Message from the Mayor Cr Edward McDougall
I am very pleased that Council is hosting two brand new events this October.
Project Planet, our first environmentally driven event, will be held on the banks of the
Cook River at Cahill Park, Wolli Creek on Saturday 18 October. This event highlights our commitment to the environment and will feature an inspiring lineup of workshops, expert panel discussions and interactive stalls.
Visitors will have an opportunity to discover the best ecoconscious practices, tips for reducing our impact on the environment and practical tools for sustainable living.
There will be a diverse mix of eco-focused businesses, environmental organisations and community groups, showcasing practical ideas for reducing our environmental footprint.
There will also be a delicious range of food from sustainable vendors committed to lowwaste practices.
The following week, on Saturday 25 October, we will be holding our first Diwali Night Festival at the King Street Mall and surrounding streets. This event will feature dazzling light displays, authentic cuisine and cultural performances.
To accommodate the festivities Market Street, King Street and King Lane in Rockdale will be closed to traffic.
These events are just a short walk from train stations and bus stops, so please consider using public transport.
Council’s annual Photography Competition runs during October. Last year’s winning entries were installed in the International Arrivals Terminal at Sydney Airport, where they have been seen by thousands of visitors arriving daily in Sydney. This year the winning photographs will be on display at various locations in Bayside.
Finally, entries for our annual Christmas Competitions are open. I am looking forward to seeing your creative designs that reflect our diverse community.
Cr Edward McDougall Mayor
Blooming flowers and clouds by Ryan Pedraza
Spring Fair
The Bayside Spring Fair at Jack Mundey Reserve Eastlakes on Saturday 6 September saw families and friends enjoying an impressive line-up of food, fun and music celebrating Bayside’s multicultural community.
Citizen of the Year 2026
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Bayside Citizen of the Year, Young Citizen of the Year and Sportsperson of the Year.
Scan the QR Code and use the online form on our website to nominate a local hero now.
On Thursday 31 July more than 120 local artists and creative professionals enjoyed a day of panel discussions and inspirational insights from creative industry leaders at Bayside’s first Creative Industries Forum at Rockdale Town Hall.
2025 Community Walk Against Domestic Violence
Bayside’s annual community walk to Say No to Family and Domestic Violence will be held on Friday 5 December at 7:30am.
Join us at Ramsgate Life Saving Club for a walk to Depena Reserve where there will be a community sausage sizzle. Please wear something orange to show your support.
1800 RESPECT 24/7 COUNSELLING HELPLINE
National: 1800 737 732
Domestic: 1800 656 463
Bayside Mayor with 2025 winners (L-R): Jessica Henville, Sportsperson of the Year; Princess Delany, Young Citizen of the Year and Fred Poole, Citizen of the Year.
Library Membership
Bayside library membership provides free access to physical and digital resources like online databases and streaming services. Library members can also book study rooms, access free Wi-Fi and computers, as well as attend many free Library classes and programs.
Book Week
Congratulations to all the winners who attended this year’s Book Week Art Competition Awards and received a certificate recognising their creative talent at the Rockdale Town Hall.
Bayside Garden Centre
Bayside Garden Centre is looking amazing! Make sure you visit now that Spring is here.
Bayside Garden Centre is a joint venture between Bayside Council and the Intellectual Disability Foundation of St George.
Swimming Pool Safety Check
Every home pool owner should check, fix and maintain their home pool and surroundings to prevent child drowning. The NSW Government provides pool safety barrier checklists for pools and spas that can be used before booking a Council pool compliance inspection. Scan the QR code for more information.
It’s now easier than ever to report any issue to Council with our online reporting tool, making it quicker and simpler for residents to raise local issues.
Christmas Street Flag Designs
Council’s Christmas Street Flag Competition offers residents and local artists the opportunity to see their designs flying on flagpoles across Bayside from early December.
Designs should celebrate the Christmas season and reflect Bayside’s diverse community. Entries must be submitted via QR code using the supplied template.
