From the Council Chamber: June 17, 2025
By Pittwater Greens Councillor Miranda Korzy
Not one, but two rallies outside the Dee Why Civic Centre set the scene for Tuesday night’s council meeting. Opponents of the proposed rate rise and budget gathered near the entrance to the chamber, brandishing placards and props that they brought into the chamber. Meanwhile, on Pittwater Rd opposite the chamber, protesters calling for an end to the Gaza genocide waved red, black, white and green flags along with signs saying “Free Palestine”.
Budget locked in for 2025/26 following toxic debate
The Public Debate
The most controversial issue to come to council during my time in the chamber, the 2025/26 budget, was passed at Tuesday night’s council meeting. I’ll provide a snapshot of spending for Pittwater in this report, however, begin with comments about the public debate.
First of all, I recognise the opposition since January to the proposed Special Rate Variation. How could I not? Councillors have read the community feedback from the original proposal, received emails, mail and personal attacks in the media, on social media, and in signs posted across the Northern Beaches. Pittwater’s Your Northern Beaches Councillor Rowie Dillon spoke at the meeting about the impact this has had on her, emotionally, physically and financially.
“Over the past few weeks, a concerted campaign has been launched with the sole purpose of intimidating and pressuring me,” Ms Dillon told a stilled chamber.
“This has included calls for a boycott of my small business, the spreading of inflammatory content designed to shame me, and the delivery of a clear message: ‘Vote our way, or we’ll hurt you.’
“Let me be clear: this is blackmail. This is intimidation. And I will not stand for it.
“This is not democracy. This is not a debate. This is a deliberate attempt to manipulate an elected official through economic threats, and that crosses a dangerous line.”
Ms Dillon said she would not allow “her vote to be held hostage by threats to my livelihood or my reputation”, and announced she would vote for the budget, “because it’s the responsible decision”.
“Because our Council must remain financially sustainable,” she said.
“Because the alternative is cuts to core services, decaying infrastructure, and neglecting our community’s assets and future.”
Some of the emails I’ve received were considered and respectful, but I’ve had my fair share of abuse as well. Much of this stemmed from a view of council in which spending should be stripped away from anything but roads and rubbish collection. This is a view that fails to recognise the many other functions carried out by councils since at least the 1980s, in particular environmental management.
Much of the opposition was highly politicised, driven by those “beating the neo-liberal drum”, as I said at the January meeting, and even some who believe councils do not have a legitimate right to exist - as opposed to wanting to see a Pittwater demerger.
I deplore the quality of public debate on this issue, however, what some residents might not realise is that despite the noisy opposition, many locals approached or emailed me supporting the rate rise. This included current and former community leaders whose opinion I respect. Some of them, who are aware of the council’s financial situation and councillor’s obligations, told me: “You had no choice”.
The SRV and the Budget
I won’t recap all the reasons for my support of the SRV approved by IPART, as included in the budget, however, the council has more than $6 billion worth of assets. Many of these can’t be sold off and must be maintained. More than 1,100 of those in Pittwater are in either poor or very poor condition - meaning they’re on the point of failure - and they do fail. We don't charge for the use of roads, footpaths, beaches, wharves or libraries, yet the council must spend money on their maintenance.
Ms Grattan, who seconded the budget motion, summed it up: “We can’t contain expenses within revenue, and we can’t renew infrastructure fast enough to match how quickly it’s wearing out.”
“The NSW Auditor General’s latest report to Parliament is blunt: financial sustainability means covering your costs, without cutting services or borrowing to plug deficits,” she said.
With IPART’s announcement of the approval on May 16, council staff rapidly updated the budget papers to accommodate the reduction from the proposed 39.6 per cent increase over three years.
The outcome is that council has adopted in this year’s budget the SRV approved for 2025/26 of 12.1 per cent (including the rate peg of 3.8 per cent) for 2025/26, followed by 11.7 per cent (with rate peg of 3.4 per cent) the next year. This will mean the typical (or median) rate payer will be billed an extra $168 per year - or $42 per quarter. I’m very aware of the cost of living crisis currently affecting the community, but 30 per cent of ratepayers will pay the minimum rate, and we already have hardship provisions in place and concessions for pensioners.
