panucci as we launched the new name for a playing field in North Curl Curl – Panucci Field.

Francesco Panucci owned the land the field sits on from the 1940s and established a market garden. Following World War II, Francesco sponsored many families from southern Italy, providing them with accommodation, food, friendship and support. He was instrumental in helping new immigrants integrate into the Australian way of life. It’s fitting the field now honours his contribution to our community.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

Did you watch the ABC series ‘Old People’s Home for 4-year-olds’ and see its incredible benefits for both the young and senior participants?

If so you’ll have an insight into a new initiative being run in 2 of Council’s Early Learning Centres which seeks to connect the generations and promote positive health and education outcomes for young and old. If you are over 65 and would like to get involved in this intergenerational program, we’d love to hear from you.

Over the last 6 months we’ve had the difficult conversation with ratepayers about the growing gap in our maintenance budget thanks to huge inflationary pressures and cost shifting from other levels of government. A new report released last week by LGNSW found a whopping $1.5 billion a year is shifted from State and Federal governments onto local government – that’s costs for services councils have not been funded to deliver. That equates to almost $500 per ratepayer across the state – a significant amount that could otherwise be spent on roads, playgrounds, stormwater or sportsfields.

We echo LGNSW’s call for an end to cost shifting, a review of existing regulations and the introduction of a more realistic and fair funding system for local government.

Legacy is seeking volunteers to donate their time to sell badges, bears and other merchandise during Legacy Week. If you have time, volunteer 31 August – 6 September – this helps raise awareness and vital funds to assist the families who have sacrificed so much for our country. For more information about volunteering, please visit the Legacy Week website or contact Heather Milnes at Northern Beaches Legacy on 0419 481 054.

The Mind Café in Narrabeen, which is an integral part of our community and helps so many, has a fundraiser coming up. Show your support by attending their Rock the Mind night.

Finally, a reminder the community grants program is taking applications. Whether you're a not-for-profit, community group, artist, event organiser or business, the grants program aims to support your initiatives. Time is running out so apply for a grant now.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

With school holidays well underway it's fantastic to have two new playgrounds open for action.

Brick Pit Reserve at Frenchs Forest has been pumping since the fences came down late last week with hundreds of families trying out the new playground, boardwalk and picnic facilities.

This vibrant new space not only offers quality playtime but also pays tribute to the site's rich history. The park sits on the site of a once-thriving brickworks factory that operated from the late 1800s until World War I. Run by William Hews – the first permanent resident of Frenchs Forest – the factory produced bricks using clay sourced directly from the site, transporting them by horse and dray to Manly, Narrabeen and across the Spit, where they were loaded onto a punt and shipped to Mosman and the city.

Thanks to the NSW Government for funding this great new public open space which will serve generations to come as the Frenchs Forest Town Centre comes to fruition in the years ahead.

The Michaela Howie playground on Dee Why Beach has also had a makeover with new swing sets, play structures, climbing frames and boat. It was lovely to spend time at the launch this week with some of the family of Michaela, only 15 months old when she tragically lost her life in 2004. It was heartening to hear her family reflect on the comfort they find in seeing children laughing and playing in a space that honours her memory more than 20 years on.

If you’ve explored the two new playgrounds and are still looking for more to keep the kids entertained – check out the school holiday survival guide. You'll find workshops, shows, craft, marine adventures and even giant inflatables at the aquatic centres.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

A huge shout out to all the SES volunteers, Council crews and other emergency services this week for their dedication to keeping our community safe under very challenging weather conditions.

The forecast on Monday was pretty dire with destructive winds, heavy rainfall and huge swells to hit the coast on Tuesday. By Tuesday afternoon the SES had issued an alert covering Collaroy to Bulli to stay indoors due to the potentially harmful conditions.

Council crews assisted on the ground with fallen trees, drainage clearances, lagoon entrance clearing, Manly Dam water releases, road and traffic issues and ongoing monitoring and sharing of flood and storm models. Many of our emergency response team and crews worked throughout the night to respond to incidents.

We were fortunate that most community infrastructure weathered the storm and came out undamaged.

Our attention is now on ensuring the clean-up is completed as quickly as possible.

I have had some great feedback on the Northern Beaches Emergency Dashboard – a fantastic one stop shop for local weather, traffic, alerts and power outages during emergencies. I’d encourage everyone to bookmark it for future use.

Finally, it’s NAIDOC Week, a national celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, culture and heritage. You can get involved with one of Council’s NAIDOC Week events or learn more on the official NAIDOC Week website.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins

Happy 40th birthday to Glen Street Theatre!

Nestled in the heart of Belrose, the theatre was first envisioned by the Forest Community Association with support and funding from what was then Warringah Shire Council. The Forest Community Association continued to be instrumental in the theatre’s development for decades and today Glen Street Theatre really stands as a testament to local passion and community spirit.

The theatre now hosts over 200 performances and events each year attracting over 65,000 theatre goers. In the coming months alone, it will host kid’s shows Gruffalo’s Child and Beetle, a Chinese hypnotist, comedian Ross Noble, iconic Australian author Kate Grenville and tributes to Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Carol King, Dolly Parton, Fleetwood Mac and Simply Red, to name a few.

The venue also provides an important venue for local performances such as Sydney North Public Schools Dance Festival, which has found a home at Glen Street Theatre for more than 30 years and is a highly sought after ticket by local parents and friends.

If you haven’t been for a while, I encourage you to check out what’s on at Glen Street Theatre. It’s a fantastically intimate venue with affordable tickets offering a very diverse program and we are extremely fortunate to have such a facility here on our doorstop.

As part of the 40th anniversary, Glen Street is collecting memories and moments over its 40 year history. If you have a favourite memory, anecdote or story we’d love you to share it.

Our Winter warming festival, Rise Manly, wraps this weekend so make sure you get down there to experience all on offer. The Corso and laneways are hosting live street performances and light installations, and the shops, restaurants and bars are full of special entertainment and events. Check out the Rise Manly program.

Have a great weekend,

Mayor Sue Heins