PRESIDENT’S ANNUAL REPORT – FY2025
Good evening, everyone and welcome to this, the 2026 Annual General Meeting which reports to you on the Association’s performance and financial position for the financial year ending on 31 December 2025. As usual, it was a busy year for the Association and the more important events are covered in this report.
Our main objectives remain to serve the interests of the residents, property owners and businesses of these two beautiful suburbs and to protect the environment, natural and built, and the amenity of this area.
Last year saw some strenuous efforts by the State Government to accelerate the building of new dwellings to deal with the increasing housing shortage. These efforts were concentrated on increasing density of development in areas close to transport hubs and necessary services so they did not impact directly on our two suburbs; the closest impact will be felt in Mona Vale. The efforts involved changes to the planning rules, both to allow greater density and to reduce what the Government sees as unnecessary controls at the local government level. This has meant reduced participation in the planning process by the community.
The efforts have not materially reduced the shortfall in housing, due partly to factors beyond the control of the State Government, such as shortages of labour and finance in the building industry, significant escalation of building costs and the general level of confidence in the economy. In a further drive to reduce planning delays and the participation of the community, it will remove from public scrutiny, some categories of development, such as complying developments (rare in this area), larger developments which it will approve directly and so on. All of this impacts on the long-established expectations of a democratic process.
Economic factors remain a major factor and in this new financial year, new uncertainties have emerged which will have a significant impact. The restrictions on passage through the Strait of Hormuz have a wide-ranging ripple effect through the whole of the Australian economy, from farmers to transport companies then downwards to manufacturers and local businesses and the stress ends up on individuals. People are less likely to take risks, to spend money and invest – in some cases that leads to divestment and we see at the moment in this area, unusual levels of properties for sale.
We even see the effect in this Association, with renewals of membership a little slower than recent years. Nevertheless, our financial position remains sound and we are able to continue our usual levels of investigation and advocacy. One of the reasons we can carry weight in our dealings with the Council and State Government is our very strong membership base so we need members to renew. We will be making efforts this year to build on this base.
Some of the more important issues we were dealing with last year continue: –
NORTHERN BEACHES HOSPITAL
The hand-over of the operations of the hospital by the State Government takes place this week and will hopefully go smoothly. The position of the private hospital services, however, which is of critical importance to residents of Northern Beaches, with higher than elsewhere levels of private health insurance, remains uncertain, with operation of the private services only guaranteed until the middle of next year. We understand that negotiations for co-location of private health services on a more permanent basis are continuing. With special help from Richard West, we have continued our advocacy for a permanent solution.
GOVERNOR PHILLIP PARK
At the time of writing, we still have not seen the draft Plan of Management for the Park, for which we have been waiting for about four years. However, the formation of a Community Working Group to advise on the future management of the Park is proceeding and we have been invited to nominate a representative for that Group. In view of the amount of time and effort she has spent on monitoring and reporting on the Park and her passion for the Park, we have nominated Vice President Virginia Christensen as our representative on the Working Group.
The Council’s budget provision of $2 million over the 26/27 and 27/28 financial years for the implementation of the new Plan of Management remains in place.
TRAFFIC AND ROADS
The construction work on the former Hamburger Shop site (Wayne’s World) has disrupted the use of the pedestrian crossing from the ferry wharf to the bus stop (which has been moved to outside the Fish & Chip Shop site) and there seems minimal traffic control in operation. The result is chaotic and dangerous pedestrian behaviour trying to cross Barrenjoey Road – we will seek the Council’s assistance with a proper traffic management plan but it is a State Road and we will consider approaches to the NSW Safe Work Commissioner to appoint marshals.
The Safer Neighbourhood Traffic Plan for Palm Beach, Whale Beach and North Avalon will be implemented during this winter, with
new road markings, noise strips to reduce line crossing and roundabouts at the junction of Surf and Bynya Roads and Pacific and Palm Beach Roads. Hopefully these roundabouts will be a flat design because there is insufficient room for trucks to manoeuvre around raised roundabouts. The speed limit will be reduced to 30 km/h after the works are complete. The Council has been able to include in the Plan a number of improvements suggested by the Association’s members and not previously acted on. However enforcement will remain a challenge.
COUNCIL BUDGET AND DELIVERY PROGRAM 2026-2030
As you will all recall too clearly, the Council implemented an I-Part approved 12% increase in rates from 1 July 2025 and a second 11.7% increase takes effect on 1 July 2026. It is speculated that the Council is seeking approval for a further 8.8% increase for the financial year starting 1 July 2027. Given the current economic expectations of increased inflation and little economic growth, this is not surprising but perhaps premature until the effects of current events are clearer.
The Council forecasts a surplus of $8.6 million before grants for the current financial year, compared to $17.2 million for the 2025 financial year. The budget for 26/27 is $19.8 million with higher levels for the following 2/3 years. The Council’s purpose is not of course to make profits for stakeholders but to provide services. The healthy surplus for last year and next year will provide a buffer against unexpected financial surprises.
Members will recall that in the 2025 financial year, the only capital expenditure in Palm Beach and Whale Beach was a new bus seat in Ocean Road, Palm Beach. In the 2026 budget, there was no capital expenditure in the two suburbs at all and it looks as if this is the same position for the 2027 budget. We have the same issues as other suburbs in the LGA – potholes, poor drainage and stormwater control, flooding and so on. It is not acceptable that because we are at the end of the peninsula or because we are well-off suburbs, or some other specious reason, we somehow don’t merit the same equitable and fair treatment for capital expenditure as other suburbs.