The SRV will then provide an extra $16 million boost to the budget, with expenditure of $550 million. Capital works are anticipated to cost us $105 million (with $61m on renewal and $44m on high priority new projects). Loan repayments will amount to $2.4 million, although staff say the $4.6 million loan to the Mona Vale Cemetery Fund will not be returned (with interest) until the Council’s new computer system is completed in 2026/27.
The extra SRV income will enable the council to renew infrastructure that is important to us all. At our March strategic workshop, councillors asked staff to direct that spending particularly toward roads in the draft budget. We have now voted to spend an extra $8 million on these, along with footpaths and stormwater infrastructure.
The budget papers show we will also have $930,000 available for rockpool renewal, $23,000 of that from the SRV, with $2.395 million available the following year. Design work for Palm Beach, Avalon and Bilgola pools will be carried out in 25/26.
Palm Beach will also benefit from funding put aside for the design of the Governor Phillip Park Masterplan ($2 million) and bush regeneration ($104,000). The Avalon Place Plan implementation will finally go ahead once the Sydney Water works are completed. That will be funded by $973,000 in 2025/26, $1.04m in 26/27 and another $1.7 million the following year. More than $200,000 is allocated for the next financial year to work on the Shared Space, which will begin with detailed design work.
Funding to complete the Mona Vale Place Plan will be available and Mona Vale Cemetery will benefit from $470,000. Church Point’s Thomas Stephens Reserve will receive an upgrade with a new seawall this year and a preliminary study will be carried out into relocating the ferry pontoon.
Fifty thousand dollars will be spent upgrading Catherine Park on Scotland Island, and work will continue on the Bridle Trail at Terrey Hills and Duffys Forest. Terrey Hills Emergency Service HQ will receive $124,000 for its building program.
I am particularly pleased that funding will be available for our extremely rundown bushland, where the changing climate, particularly increased rainfall and warm weather, has intensified weed growth in recent years. Bush regeneration and our invasive species program will receive nearly $4 million, with $500,000 of that coming from the SRV. The budget for tree maintenance will increase from $3.7 million to $4.12 million, and all parks will receive an extra mow in summer. To protect that environment and enforce building compliance, an extra three compliance staff are budgeted for.
I'm also delighted to note that the arts across the Northern Beaches will continue to receive funding, with the Manly Art Gallery and Museum, including staff, to cost a net $738,439. Creative Spaces will actually add $10,501 to council coffers (income $35,670 - costs of $25,169). Additionally our libraries, which receive nearly 1 million visits each year, will have a total net cost to the budget of $12.5 million.
One of the few councillors to oppose passage of the budget was Pittwater’s Independent councillor Sunny Singh. Expressing concerns about the “extra financial burden” that the SRV would place on the ratepayers over the next two years, he focused on small business.
“(In a) cost of living crisis, how can we justify these increases?” Mr Singh said at the meeting.
“Many families, small businesses and pensioners (are) already struggling to pay their bills.
“The SV (Special Variation) will only make it harder for them to stay afloat.
“Council has forced the small businesses to close their doors, to walk away with empty-hands, … having spent a fortune on their businesses.”
Mr Singh called for responsible financial management, with “better savings and planning”, saying “the ratepayer is not a source of revenue”.
However, Frenchs Forest Greens Councillor Ethan Hrnjak noted that the savings envisaged by some would go nowhere near meeting the budget shortfall required to maintain assets and ensuring sufficient reserves for natural disaster preparedness and long term financial sustainability.
“Unfortunately, even if the Council were to cut discretionary services to the bone, including cancelling Christmas, New Year and Aus Day events, childcare services and community grants, increase fees for sports field hire, close golf courses, sell off property, shut down environment centres and remove community liaison staff positions, these savings would not be sufficient to meet even half of the funding gap of $24 million required to maintain our current assets,” Mr Hrnjak told the meeting.
He also defended arts funding, which has been attacked by those opposed to a rate rise, saying:
“When the museum is shut down, the theatre shuttered, our aquatic centres closed, the libraries sold off and the parks paved over, yet we still have a budget sustainability issue and a structural need for a Special Variation, are you really going to be able to tell the community that you acted in their best interests?
“Art is never a money maker. Of course, we could cut the libraries and museums to reduce education even further.
