We know that sea levels are rising as a result of climate change* and we will see beach erosion and permanent flooding of low lying coastal areas. The NSW government says it is quite possible we will face 1.1 metres of sea level rise by the end of the century. Extreme heatwaves, drought and bushfire, as well as severe storms, flooding, and perhaps even cyclones, are likely to become more frequent. These changes will impact Pittwater and the rest of the Northern Beaches. Homes and infrastructure worth many billions of dollars - such as roads, schools, surf clubs and wharves - are at risk of flooding more often and permanent inundation. Without adequate tree canopy and other measures, residents will suffer from fierce heat in many buildings and those whose homes lie in bushland will face increased threat of blazes in their backyards. 

During my next term, I will work to make climate change a central focus of council business. Planning must help prevent and adapt to climate change and its impacts - keeping the community out of the way of sea level rise, storm surges and flooding. New homes and businesses should be energy efficient and carbon neutral, saving the climate, as well as residents’ health and pockets. Coastal management plans must recognise the reality of sea level rise, and policy should prioritise public access and amenity over private benefit. 

In recent times, Pittwater has faced a rash of oversized developments, some razing trees from one end of the block to another, cutting away whole cliffs, with cranes parked on sites for periods of years. Where previous generations built lightly upon Pittwater’s magnificent landscape, preserving the trees that are so quintessential to the character of the area, we now have concrete monoliths rising up from below the earth and creating more stormwater runoff.   

My main focus for council’s next term will be planning for people - not private greed and developer profits. Preparation of our new Local Environment Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (which govern development on the Northern Beaches) will continue and the LEP will go on public exhibition next year. I will be working to ensure they include provisions to prevent the further spread of buildings out of character with Pittwater. Amongst these is a two-storey limit on the depth of excavations in Conservation Zones. I will also be fighting to extend the Foreshore Scenic Protection Area that exists in Manly to our own ward and for cliffs to be protected in their own right. And we must ensure our built heritage, whether classic cottages or high end architecture, are heritage listed.  

Where the NSW government forces increased density upon us, let’s plan for affordable housing for our young people, families, downsizers and essential workers. Let’s have the infrastructure we need built safely and sensitively, particularly footpaths in high traffic areas, but avoiding unnecessary concreting in green spaces. And let’s ensure we keep our tree canopy for wildlife, its cooling effects, mental health benefits and beauty.

I’ve heard more complaints from residents about building and environmental compliance than anything else since I was elected to council. From hundreds of trees cut down for new homes to building run-off polluting waterways, dogs off leash on most beaches and violation of parking rules, residents are fed up with those who ignore regulations with impunity.  

We need more staff to inspect and enforce the rules and I want to see an LGA-wide campaign to educate the community about the standards most of us expect.

Pittwater is remarkable for its bushland and tree canopy, which should be valued for their environmental, social and economic benefits. However, our precious parks and reserves are suffering from a lack of care. Council estimates that to rid them of their weed overload, across the Northern Beaches, we need an extra $1.5 million per year allocated. For tree management, we need $1.2 million more to cover planting and maintenance. I believe we must find these funds in the next budget to prevent our parks and reserves becoming even more overgrown.

We also need our Tree Canopy Plan, passed by council last September, bedded down with a significant tree register set up and notifications for all tree removals implemented.

Finally, I will fight for the protection of all bushland on the Ingleside Escarpment, Pittwater’s green backdrop.

Synthetic turf comes with a slew of significant environmental and health risks. Northern Beaches Council needs to prevent this artificial grass replacing natural turf in local parks and ovals.  

Often used in sports fields, synthetic turf is made from plastic that degrades and releases microplastics into the environment, even when natural cork is used as infill rather than tyre crumb. This runoff poses a significant threat to the plants, wildlife, earth and waters of the Northern Beaches. Furthermore, when synthetic turf requires replacement, the discarded material will not break down in landfill and is very difficult to recycle. Synthetic fields also heat up more than natural grass, reaching 70 degrees celsius even on days when the temperature is less than 30. This increases the risk of heat-related illnesses and sports injuries. Finally, well-laid natural turf saves councils money, being cheaper to lay and needing replacement less frequently than the plastic option. 

I will be working to ensure Northern Beaches Council takes proactive steps to protect the community and natural surroundings by banning synthetic turf and instead promoting natural, sustainable alternatives that preserve the region's ecological balance and public health.

Despite government grants providing funding for projects such as the Avalon Shared Space, footpaths in Pittwater’s villages remain uneven and hazardous. Shopkeepers say they frequently pick residents up off these uneven pavements and I’ve recently seen an elderly person trip and fall on their face outside local shops. I will therefore prioritise spending for local footpaths in the council budget.

Similarly, over the last couple of summers, I’ve heard nearly everyday from swimmers who have found our rockpools too dirty, or in the case of Palm Beach, with too little water to swim in due to a leak. At February’s council meeting, I initiated a motion to review the condition and maintenance regime of rockpools in the former Pittwater Council area and I will also prioiritise work on these pools in budget discussions.

I have campaigned for a Pittwater Council demerger since the amalgamation, and in April proposed a motion for a council poll on demergers at the Local Government election in September. This was not supported by the majority of councillors - most of whom live outside Pittwater Ward. So I believe we need to get the best we can from our current council. 

We often see time wasting behaviour at council meetings, running from 6pm to 11.30pm, with unnecessary bickering and attempts at bullying. Councillors also simply lose concentration later in the evening. With numerous extra and extraordinary meetings due to business overruns and special topics for consideration, I maintain we need more than 10 scheduled meetings per year to ensure councillors have time to cover the business of such a large Local Government Area. 

Council should also listen to and be accountable to the community. I want to ensure that we retain our Public Forum at council meetings, where residents may address councillors on any issue, and that all participants, whether residents or councillors, retain the right to speak on a topic for three minutes. I will also oppose a proposed ban on photography and recordings including video, before and after meetings, either within the council chamber or in its vicinity.