Mayor's Community Message

1 April

DO OR DIE

The proposal to rezone the 6.2ha TG Millner Fields for a low-rise housing development is currently on public exhibition, meaning it’s now do or die time in the long-running community campaign to save this precious open green space from the developers’ bulldozers.

It is deeply concerning that developer Winston Langley and the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) exhibited the draft Development Control Plan (DCP) without first bothering to share its details or seek Council’s endorsement. 

Let me be clear – this DCP does not reflect Council’s position and will not be adopted by Council. I reiterate Council’s resolution of 26 August 2025 calling on the State and Federal Governments to purchase the fields at TG Millner, so that the City of Ryde can embellish and manage them as active open space for our current community and future generations.

Submissions to the planning proposal must be lodged by 5.00pm on Tuesday 21 April 2026 and I encourage everyone to take this chance to speak up and be heard by clicking here.

Over the next few weeks, I will go into further detail about why this rezoning proposal must be opposed.

CIVIC CENTRE FACTS

I am aware of some disinformation being spread online about the long-running saga of Council’s so-called ‘hole in the ground’ at 1 Devlin Street following a media article last week.

Let’s get the facts straight. This Council is working on fixing the mess left to us by a previous Council with very different priorities. We didn’t create this ‘hole in the ground’ but we will make the tough decisions to finally fix it.

My priority is on achieving the best community and financial outcome. I am serious about protecting a valuable public asset and making sure we get the most out of this iconic site. 

I will let you know more about the troubled history of this site and what we’re doing about it over the coming weeks. 

EV CHARGING

With oil shortages bringing a renewed focus on Electric Vehicles, I’m excited to report that Council has endorsed the installation of dual-port, pole-mounted EV chargers at 23 locations within the LGA, with a further four sites to be investigated.

Council will continue to identify further opportunities and suitable locations for additional EV charging infrastructure across the City, including through current and future grant programs and partnerships where it is economically feasible.

Sincerely, 
Trenton Brown – Mayor