ROCK POOLS
The Palm Beach pool is scheduled for renovation in two stages, over the 2026 and 2027 winters. We have advocated strongly through Gordon Lang that it would be more efficient and therefore cheaper to do the job in one stage, over the 2026 winter. We have not yet heard the result of our recommendations.
The Whale Beach pool was renovated during 2025 but there are still a few faults with the finishing touches which are yet to be rectified.
DEVELOPMENT APPLICATIONS
The Association participated in Court conciliation conferences for D/A’s at 15 Ocean Road, Plam Beach (granted by the Court) and1164 Barrenjoey Road, Palm Beach (opposed by the Council, conciliation was not possible and it proceeded to a full hearing Council; no judgement yet). We lodged a formal objection to the Liquor & Gaming Board to an application for a retail liquor licence for a Dan Murphy store at Careel Bay (no decision yet).
Despite the changes to planning laws made by the Government, the Association still carefully considers all D/A’s where there are significant breaches of the Pittwater LEP and/or DCP and will continue to do so.
The draft new Northern Beaches Local Environment Plan and Development Control Plan are due to be released for public discussion in the middle of the year. We will be giving that careful close scrutiny when it emerges.
In view of increased water flows following a number of recent new constructions with large excavations, we are seeking to persuade the Council’s Planning Department to take a broader, more holistic, view of new D/A’s so that their effect on adjoining properties is taken into account. The excavations are disturbing historic drainage channels through our rocky landscape and forcing water flows to find new avenues of drainage. Larger residences and increased impervious concreted areas with less landscaping are increasing the collection of stormwater and reducing the capacity of the vegetated landscape to absorb this water. Areas where these flows are noticeable have occurred on Ocean Road, Whale Beach Road and particularly Norma Road.
We have a number of other major planning issues on which we will seek to engage the Council’s Planning Department this year. These include the role of private certifiers, the handling of appeals to the Land & Environment Court and the levels of excavation in our suburbs.
E-BIKES
We lodged submissions with the State Government last year calling for greater regulation of E-bikes on the grounds of public protection and the danger of serious injury to members of the public. The authorities have been slow to act and slower still to provide any enforcement of the changes made to date and the accidents continue. Jacqui Scruby has worked hard on this issue and we will continue to support her efforts.
BARRENJOEY HEADLAND
It is now three years since the Minister agreed to form a community consultation group to provide input on the future management of the iconic headland but nothing has happened. We were in touch with the Minister’s office towards the end of last year but still no response.
There seems to be a rising occurrence of serious incidents on the Headland, probably from increasing visitor usage, which causes us concern. There is no equipment on the Headland to evacuate people in distress and no staff to assist. At present rescuers rely on an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) from North Palm Beach Surf Club but that depends on being able to contact someone from that Club to drive it, often at night, and this is not always possible. We think National Parks & Wildlife should take responsibility for this.
THE COMMITTEE
Richard West stepped down as President at the end of 2025, after 10 hard-working years in the role. He has set a daunting example of commitment and achievement for his successors. Thankfully he has remained on the Committee and we look forward to his continuing input and wisdom. Recently he has experienced some medical issues and we wish him all the best for his recovery.
The Committee – all volunteers – has worked well together over the past twelve months as we dealt with the various challenges we faced. They have been very generous with their time and input, particularly over the period of change of leadership. It has a good blend of experience – Virginia as VP dealing with developments and Governor Phillip Park, Gordon as VP with his business management experience, Robert who in addition to his role as secretary is writing a history of the Pittwater area and interviewing long-standing members of the community and preserving their memories for the future, Doug as Treasurer, Rosemary does the newsletters and also has a business management background, Leonor with her environmental and mental health interests, Paul who has a medical background but is getting involved in planning issues, Ken a people person and a commercial whiz, Merinda a former town planner, John a retired lawyer and Whale Beach devotee, and Richard as Immediate Past President.
Emily Ashton decided not to seek re-election this year as she feels she does not have enough time available to carry out her responsibilities with the level of commitment she felt appropriate. We understand her position as a young mother and with a job. We are sorry to lose her from the Committee and look forward to having her back when she feels she can afford the time.
Sarah Yates has been invited to join the Committee and has been nominated. Her background is as a teacher and librarian; she is very interested in environmentally responsible development and we are looking forward to her input.
EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS
We have an excellent working relationship with Pittwater Councillors Rowie Dillon and Miranda Korzy and we are very appreciative of the generous time and effort they commit to understanding our causes and providing assistance and advice.
The same applies to our relationship with the very hard-working and approachable State member for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby. She puts in the effort to understand our causes and is very helpful in directing our representations on State issues to the right place and advocating for them.
We have less to do with federal Government issues but Dr Sophie Scamps is always helpful where we have an issue.
We very much appreciate the relationship we enjoy with our Council liaison executive, Andrew Johnston. He is a very welcome regular attendee at our Committee meetings and coffee mornings and assiduous in directing our concerns to the appropriate officers of the Council (and reminding them of our problems!). The amount of time and effort he devotes to his liaison work is extraordinary and we are very grateful that he makes such a difference to our work.
Many thanks are due to the Pacific Club for allowing us to hold our Committee meetings and coffee mornings there; we deeply appreciate their generosity. Our thanks also to Club Palm Beach for hosting our AGM tonight as it has for a number of years
Despite the uncertainties of the current world situation, we approach our responsibilities with enthusiasm and we look forward to continuing to serve the interests of the residents of this beautiful part of the world and of our members.
Frank Bush AM
President
24 April 2026