“We will soon live in a purely business-oriented world where people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”
Community Strategic Plan
Finally, taking a step back from the budget for a moment, the document that comes closest to outlining our “core services”, which so many residents have called for the council to exclusively fund, is the Community Strategic Plan. The plan which forms part of the council’s Integrated Planning and Reporting documents, is reviewed every term with community consultation. It was presented with the budget papers at Tuesday’s meeting.
Once again, it describes our vision for the Northern Beaches as: “a safe, diverse, inclusive and connected community that lives in balance with our extraordinary coastal and bushland environment”.
Curl Curl YNB Councillor Nic Beaugeard, who moved for the budget reports to be accepted, including the Draft Community Strategic Plan, explained its role.
“That’s our shared North Star and this plan translates that into clear goals, strategies and measurable outcomes,” Mr Beaugeard told the chamber.
Not only does the plan include “roads, rates and rubbish”, but also goals related to areas such as the environment and housing. Two of these in particular, transport and resilience, have been updated in response to community feedback. Although council shares responsibility for transport with the NSW government, the CSP notes that residents emphasised problems with traffic and road congestion. As a result, new transport related goals were added addressing: e-bike safety, improved frequency and reliability of public transport and infrastructure for electric vehicles.
By contrast, resilience has been integrated across all areas, “not only in response to climate threats, but also as a crucial aspect of community life in the face of broader shocks and stresses”, the CSP says.
The plan can be viewed here.
Councillors voting for the budget: me and Ms Dillon; Mayor Sue Heins (Frenchs Forest YNB); French Forest YNB councillor Jody Williams; Frenchs Forest Greens Councillor Ethan Hrnjak; Narrabeen YNB councillor Ruth Robins; Curl Curl YNB councillor Nic Beaugeard; Curl Curl Greens Kristyn Glanville; Good for Manly councillor Candy Bingham; Manly YNB council Sarah Grattan; Manly Greens councillor Bonnie Harvey.
Against: Narrabeen Independent Councillors Bob Giltinan and Vince De Luca; and Curl Curl YNB councillor Joelene Hackman.
Have your say on how you want to be consulted about development
Since I was elected I’ve heard numerous complaints from residents about how they are consulted about DAs (Development Applications). To see if the council could do a better job on this, last year I successfully submitted a motion to council for a review of our Community Participation Plan, which sets out how consultation over development should take place.
Staff found in the review that: “the CPP is working well, enables public engagement in plan making and development assessment functions, and is fit for purpose”. They did make a few changes, including extending notification to residents in a 100 metre radius of any site specific planning proposal (ie a proposal that would change the Local Environment Plan for a particular site). They recommended that the plan be adopted at the meeting.
However, I don’t believe those changes go far enough. Residents’ groups have for years asked me if the council could send them emails each week with DAs submitted during that time. Staff have said that’s no longer needed because you can now search for that category on the council website - but I know I’m not the only one who struggles with the DA tool.
Unfortunately, all too commonly I also hear from residents saying they have not been informed about a development close to their homes. And those who have already submitted objections to DAs say they frequently miss out when modifications are submitted. Similarly with deemed refusals - where residents who have not objected might still be concerned about a proposed development.
One prominent community leader told me before the council meeting, that DAs cause a lot of anger and angst over developments.
“If it’s about consulting the community, then they need to consult the community,” they said.
As a result, I moved an amendment that the Community Participation Plan be placed on public exhibition. The majority of councillors voted for this revised version of the motion, with the exception of Mr Singh, Mr De Luca, Mr Giltinan and Ms Robins. Ms Harvey was absent during this item.
I encourage all residents who have encountered problems with the DA engagement process to respond on the Have Your Say page of the council website once it’s posted, because during consultation on the previous version of this policy (approved in 2019), the council received only seven submissions.
Environmentalists call for talks on Bushland and Biodiversity
Pittwater Natural Heritage Association has called for council staff to talk with them about how the newly reviewed Bushland and Biodiversity Policy will be applied.
Before council’s meeting on Tuesday, a member of the PNHA committee told me that the group thinks the policy, which has been re-adopted with only minor changes, is excellent but they would like to see improvements in its implementation.
I therefore called the item out for discussion at the council meeting to make this point, saying that I thought ecologists and environmentalists would be pleased with funding earmarked for bush regeneration and invasive species control in the budget (see above).
