Palm Beach & Whale Beach Association Annual Report 2024/2025
Associate Professor Richard West AM, President
Good Evening everyone,
It is a pleasure to present my Annual Report as President of the Palm Beach and Whale Beach Association (PBWBA) for 2024/2025.
It has been a very busy year for your Committee, with a lot happening in our area.
As most of you know, the Association’s main aim is to is to preserve and protect the natural environment, residential character, and beauty of Palm Beach and Whale Beach and to advocate for responsible development that respects and upholds the area’s conservation values.
We have been doing this proudly for 107 years — a truly remarkable achievement for a community group.
However, this task is becoming increasingly difficult, due to the New South Wales State Government (NSWG) taking over planning powers from Councils, and the Northern Beaches Council’s (NBC) failure to properly enforce the Local Environmental Plan (LEP).
Transport-Oriented Development Plan (TOD)
The NSW Government recently announced it will take over some planning functions from local councils to increase housing density near town centres. The plan allows for six-storey buildings within 400 metres of a town centre. The updated list of town centres has now been released.
The good news: Avalon, Newport and Warriewood have NOT been included. However, as expected, Mona Vale has been.
Palm Beach and Whale Beach remain protected, as they are zoned as conservation areas. This is a major victory for our community.
Development Applications (DAs)
The Land and Environment Court (LEC) has approved the DAs for the former fish and chip shop site and the General Store site despite serious non-compliance issues which our Association and many others have raised to no avail.
The developer of the General Store sits is trying to get the bus stopped moved so it is not in front of this development. A construction certificate for the site cannot be issued until the Department of Transport decides if the bus stop will be relocation.
The application by The Joey (Barrenjoey Boatshed) to extend operating hours for events has also been approved by the LEC.
There is an increasing number of DAs are being submitted to Council with serious non-compliance issues breaching the Pittwater LEP and DCP controls.
The Association lodges formal submissions whenever serious non-compliant developments are identified that are no in the best interest of the community. However, Council has been approving many of these DAs based on “merit,” which is very frustrating — especially for neighbours who have little opportunity to object when matters go to the LEC.
Additionally, the Councils enforcement of compliance on building sites, traffic management plans, and parking is a serious problem. It is currently very difficult to drive along Florida Road and Whale Beach Road due to obstructions caused by building vehicles.
Governor Phillip Park
The Council is revising the 2002 Plan of Management (PoM) for Governor Phillip Park.
The Park is rundown and urgently needs maintenance and weed control. The Association helped Council secure two grants of $120,000 each for weed control, but unfortunately, there is little evidence of this work being done.
The revised plan will also address the issue of an off-leash dog area with plans to trial an area at North Palm Beach.
There is $2 million allocated in the Council budget to implement the revision of the Plan of Management.
Palm Beach and Whale Beach Pools
The Council has finalised plans to renovate the Whale Beach Pool, with funding allocated for next year.
Some minor maintenance has recently been carried out on the Palm Beach Pool however it also really needs a full renovation.
These pools are an integral part of our community — with daily swimming and exercise groups and the all-important children’s swimming lessons, which have been held at Palm Beach Pool for decades.
Traffic and Roads
The Council has approved a reduction in speed limit from 40km/h to 30km/h speed limit for all of Palm Beach and Whale Beach, combined with additional traffic calming measures.
This money could be better spent on upgrading the roads and footpaths that is greatly in needs. Despite repeated requests for upgrades — especially in dangerous areas like Surf Road — little progress has been made.
E-Bikes
At a recent coffee meeting, concerns were raised about the increasing use of e- bikes, particularly illegal e-bikes and the dangers they pose to pedestrians, road users, and the riders themselves.
In response, we have raised these concerns with our local Member and submitted a detailed submission to the Minister for Transport.
We will continue to advocate for better regulation and enforcement to ensure the safety of our community.
NBC Budget and Rates
The Council has applied to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) for a 39% increase in rates. They claim they cannot maintain existing services without this major rise.
The Tribunal’s decision is due at the end of May.
If approved, this could mean a $2,000–$3,000 annual increase in rates for Palm Beach and Whale Beach households.
Barrenjoey Headland
Barrenjoey Headland remains the “jewel in the crown” of Pittwater. It must be protected at all costs.
National Parks and Wildlife has just completed the installation of fabulous permanent toilets and water facilities. The NSW Government has committed to no short- term accommodation on the headland — a major win for us.
Northern Beaches Hospital
As many of you know, I have 40 years’ experience as a general and trauma surgeon at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. I have said repeatedly — at meetings and during the Upper House Inquiry — that the public-private model would not work.
The NSW Auditor-General’s recent report confirms this: the community is not getting the healthcare it deserves.
Major issues include:
- Lack of a fully functioning stroke treatment unit which can administer clot busting treatment that needs to be done as soon as possible when a person is having a stroke. Instead, patients must be transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital.
- Deficiencies in mental health services, particularly for children and adolescents. Healthscope has proposed that the Government take over the public division of the hospital.
However, I firmly believe the entire hospital must be taken over by the State Government and upgraded to a Level 6 Hospital — ensuring both public and private patients can receive the same high-quality care.
The community has lost confidence in Healthscope’s ability to deliver integrated healthcare.
There will be a public meeting at Dee Why RSL tomorrow at 7 pm with the Health Minister and Treasurer to discuss the future of the hospital.
Acknowledgements
I would like to sincerely thank our Executive Committee for their tireless hard work and dedication:
- Frank Bush — Joint Vice-President, for his invaluable knowledge of development and his submissions.
- Virginia — Joint Vice-President, for her outstanding newsletters and submissions. Unfortunately, Virginia has resigned from the position of vice president. It is difficult to put into words the contribution Virginia is made as the vice president to the committee. She has produced excellent newsletters and all sorts of submissions particularly on development applications.
Fortunately, will not lose her complete because she staying on the committee - Rosemary Bush — For producing our excellent monthly newsletters and helping with coffee meetings.
- Robert Mackinnon — Secretary, for handling administration, minutes, and rewriting the history of Palm Beach.
- Doug Maher — Treasurer, for keeping our books in perfect order.
- Gordon Lang — For his input on Palm Beach.
- John Warburton — For his input on Whale Beach.
- And most importantly, our 460 members.
Congratulations to Jacqui Scruby on her election as Member for Pittwater and to
Dr. Sophie Scamps on her re-election as Member for Mackellar.
We look forward to working with them, along with our Pittwater Councillors Miranda Korzy, Rowie Dillon, and Soney Singh.
In closing I would like to finish on a positive note:
The achievements of the Palm Beach and Whale Beach Association over the last 107 years are outstanding. I pay tribute to all past presidents and committee members for their contributions.
Just look around: Low-rise buildings, a mostly residential feel, beautiful Pittwater, Barrenjoey, Governor Phillip Park, and the beaches at Palm Beach and Whale Beach — it is paradise.
We must continue to work together to preserve this unique environment we are so fortunate to call home.
I invite all members to join our monthly Committee Meetings, held on the second Monday of each month at 7:30 pm, and our informal Morning Coffee Meetings on the last Monday of each month at 10:30 am — both at the Pacific Club.
On Monday 26th May at Coffee Meeting we have “PIX MAGAZINE: PALM BEACH EXPOSE – Exposing the hedonistic lifestyle of Sydney socialites at Palm Beach in the 1930’s” presented by guest speaker Margot Riley – we hope you can join us.
THANK YOU!
• Palm Beach Surf Club and
• Jason Marty from Intervision Design — Our communications consultant.
• Andrew Johnston — Our NBC Community Liaison Officer.
