Council Meeting summary – 10 December 2024
Published on 13 December 2024
Council held a meeting on Tuesday 10 December 2024. The following is a summary of outcomes from the meeting:
Presentation of award for International Relations Program
Ms Young Cha, a representative of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea Sydney’s GAROK Office, presented the Mayor with an award for Council’s International Relations Program.
Mayoral Minute – Meet the Mayor: local park visits
Council endorsed the staging of three ‘Meet the Mayor’ events to be held in local parks during 2025. The cost of the events will be funded from the Mayor’s Councillor Discretionary Fund.
Mayoral Minute – 16 Days of Activism
Council noted the need for ongoing work to support victims of domestic and family violence. It will support work which educates the community about domestic and family violence and about how to seek assistance.
Adoption of the 2023/24 Financial Statements
In accordance with Section 419 (1) of the Local Government Act 1993, Council received and noted the Auditor’s Reports on the 2023/24 Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2024. Any public submissions about the FY23/24 Financial Statements will be referred to the Auditor in accordance with Section 420 of the Local Government Act 1993.
Christmas/New Year arrangements for the CEO
Council, pursuant to Section 351(1)(a) of the Local Government Act 1993, temporarily appointed Michael Galderisi, General Manager – City Shaping, as Chief Executive Officer for the period between 12.00am on 19 December 2024 to 12 midnight on 12 January 2025, while the incumbent Chief Executive Officer is on annual leave.
Determination of Working Groups
The following Community Committees will be convened for the 2024-2026 term of Council:
- Festival and the Arts Community Committee
- Heritage Community Committee
- Inclusion and Wellbeing Community Committee
- Multicultural Community Committee
- Ryde Youth Council
- Small Business Community Committee
- Sport, Recreation and Leisure Community Committee
- Sustainability Community Committee
All Councillors are eligible to attend and participate in each City of Ryde Working Group, without formal membership, in accordance with their Terms of Reference, noting that the position of Chairperson on each of the Working Groups (with the exception of Ryde Youth Council) is to be held by the appointed staff convenor. All Working Group meetings are to be hybrid meetings with attendance either in person or via remote audio-visual attendance. Council will confirm the commencement of an Expression of Interest process to identify interested and committed people from the City of Ryde community, to become members of each of the Working Groups. Following Council’s endorsement of the above recommendations, Council officers will review the Working Groups’ Terms of Reference, which are subsequently to be confirmed at each Working Group’s first meeting and then reported back to Council. A mid-term review of the performance of all Community Committees will be conducted in mid-2026, with a report to Council to outline and recommended any changes.
Local Government Renumeration Tribunal submission
Council considered and endorsed the lodgement of the submission to the Local Government Remuneration for recategorisation of City of Ryde from Metropolitan Large to Metropolitan Major Council. The submission is to be lodged with the Tribunal by the due date of 20 December 2024.
Report from Councillor Daniel Han
Council received and noted the report from Clr Han regarding his attendance at the Washington Global Strategy Special Committee Conference in October 2024.
Draft Flood Risk Management Study and Plan
Council endorsed proceeding with a 60-day public exhibition of the Draft Flood Risk Management Study and Plan, allowing for submissions to be received from the community.
Community Engagement Strategy
Council received and noted the tabling of the City of Ryde’s Community Engagement Strategy (CES).
Critical infrastructure and open space protection and enhancement
Council noted the status of the park masterplans listed under the Council resolution “Critical Infrastructure and Open Space Protection and Enhancement (MM37/24),” dated 22 October 2024, potential project timelines for the delivery of these masterplans, and funding sources identified in the report. Council will allocate a budget of $200,000 from the Section 7.11 Open Space and Public Domain reserve to commence preliminary planning for the following projects:
- Christie Park; Stages 3 and 4
- Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre (RALC); multi-deck car park and tennis courts
- ELS Hall expansion – courts and car parking
- Putney Park Masterplan; implementation
- Ryde Park Masterplan; implementation
- Field of Mars Masterplan; implementation
- Brush Farm Park – Irrigation and Netball Courts
- Shrimpton’s Creek Corridor Masterplan; implementation.
A further report will be provided to Council by the June 2025 Council meeting with the outcome of the preliminary planning identifying recommended priorities and project deliverables within this term of Council.
Update – International Relations
Council acknowledged the economic importance of the Macquarie Park Innovation District and the fact that its economic functions – education, R&D, health services, and knowledge-intensive industries – are global in their outlook. It acknowledged that the economic centres of Eastwood, West Ryde-Meadowbank, and Gladesville are also economically diverse and growing. It further acknowledged the critical role of City of Ryde’s international relations activities, the efforts of Council staff in having their International Relations program publicly acknowledged, and the importance of hosting and participating in international delegations. Council approved staff working with local businesses, consulates, peak bodies, and Macquarie University to develop cost-effective plans for international delegations to and from Taiwan, the Republic of Korea, and Japan in 2025, with these plans and budgets to be brought to Council for endorsement.