However, some issues remain with the way weed control is carried out and they would also like to see council raising community awareness of the importance of protecting bushland and biodiversity. They believe this education could be done more actively and creatively.
“Our bushcare volunteers donate time equivalent to four years of working hours each year to council,” I told the meeting.
“They and our ecologists look forward to a discussion about how we can implement this policy.”
No other councillors spoke to the motion and it was passed by all those present. Ms Robins, Mr Williams and Mr Beaugeard were absent at the time of the vote.
Also due for adoption at the meeting was the new Tree Management Policy, however, it was deferred until the next meeting.
Boat and Trailer parking
Boat and trailer parking problems have declined in the last 12 months, staff found in a report to council at Tuesday’s meeting. Of the 24,590 complaints rangers received in the previous 12 months, only 77 related to the issue. That compared to 288 complaints related to trailer, boat and caravan parking in the 12 months to November last year.
The review, carried out in response to a council resolution last November, found that 17,000 trailers are registered on the Northern Beaches.
Of the 77 complaints from the last year, 12 were over abandoned caravans and caravan trailers, while the rest related to boat trailers and boats.
Waterside localities, such as Bayview, generated complaints but the highest numbers were received from Cromer and Collaroy. Staff said they currently undertake “targeted proactive controls in these known ‘hot spots’ to deter trailer parking. Parking control signage was also used in areas where long term trailer parking had significantly reduced the amount of local parking or created hazards.
In response, councillors jointly crafted a resolution that included Ms Glanville’s suggestion that council develop a strategy to encourage residents to report “hot spots” for inappropriate trailer, boat and caravan parking. Her suggestion was to create a web form promoted in the newsletter, social media, and media, to assist rangers to identify areas for patrol and/or streets that may benefit from motor vehicle only parking signage.
Staff will also write to the NSW government to ask for a review of the current penalties for trailer parking under the Road Rules and Road Transport Act, and enabling permits to further discourage boats and trailers being parked on residential streets.
The motion passed unanimously.
Warriewood SLSC reno tenderer approved
A tenderer was approved for the first stage of renovations at Warriewood Surf Club at Tuesday’s meeting. JXB Projects Pty Limited has secured the work with a tender of $754,802 excluding GST.
Call for council to support Israel boycott and Gaza ceasefire fails
A call for a ceasefire in Gaza, supported by a council ban on procurement from companies listed by the UN as complicit in human rights violations in the embattled territory, was hotly debated at the council meeting.
Recognising that council already has links with Gaza via the Gaza Surf Lifesaving Project, the motion also included an affirmation that the council condemns any acts of Antisemitism or Islamophobia.
The motion, which was the subject of right-wing media attention before the meeting, was brought by Mr Hrnjak and seconded by me. The CEO, Scott Phillips, questioned by Mr Hrnjak before the vote, affirmed that the motion was legitimate, no report would be required and it would not cost the council anything to implement. Asked: “Does the Local Government act allow Councils to conduct advocacy on behalf of their local communities?” Mr Phillips also responded “Yes.”
Mr Hrnjak told the chamber that Amnesty International had concluded in December 2024 that Israel was committing genocide. Under the UN Charter, Australia had an obligation to prevent genocide, such as that occurring in Gaza.
“It is possible to hold multiple truths in your mind, that Hamas should be condemned, that Jewish people are suffering, and that the State of Israel is committing genocide against innocent civilians caught in a terrible conflict – most of whom are Palestinian,” Mr Hrnjak told the meeting.
Since the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, where more than 1,200 Israelis lost their lives and 250 were taken hostage, 50,000 Palestinians had been killed in Gaza, he said. That included 17,000 children, and more than 110,000 injured. Another 11,000 people were currently missing and presumed dead.
Since March 2, Israel had completely blocked all supplies and humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. Later that month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had labelled Israel’s blockade “an outrage”, calling the Israeli government’s “excuses” for stopping critical food and medical supplies “completely untenable, completely unacceptable and outrageous”.
“For me, the connection North Steyne Surf Club has with Gaza is testament to the local relevance of this motion,” Mr Hrnjak said.
One and a half successful patrol seasons had occurred in Gaza following training from the Gaza Lifesaving Project, before the October 7 Hamas attacks. Since then four of the Gaza nippers involved in patrols had been killed in the war.