Entries close on Friday 24 October.
Mayoral
Christmas Cards
Get out your drawing pencils and get creative. We are looking for bright and festive designs to feature on the Mayor’s Christmas cards.
For more information and templates scan the QR code or visit our website. Entries close on Friday 7 November.
Christmas Lights Competition
Community Event Noticeboard
The Community Event Noticeboard helps local community groups promote their events so residents can discover what’s happening across Bayside.
Get into the festive spirit by decorating your home and entering our competition. Scan the QR code to find out more and enter. Nominations close Monday 15 December.
Photography Competition
Bayside Council’s annual photography competition opens in October giving residents an opportunity to capture the unique diversity of the place we all call home.
There are seven categories: Open, Natural Environmental, Waterways, Transport, Active, Your Neighbourhood and Junior.
Get your cameras and smartphones out for your chance to win a cash prize. The competition closes on Friday 31 October and entries must be submitted online.
Project Planet
Project Planet Council’s inaugural eco-friendly, environment & resilience fair will be held at Cahill Park, Wolli Creek on Saturday 18 October. This free family-friendly event will be packed with demonstrations, eco-workshops, electric vehicles, solar energy and other ideas to inspire a greener future.
Ron Rathbone Winners
Scarborough Park Masterplan
Council’s Scarborough Park Masterplan was approved at the Council Meeting on Wednesday 24 August.
The masterplan was developed in consultation with the community, carefully balances the preservation of this unique ecological asset with the recreational and sporting needs of Bayside’s growing community.
Congratulations to the Ron Rathbone Local History Competition winners who received their awards on Saturday 13 October 2025 during a ceremony at the state-heritage listed Lydham Hall in Rockdale. Nicole Blay, Janette Pelosi and John Tregoning were the joint winners in the Open Category. Minh Hoang and Joshua Osei-Agyei were the joint winners of the High School category.
Botany Aquatic Centre
A sod-turning ceremony was held on Tuesday 22 July to celebrate the beginning of the demolition stage of the Botany Aquatic Centre Redevelopment Project.
Please scan the QR code for more information.
Booralee Fitness Station
Council has installed a new outdoor fitness station at Booralee Park, Botany.
The outdoor fitness station is available for use by the public free of charge and offers a variety of equipment designed to facilitate strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular training.
Taylor Street Reserve
The upgraded playspace at Taylor Street Reserve, includes new play equipment suitable for a range of ages and abilities, shade sails, seating and improved access paths.
New Mural in King Lane at Rockdale
Council engaged local artist, Lydia Morgan to create an exciting new wall mural celebrating the vibrant Bayside community located in King Lane, Rockdale.
Lydia Morgan is a Sydney based illustrator, artist and muralist. Her work is inspired by plants, fruit, coffee and people. She has done many public murals across Sydney such as at UNSW, Liverpool Civic Place, and Boronia Park.
Spring Planting
Outdoor crews have been out getting ready for spring by refreshing our streets, parks and gardens with vibrant new flower plantings.
Drop Offs & Clean Up Services
Council offers 22 events throughout the year for all Bayside residents to drop off items for recycling.
Council also offers residents four free scheduled clean-ups throughout the year to help remove bulky items that can’t go into regular waste bins.
This includes general household furniture, white goods and electrical appliances. Items not accepted include glass, mirrors, gas bottles, fire extinguishers and batteries.
National Tree Day
Volunteers helped plant more than 500 native trees, plants, shrubs, and grass cover at Scarborough Park, Monterey for National Tree Day on Sunday 27 July.
This has helped increase Bayside’s tree canopy coverage and increased habitat for native animals.
Ausgrid Pilot Program
The Botany/Mascot area is one of only two NSW areas selected to be part of a proposed Ausgrid pilot program designed to test a new way of harnessing unused rooftop solar potential and giving the resulting cost benefits back to the local community.
