Mayor's Community Message

 7 May

INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING

At the Extraordinary Meeting on 30 April 2025, City of Ryde adopted the Draft Macquarie Park Corridor Section 7.12 Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan (Draft 7.12 Plan), which will be Council’s primary mechanism to fund essential new local infrastructure in the area as it carries the burden of the State Government’s local housing uplift.

The Draft 7.12 plan – which will require the developers of residential and mixed-use structures valued at $250,000 or more to pay a fixed 4 percent levy to Council based on the cost of works – came into effect on 2 May 2025. 

The City of Ryde has been a passionate advocate for ‘striking the right balance’ with the State Government between the need for more housing and the provision of accompanying infrastructure, including community facilities, open space and recreation, public domain, and transport.

The Draft 7.12 plan will help, but it won’t fund the cost of all the vital new infrastructure the growing Macquarie Park Innovation District population will require, and I will continue to engage with the Minns Government about further commitments.

ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

I am proud to be representing the City of Ryde at our annual Armenian Genocide Memorial, which is being held at Meadowbank’s Memorial Park on Saturday 10 May 2025 from 2.30pm.

This Council – which serves the largest Armenian community of any Local Government Area in Australia – pioneered formal recognition of the genocide in this country, thanks to the tireless advocacy of former Ryde Mayor Sarkis Yedelian OAM.

This ceremony, which acknowledges the horrific elimination of 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 - 1923, will be followed on 28 May 2025 by a flag raising ceremony at Kissing Point Wharf to commemorate Armenian Republic Day. Both are important occasions for our wonderful Armenian community.

NETBALL WIN

I am pleased to see that construction has finally commenced on the much-needed West Ryde Multi-Sports Centre on the site of the former Marsden High School.

It will deliver a new 5,000sqm indoor facility including four multipurpose courts and other indoor spaces, as well as outdoor facilities including 29 netball courts with amenities, communal space with open lawns, picnic tables and seating, and new car and bicycle parking spaces.

The new courts, scheduled to be completed in 2026, will replace the rundown playing surfaces at Meadowbank Park and will provide an amazing opportunity for the many local participants in one of the state’s most popular sports.

Sincerely, 
Trenton Brown – Mayor