Message from the Mayor Cr Edward McDougall
This is an exciting time for Council. Our 2025-26 budget has been approved, and we are embarking on a $70 million capital works program to deliver several transformative projects across Bayside.
One major project in this financial year’s budget is the commencement of works at the Botany Aquatic Centre.
The tender for the demolition has been awarded and those works are about to commence.
Sydney Airport is contributing to the slides and splash park component as part of a multi-million dollar local partnership with Council.
Our four-year Delivery Program and Operational Plan & Budget for 2025-26 will deliver other long-term benefits for residents including an upgrade to the Boulevarde Car Park in Brighton Le Sands, a new Arncliffe Community Hub, an upgrade to Mascot Oval to provide new sporting facilities for the community, new amenities for Sir Joseph Banks Park and the redevelopment of the facilities at Depena Reserve.
I encourage everyone to have a look at our Delivery Program and Operational Plan & Budget on our website that outlines our bold plans for Bayside.
This month, during NAIDOC Week, we also celebrated the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Council developed an exciting program of hands-on art workshops including Aboriginal honey making, bush tucker and weaving workshops, allowing younger generations to discover more about First Nations culture and history.
Council is also holding its first Creative Industries Forum, a free full-day event aimed at energising, connecting and elevating the region’s creative community.
This forum, on Thursday 31 July, will bring together artists, performers, designers, filmmakers, and creative entrepreneurs for a day of inspiration, learning and collaboration. Details of the event are on our website.
I am looking forward to guiding Council through the year ahead. If I can assist you with any Council matter, please email me at mayor@bayside.nsw.gov.au
Cr Edward McDougall Mayor
Artist impression of the new Botany Aquatic Centre
Seniors High Teas
Council hosted a series of popular high teas in the Botany and Rockdale Town Halls to thank our seniors for their extraordinary contribution to our community.
It was an opportunity to meet with old and new friends, enjoy a delicious high tea, and dance to some toe-tapping live music.
National Reconciliation Week
Bayside Council celebrated National Reconciliation Week with a Smoking Ceremony and Flag Raising at the Rockdale Town Hall on Thursday 29 May.
Dr Ann Curthoys also shared her experiences from the Freedom Ride and Aunty Barb Simms spoke on Bayside’s reconciliation journey. Local school children enjoyed a guided tour of the native Bush Tucker Garden in Sir Joseph Banks Park where they learnt more about First Nations culture and history.
The theme for NAIDOC Week was The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy and Council presented an exciting program with hands-on workshops for our younger generation to discover more about First Nations culture and history.
Candlelight Vigil
Held on the eve of Domestic Violence
Remembrance Day this candlelight vigil was an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to supporting organisations and initiatives that help reduce family and domestic violence.
Council’s four-year Delivery Plan information session on Tuesday 20 May gave residents an informal opportunity to provide feedback on the draft plans and strategies developed to guide Council’s future actions. Councillors and staff provided information on Council’s key projects, fees & charges, and the resource strategies for delivering ongoing services to the community.
Dennis Golding: On the Foreshore
Council is collaborating with the Museum of Contemporary Art on an exciting new community art project in Bayside, Dennis Golding: on the Foreshore.
Local artist Dennis Golding, who was commissioned to create a public artwork, has been working with Bayside’s young people to gather ideas to develop a new public artwork to be installed along the foreshore this November.
The Our A–Z History exhibition at Mascot Library delves into 26 unique stories highlighting the rich and diverse history of the Bayside area. This is Council’s first exhibition that will be digitised and made available to view online.
The exhibition closes on 31 October 2025.
Council’s first Creative Industries Forum on Thursday 31 July 2025 at Rockdale Town Hall, will bring together artists, performers, designers, filmmakers, and creative entrepreneurs for a day of inspiration, learning and collaboration to help grow Bayside’s creative economy.
Community Grants
Council’s popular Community Grants program opens on Monday 21 July. The grants are designed to support local organisations providing innovative programs addressing community needs with grants of up to $5,000.
Report it
It’s now easier than ever to report an issue to Council with a simpler, intuitive process that ensures better service delivery and a faster resolution.
Record $70M infrastructure investment
Council is set to embark on a record $70 million infrastructure spend following the approval of its Operational Plan & Budget and Delivery Program for 2025/26 at the Council Meeting on Wednesday 25 June.
The $70 million will be distributed across a wide range of projects for the 2025-26 financial year including:
$15.6 million on roads, car parks and footpaths and other related improvements.
$25 million on the Botany Aquatic Centre redevelopment.
$9.6 million on parks and open spaces.
$5.3 million on buildings and property upgrades.
$750,000 on foreshore upgrades, seawall repairs and groyne restoration.
$1 million on libraries and IT infrastructure.
$1.65 million on stormwater and drainage improvements.
$1.57 million on the Spring Creek Naturalisation and conservation projects.
Here
are some of the major projects Council is planning
ARNCLIFFE COMMUNITY HUB
Council has entered into a Planning Agreement for works in kind with Billbergia Group to deliver a multipurpose community facility at Arncliffe. The new facility will provide a welcoming, collaborative space where the community can connect, learn, work and create.