Mr Hrnjak explained that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights maintained a database of companies involved in activities violating human rights in illegal Israeli settlements throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The database listed 97 companies that had, directly and indirectly, enabled, facilitated and profited from the construction and growth of the Israeli settlements.
Former Pittwater Councillor Michael Gencher (Liberal Party), opposed the motion in a speech during public address. Mr Gencher, who is the executive director of Israel advocacy group StandWithUs Australia, claimed the motion was “politically driven, factually flawed and completely outside the remit of this chamber”.
“Councillors are elected to serve their local communities, not to weigh in on global conflicts,” Mr Gencher said from the gallery.
The motion failed to mention that Hamas had rejected three ceasefires accepted by Israel, he said.
“Hamas does not want peace and ignoring that reality isn’t just naïve, it’s dangerous.”
On the issue of writing to the Prime Minister about the issue, he said: “We’ve seen other councils fall into this trap, pretending to be international affairs experts. It’s not just inappropriate, it’s offensive.”
In February Sydney City Council became the first in NSW to adopt a boycott and divestment motion, proposed by Mayor Clover Moore.
Also during Tuesday’s Public Address, Christine Stewart from North Steyne surf club and the Gaza Surf Life Saving Project, along with well-known Australian writer Sarah Dowse, supported the motion. Ms Dowse, who is Jewish, also helped set up the Gaza Surf Life Saving Program and is a former senior member of the Australian Public Service.
Retired International Relations lecturer Caroline Graham, who specialises in the Middle East, began a speech opposing the motion because she said it didn’t go far enough. However, Ms Graham, who was a founder of Northern Beaches Committee for Palestine, was stopped by a Point of Order from another councillor. The Mayor upheld this because she said Ms Graham was actually supporting the motion.
Ms Harvey reminded the meeting that a precedent had been set during the days of apartheid in South Africa, when councils from around the world had boycotted goods from that country.
“This is obviously important to our community,” she said.
“They have come out in great numbers today and they have spoken from their hearts.”
I also supported the motion, noting the Australian government had last year called for a ceasefire - which Israel had now broken - but also due to our connections to Gaza via the lifesaving program, which was initiated by the Northern Beaches Committee for Palestine.
“The bottom line is, many of us believe we should call out and act against genocide wherever it occurs using whatever tools we possess,” I told the meeting.
“Northern Beaches Council can do that by examining the companies from which we buy and ensuring none of them support the Israeli military.
“In that small way, we can provide support to those trapped in Gaza and comfort to Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese living locally.”
However, Your Northern Beaches councillors, while expressing sympathy for Palestinians trapped in Gaza, spoke against the motion because they said it was not a council issue.
The Mayor said she could see the passion but was “absolutely horrified” by the motion.
“The horrifying part for me is that you’re voting either for or against,” Ms Heins said at the conclusion of the debate.
“... I don’t want to be voting at all. This is a complex situation. There is no right or wrong.
“And waving a flag and a letter from the other side of the world, to me makes absolutely no difference to what’s going to happen.
“I think the fact that a local council on the other side of the world is voting on a war that is devastating lives, no matter which side it is, is horribly wrong.”
YNB councillors Ms Dillon, Ms Hackman and Good for Manly’s Ms Bingham left the chamber, abstaining from the vote. Ms Robins had left earlier in the debate, however returned in time for her abstention to be registered as a “no” vote. The Mayor, Ms Grattan, Mr Williams and Mr Beaugeard also said they were abstaining, but by staying in the chamber, their votes counted against the motion.
Mr Singh, Mr De Luca and Mr Giltinan all voted against the motion.
Pittwater Councillor Rowie Dillon's budget speech
Tonight, I stand before you not just as a councillor, but as someone who has been subjected to bullying, harassment, and threats for simply doing the job I was elected to do.
Over the past few weeks, a concerted campaign has been launched with the sole purpose of intimidating and pressuring me. This has included calls for a boycott of my small business, the spreading of inflammatory content designed to shame me, and the delivery of a clear message: “Vote our way, or we’ll hurt you.”
Let me be clear: this is blackmail. This is intimidation. And I will not stand for it.
This is not democracy. This is not a debate. This is a deliberate attempt to manipulate an elected official through economic threats. That crosses a dangerous line.