This pilot is still in its early phases, and yet to receive full approval from the Australian Energy regulator.
Trees for Dad
Local families turned out to help plant a native tree at our popular Trees for Dad event celebrating Father’s Day at Rowland Park, Daceyville on Sunday 7 September.
The annual event is helping to increase Bayside’s green tree canopy.
EV Chargers
Bayside Council is proposing to install 21 new electric vehicle (EV) chargers across the Local Government Area (LGA), each with its own timed parking space. Delivered in partnership with energy companies and the NSW Government, to fund EV infrastructure across our LGA.
This rollout supports Council’s commitment to a sustainable transport future by reducing emissions, encouraging EV adoption, and providing practical charging solutions.
Have your say on the proposed charging locations.
What’s On
SAT 18 OCT
Project Planet
Bayside Council’s inaugural eco-friendly event designed with sustainability at its core. 11am – 6:30pm Cahill Park, Wolli Creek
SAT 25 OCT
Diwali Festival
A vibrant celebration bringing the community together in joy, colour and unity.
5pm – 10pm King Street Mall, Rockdale
SAT 1 NOV
Food and Wine Festival
Come for lunch and stay for dinner. Relax and enjoy great food, wine, live music and activities.
11am – 9pm Mascot Memorial Park Mascot
FRI 5 DEC
Community Walk Against Family and Domestic Violence
Meet at Ramsgate Life Saving Club and walk to Depena Reserve. Enjoy a community BBQ.
7:30am – 9am Ramsgate Life Saving Club Ramsgate Beach
SAT 6 DEC
Hand Made
Christmas Markets
A hand made market supporting local creatives. 10am – 3pm
Lionel Bowen Park, Mascot
SUN 7 DEC
Bayside Christmas Spectacular
Get ready for Christmas by joining us for spectacular shows, food trucks, rides, Christmas markets and more.
4pm – 10pm
Depena Reserve, Dolls Point
SAT 13 DEC
Carols by the Sea
Featuring community groups performing everyone’s favourite carol sing-a-longs with a visit from Santa.
6pm – 9pm
Lady Robinson Beach Brighton Le Sands
SUN 20 DEC
Bayside Christmas Spectacular
Get ready for Christmas by joining us for spectacular shows, food trucks, rides, Christmas markets and more. 4pm – 10pm Booralee Reserve, Botany
Provide your feedback on Council’s upcoming projects and initiatives.
Bayside Customer Service Centres
Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway Westfield Eastgardens, 152 Bunnerong Road
Monday to Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm
Phone 1300 581 299 | 02 9562 1666
YOUR COUNCILLORS
WARD 1
Dr Ron Bezic Councillor ron.bezic@ bayside.nsw.gov.au
WARD 2
Jerome Boutelet Councillor jerome.boutelet@ bayside.nsw.gov.au
WARD
3
Dr Janin Bredehoeft Councillor janin.bredehoeft@ bayside.nsw.gov.au
WARD
4
Joe Awada Councillor joe.awada@ bayside.nsw.gov.au
WARD
5
Heidi Lee Douglas Deputy Mayor heidilee.douglas@
Dr Christina Curry Councillor christina.curry@ bayside.nsw.gov.au
Soraya Kassim Councillor soraya.kassim@ bayside.nsw.gov.au
Michael Nagi Councillor michael.nagi@ bayside.nsw.gov.au
Liz Barlow Councillor liz.barlow@ bayside.nsw.gov.au
Edward McDougall Mayor ed.mcdougall@ bayside.nsw.gov.au
Scott Morrissey Councillor scott.morrissey@ bayside.nsw.gov.au
Peter Strong Councillor peter.strong@ bayside.nsw.gov.au
Chris Saravinovski Councillor chris.saravinovski@ bayside.nsw.gov.au
Fiona Douskou Councillor fiona.douskou@ bayside.nsw.gov.au
Vicki Poulos Councillor vicki.poulos@ bayside.nsw.gov.au