Annual report on Code of Conduct statistics – 1 September 2023-31 August 2024
The report provides statistical information about Code of Conduct complaints received between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024, in accordance with Part 11 of the City of Ryde Code of Conduct – Complaints Procedure.
Deferral of Notices of Motion
Five Notices of Motion were deferred until the 25 February 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting.
Precis of correspondence
Correspondence from the Mayor to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, the Hon. Paul Scully MP dated 29 November 2024, regarding the Macquarie Park Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Accelerated Precinct Rezoning was received and noted.
Expanding and diversifying our community centres
Council will prioritise the updating of the City of Ryde Halls and Facilities Strategy as part of preparing the 2025/2026 Operational Plan. As part of the update, Council will undertake community engagement, including with the Mayor and Councillors, to understand the types of halls and facilities required to meet the current and future needs of the community. It will consider the need to improve and expand our places and spaces that can be used to support our local communities as the Integrated Open Space Plan, Social Plan and Creativity Strategy are finalised.
Persian New Year
Council acknowledged Nowruz, the Persian New Year, as an important cultural celebration in the City of Ryde, encourages residents to honour the traditions associated with it, and displays this recognition on Council’s website and other platforms, and include a ceremony to welcome the New Year on 20 March 2025. Council will investigate hosting an annual Nowruz celebration in the City of Ryde with community representatives who can coordinate and share their cultural knowledge and contribute to the celebration of the New Year.
Community halls in Ryde
Staff will provide an overview of Council’s current leased and hired Community Facilities through a Councillor Workshop by March 2025 (noting that staff are currently reviewing the licencing policies for community halls and leased buildings which will come back to Council later in 2025). A report will be brought back to Council that includes a summary of feedback from Councillors, a summary of identifiable improvements and amendments to the Council’s Policies and Procedure for the Management of Community Facilities, the identification of potential suitable locations for an additional hall in each of the City of Ryde wards, and supporting information to assist in the planning, financing and development of each potential facility for consideration by Council.
Lighting at Christie Park
Council will conduct an investigation into the current performance of sportsground lighting at Christie Park Fields 1 and 2 to ensure it effectively supports nighttime games for both grassroots Association matches and National Premier League (NPL) club games. This evaluation will include consideration of an energy-efficient LED lighting upgrade, factoring in both the improved performance and the long-term cost savings associated with reduced energy consumption and maintenance. It will also ensure that any lighting upgrades comply with safety standards. Given proximity to Lane Cove National Park, which is a habitat for threatened nocturnal wildlife, a biodiversity and Environmental Impact Study will also be included in the investigation report.
Sunlight glare at Ryde Community Sports Centre
Council staff will work with YMCA staff to investigate the current conditions in relation to sunlight glare and the lack of fans and ventilation on the indoor courts at Ryde Community Sports Centre and assess the feasibility of installing shutters or shade Sails to manage sunlight glare issues. Council staff will provide a cost estimate for the proposed infrastructure works and identify suitable funding sources, including grants from state or federal governments. Staff will table a report by the April 2025 Council meeting, detailing the findings of the investigation, cost estimates, timeline, and potential funding options.
Council’s chipping and mulching service
Council staff will explore the feasibility and costs of an electronic customer satisfaction survey of future and recent past users of Council’s chipping and mulching service to determine their satisfaction with the service level delivered, including the volume of returned mulch. The survey will be promoted in appropriate Council communications and users proactively invited to provide feedback. The results of this survey will be included as a consideration when the tender is next reviewed. Council’s chipping and mulching service will be included in its online booking services to improve take-up, and to improve access to those residents who find it difficult to make personal phone calls during business hours.
1 Devlin St Ryde – site options
Council resolved to engage a suitably qualified company to seek Expressions of Interest (EOI) for 1 Devlin Street, Ryde (known as Ryde Central), to test the market potential of the site for long-term leasehold, identify suitably interested and appropriately qualified parties, and test other options put forward by the market (where Council retains ownership of the site), ensuring the approach is supported by Council. Council will be informed of the outcomes of the EOI. It will further support progressing with the schematic design and related investigations (including Carpark utilisation study) for a potential Town Hall and any additional cultural and community facilities located at 150-156 Blaxland Road, Ryde.
NB: This resolution was subject to a rescission motion to be heard at an Extraordinary Council Meeting scheduled for Monday 16 December 2024.
TG Millner additional funding allocation
Council resolved to allocate funding for the purpose of compulsory acquisition of the TG Millner Fields, being the property at 146 Vimiera Road, Marsfield. The funding is to be allocated from the Ryde Central Reserve and the Voluntary Planning Agreement Reserve, both internal reserves.
To view the minutes of the meeting, click here