I am delighted to let the community know that after a 42-day Have Your Say process conducted between July and August this year, the recommended name for the new open space at the Midtown development in Macquarie Park is Edna Wilde Park. A majority 54 percent of respondents to the community consultation chose iconic former Ryde Mayor Edna Wilde OAM to be honoured by the park naming, with 46 percent voting for the second choice, Muru Park. Council will now formally submit the proposed name to the NSW Geographical Names Board, recognising the late Mrs Wilde’s outstanding contribution to the City over 34 years, including serving for five years as its first female Mayor. It is expected the land will be formally dedicated to Council in mid-2027 in accordance with the development conditions set by the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure and I can’t wait to declare it officially open.
Time is running out to recognise the outstanding accomplishments of members of our community, with nominations for the Mayor’s 2027 Citizen of the Year Awards closing at midnight on Sunday 8 November. I’d like people to particularly focus on the Sportsperson of the Year and Environmental Citizen of the Year categories, which were introduced last year as additions to the existing Citizen of the Year and Young Citizen of the Year categories. We are a strong sporting City with many brilliant sportspeople and administrators who dedicate their time and skills to pursuing excellence in their chosen fields. It’s a similar story for our many environmental warriors, devoted to our City’s sustainability and protecting our vital flora and fauna. I urge you to nominate someone deserving in those two categories today. To find out more click here.
There was a fantastic outcome from the 27 October 2026 Council meeting, with both the former Ryde Park Bowling Club and Old Eastwood Town Hall being made available for community use via Council’s on-line venue hiring system. Once maintenance and compliance works are completed at the Ryde Park Bowling Club site, I envisage it being used for community meetings, seniors and youth programs, and as a pre-polling location for Local Government Elections. The Old Eastwood Town Hall can be used for similar activities when it becomes available for online bookings in early 2027 when some structural works are completed.
Sincerely, Trenton Brown – Mayor