BOTANY AQUATIC CENTRE
Construction of the new Botany Aquatic Centre is underway. The new Centre will include a new grandstand, a 50-metre outdoor competition pool and a 25-metre indoor lap pool, an indoor learn to swim pool, amenities, gym space, change rooms and a kiosk, as well as a new adventure waterplay area and slides.
BOULEVARDE CAR PARK
The Boulevarde Car Park Redevelopment will provide additional public car parking to support the community and local business in Brighton Le Sands. The new building contains a community hub/library, multilevel carparking and a commercial rooftop area.
MASCOT OVAL
The Mascot Oval upgrade includes a new grandstand, changerooms, a function space, a viewing/filming platform, a canteen, storage, public amenities, a meeting room, a medical room and a referee’s room that will transform the area into a modern sporting precinct that meets the needs of the local community and sporting clubs.
Council Projects
Council’s website has been updated, making it easier to find information about the many projects happening around Bayside.
Use the QR code to visit Council’s new project page and find out more about your area.
RIVERINE PARK
The club house upgrade at Riverine Park includes new change rooms, toilets, canteen facilities, roofing and solar panels, new windows, lighting, and interior fit out, as well as a new sewer connection, and tiered seating.
BOORALEE PARK PLAYSPACE
This upgrade includes equipment and play activities for children, additional park furniture, and an accessible drinking fountain.
BEXLEY BOWLING CLUB
The former Bexley Bowling and Recreation Club will be demolished to improve visual amenity of the site. Work should be completed in Spring 2025, weather permitting.
SIR JOSEPH BANKS PARK CARPARK
New public amenities and car park upgrades will be completed to increase capacity, improve accessibility and mitigate flood-related issues.
DEPENA RESERVE CAFE
Council is working to develop a new café at Depena Reserve and a DA has been lodged.
Community Drop Offs
Residents can drop off unwanted items including batteries, e-waste, metals and whitegoods at the Bexley Depot on the first Saturday of the month and Botany Depot on the third Saturday of the month. Drop Off days run from February to December.
For more information please scan the QR code.
Safe Battery Disposal
Batteries should not be disposed of in domestic waste, recycling bins or clean up piles. They are the leading cause of fires in garbage and recycling trucks, endangering the lives of staff and the community.
Unwanted or used batteries can be taken to one of our Recycling Drop Off Events or to other suitable drop off points in the area.
World Environment Day Wetlands Tour
Council celebrated World Environment Day with two adventure tours of Bayside’s important wetland eceosystem led by local environmentalist and historian Dr Arthur White.
The tours included four important wetlands in Bayside:
Eve Street Wetland, home to the endangered Green and Golden Bell frog and the heritagelisted 1890s Southern and Western Ocean Outfall System.
Landing Lights Wetland that supports migrating and local birds.
Patmore Swamp that was the hiding place of indigenous freedom fighter Pemulwuy.
Hawthorne Street Natural Area that supports diverse aquatic habitats and vegetation.
Provide your feedback on Council’s upcoming projects and initiatives.
Event Survey
Please fill out the questionnaire below. Scan and email to haveyoursay@bayside.nsw.gov.au, drop it into one of our Customer Service Centres at Rockdale or Eastgardens, or go online and complete the survey at haveyoursay.bayside.nsw.gov.au
1. Event attendance
A. In the past 12 months, how many community events have you attended in Bayside?
None 3–5
1–2
More than 5
B. Who did you attend these events with?
Attended alone
With family
With friends
With children
With a community group
Other (please specify):
2.
Favourite Bayside events
Please select your 5 favourite Bayside Council events.
Please rank them from 1 to 5 (1 is the most preferred):
____ ANZAC Dawn Service
____ Australia Day (Botany Pool)
____ Carols by the Sea
____ Chapel Nights
____ Christmas Events
____ Food & Wine Festival
____ Jazz on the Mall
____ Lunar New Year Festival
____ Ramadan at Bayside
____ Spring Fair
____ Winter Wonderland
____ Other (please specify):
3. Reasons for attending local events
Why do you choose to attend local events?
Select all that apply:
To meet friends and socialise
As a family outing
To support local businesses
To feel connected to the community
To enjoy activities in my local area
To support local performers or talent
For food and drink offerings
Other (please specify):
4. Barriers to attendance
Are there any challenges or reasons that prevent you from attending Bayside events?
Select all that apply:
Event timing (e.g. during work hours, weekends, or inconvenient time of day)
Location is difficult to get to
Lack of parking
Not close to public transport
Venue is not accessible (e.g. for wheelchairs, prams)
Lack of inclusive facilities (e.g. childcare, language support)
Other (please specify):
5. Preferred event features
A. Which of the following event features and activities are most important to you?
Please rank them in order of personal preference (1 to 11):
____ Arts and culture
____ Carnival rides
____ Children’s activities
____ Community groups
____ Festivals
____ Food stalls
____ Live music
____ Markets
____ Outdoor movies
____ Sporting events
____ Street-based events
B. Where would you most like to see events held in Bayside?
Please nominate a specific space or suburb:
6. Event ideas
Do you have any suggestions or ideas for future events?