I was elected to serve the people of the Northern Beaches, particularly Pittwater. I take that responsibility seriously. It means listening to the facts, engaging with staff, and hearing from residents. It means making decisions based on what is best for the long-term sustainability of our communities, not bowing to the pressures of anonymous online attacks.
To those who think bullying will work: you’ve picked the wrong councillor.
I will not be swayed by fear. I will not allow my vote to be held hostage by threats to my livelihood or my reputation.
This campaign has taken a personal toll—physically, emotionally, and financially. But I stand here tonight because that is exactly what those who use intimidation want to prevent: people speaking out, standing tall, saying “no more,” and leading with integrity.
So, let me say it firmly and without hesitation: I am voting YES for the Budget.
Why? Because it’s the responsible decision. Because our Council must remain financially sustainable. Because the alternative is cuts to core services, decaying infrastructure, and neglecting our community’s assets and future.
No campaign of fear or intimidation will change that reality.
Finally, I want to address my fellow councillors and the broader community: if we allow this type of bullying to go unchallenged, we are inviting more of it. If we want good people to run for public office, we must protect them from this kind of abuse.
This behaviour must end. And it ends now, with me standing up and calling it out. Thank you for listening.
Frenchs Forest Councillor Ethan Hrnjak's Gaza speech
In December 2024, Amnesty International concluded that Israel is committing genocide. Under the UN Charter, and in alignment with decisions by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), Australia has an obligation to prevent genocide, such as that which is currently occurring in Gaza.
Whilst foreign policy is the responsibility of the federal government, many Northern Beaches residents are horrified by the ongoing military attacks by the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) on the people and infrastructure of Gaza. They would like us to do whatever is in our power to stop the bloodshed.
Since the October 7 (2023) Hamas attacks on Israel, where over 1,200 innocent Israeli citizens lost their lives and over 250 were taken hostage, 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, including 17,000 children and over 110,000 injured. These figures do not include over 11,000 people currently missing and presumed dead.
It is possible to hold multiple truths in your mind, that Hamas should be condemned, that Jewish people are suffering, and that the State of Israel is committing genocide against innocent civilians caught in a terrible conflict – most of whom are Palestinian.
Since March 2nd 2025, Israel has completely blocked all supplies and humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, making it the longest complete closure in history.
Later that month, Anthony Albanese labelled Israel’s blockade of aid into Gaza as “an outrage”, calling the Israeli government’s “excuses” for stopping critical food and medical supplies “completely untenable, completely unacceptable and outrageous”.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights maintains a database of companies involved in activities violating human rights in illegal Israeli settlements throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The database lists 97 companies that have, directly and indirectly, enabled, facilitated and profited from the construction and growth of the settlements.
Council can help satisfy residents’ calls for action by using this list to check if council is buying or investing with any of the companies complicit in these human rights abuses.
Those who have witnessed the footage on the news and on social media mourn the tragic and horrific loss of human life in the current conflict and those innocent victims of attacks that target civilians. As a Council, we recognise that the constant bombing and the total siege of Gaza is traumatising for Northern Beaches residents who have relatives in the region or have come from war-torn countries. We express our solidarity with these communities.
Many global organisations and institutions, including Amnesty International, United Nations Special Rapporteurs, and the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Occupied Palestinian Territory, have documented systematic evidence of war crimes committed by Israel and its army against Palestinians.
As a diverse, multicultural and multi-faith community, Northern Beaches Council deplores and actively stands against all forms of racism, including Islamophobia and Antisemitism.
Right of Reply
Anyone with two eyes and a beating heart recognises what is happening in Gaza. This is a motion of advocacy and is an example of the Council providing effective civic leadership to the local community - see s223(1)(b) of the Local Government Act.
International issues are not the primary the focus of Council, however local Councils can engage in advocacy (like this) that does not detract from its functions as a local authority.
For example, since July 1st, 2024, Councils have been required to review their supply chains and take reasonable steps to ensure that products and services they engage are not the result of modern slavery.
Even though modern slavery is an international issue we don’t feel on the Northern Beaches, we still have to recognise the importance of not being complicit in human rights abuses wherever they occur.
I implore councillors to examine their own conscience as they decide how to vote on this motion.
History will not look favourably upon what is happening in Gaza, but as we know, history is written by the victors - which is why it is the aim of some to wipe it and its people completely off the map.
For me, the connection North Steyne Surf Club has with Gaza is testament to the local relevance of this motion. After one and a half successful patrol seasons in Gaza following training from the Gaza Lifesaving Project, October 7 happened.
Zali Steggall worked extensively alongside Northern Beaches Committee for Palestine to secure visas and support so that the Saleh family could escape Gaza. They succeeded but unfortunately many of the Gaza Surf Project team in Gaza, including four nippers children have been killed in the conflict.
Maha, aged nine, wanted to be a robot engineer and just wanted to play, dance, sing, write, draw and swim. Her brother Zuhair liked to play football and sports, and liked the games, activities and learning from the Nippers program. Tragically, they were both killed with their entire family.
Local Federal MP Sophie Scamps recently called for an immediate ceasefire.
Passing this motion will give her the backing of Council to continue advocating strongly on this issue. Zali Stegall’s work with Northern Beaches Committee for Palestine should also be recognised and commended.
This genocide in particular has been singled out because it is the only one where Australia may be complicit. We allow the US to process and share intelligence from Pine Gap with Israel on Australian soil and export weapons components and equipment to the IDF.
This motion is not costly, nor is it about council taking sides in an international conflict. It merely supports the position of the Australian Government. Our CEO has confirmed it will not require any additional expenditure. This motion seeks to condemn Antisemitism and Islamophobia and ensure ratepayers money does not fund human rights abuses, as identified by the UN. Considering we have just passed a 25 per cent increase in rates, this meeting is the perfect time to put our community at ease that Council is not complicit in this complex, international issue.
Convenor Deb Collins speech on behalf of Canopy Keepers regarding Tree Management - delivered in Public Address
Good evening, Deb Collins Convenor of Canopy Keepers, we speak tonight in support of motion 11.1 the adoption of the Tree Management Policy. We thank the staff for preparing the policy and encourage all councillors to vote in favour of it.
Canopy Keepers is a community organisation with a mission to preserve our urban forest. An incredible yet dwindling asset that is under considerable threat in our LGA.
The Tree Management Policy is one small part of a much larger systemic solution required to preserve this natural asset. Nearly two years ago, Council ratified the Tree Canopy Plan, now we have the Management Policy and next come the all important Guidelines - so staff and residents understand how to apply the plan and the policy.
WE URGE COUNCIL not to delay this next step or the introduction of the long awaited Significant (Iconic) Tree Register - for another two years. There were around 160 public submissions on the policy, many submissions asked the Council, as Canopy Keepers did, to strengthen it. We were therefore disappointed that the policy was not strengthened. Our main contribution seems to have been as a sub editor, pointing out poor definitions and awkward sentencing.
We ask Council WERE department experts reading KEY STAKEHOLDER submissions and if not - why not?
We spend hours contributing to Council’s work, we want our contribution to strengthen policy rather than perform an editing role.
So now that we have a policy, who except a few community groups will know of its existence and its reach?
Would this policy have influenced the devastating clearing that Council’s contractors performed on the Bilgola Bends some months ago, where mature coastal vegetation was hacked and mulched- destroying a delightful walk and turning it into a barren roadside wasteland - this area now - a festoon of weeds.
Would this policy have stopped a resident in Avalon with no permission felling a large canopy tree on his neighbour’s property and then saying “Oh sorry, I thought it was on my block but the tree needs to go because a branch dropped on my driveway”. The aggrieved neighbour is too scared to report the incident to the police - in their words “my neighbour is a billionaire I simply cannot afford to take him on”.
Canopy Keepers is looking to Council to continue this investigation of trespass and unlawful removal of a significant asset with rigour and to issue a sizeable fine.
My point is that plans, policies and guidelines are great and much needed but they are only one part of the larger picture. Both the Tree Canopy Plan and Tree Management Policy talk about the need for greater compliance, community education and lobbying State Government in order to review State legislation (such as low fines for illegal tree removal and the 10/50 Vegetation Clearing Act).
Can Council confirm that there are resources going to these critical areas in order to create real change?
With the upcoming rates increase we implore Council to work systemically to preserve our urban forests - without community education and awareness campaigns these documents are just words on a page. They alone are not preserving our forests.
We support this motion as one piece in a much larger eco-system of need.