Council Meeting summary – 24 June 2025

Published on 26 June 2025

Council held a meeting on Tuesday 24 June 2025. The following is a summary of outcomes from the meeting:

Uncle Greg Simms

Council observed a minute’s silence in recognition of the passing of Aboriginal Elder Uncle Greg Simms.

Sinead Francis-Coan

Council observed a minute’s silence in recognition of the passing of Newcastle City Councillor Sinead Francis-Coan.

Mayoral Minute – delivering on our commitments

Council reaffirmed its commitment to the City of Ryde community by continuing to keep rates as low as possible; improve financial sustainability; invest in local infrastructure; and enhance customer service and service delivery by providing value-for-money services for all City of Ryde residents and ratepayers.

Mayoral Minute – trial 24/7 library

Council resolved that a Development Application be prepared and lodged in respect of operating Eastwood Library 24/7 on a 12-month trial basis (noting that an option of operating from the hours of 6.00am-midnight will be provided for in the application). Council will write to the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner for advice on this initiative and potential planning pathways. Upgrade works will be carried out to support the deliver of the 24-hour Eastwood Library and a Councillor workshop on the trial outcomes will be held prior to the end of the 12-month trial.

Mayoral Minute – supporting our multicultural community

Council acknowledged the concern and emotional impact that current international events may be having on members of the City of Ryde community, particularly those with cultural, personal, or family ties to affected regions. It reaffirmed its commitment to inclusion, compassion and the wellbeing of all residents and will utilise its communication platforms to share a message of support to those in need and promote access to relevant wellbeing and community services. The Mayor will write a message of support addressed to City of Ryde residents with personal, family, or cultural connections to conflict-affected regions, acknowledging the distress many may be experiencing and reaffirming Council’s commitment to a compassionate and inclusive community. Council will advise the State Member for Ryde and the Federal Member for Bennelong of this resolution, for their awareness of local community sentiment and to encourage their continued support for harmonious multicultural communities in the City of Ryde.

2025-2029 Four Year Delivery Program including 2025/2026 One Year Operational Plan

Council received and noted each of the draft Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) documents, draft Budget FY25/26 Financial Year, draft Fees and Charges 2025-2026, and the proposed Rating Structure FY25/26. Council noted that extensive community engagement and a wide range of methods were conducted to seek our community’s valuable feedback, participation, and input during the public exhibition on the draft IP&R documents. Council received, noted, and will consider the public submissions received from our community during the public exhibition period and the responses to those submissions. Council, in accordance with legislative obligations and requirements, adopted the draft Four-Year Delivery Program 2025-2029, draft One-Year Operational Plan 2025-2026, draft Long Term Financial Plan 2025-2035, draft Strategic Asset Management Plan, draft Workforce Management Strategy, draft Budget FY25/26 Financial Year, draft Fees and Charges 2025-2026, and the proposed Rating Structure FY25/26. It will make and levy rates for the 2025/2026 Financial Year in accordance Section 535 of the Local Government Act 1993. Council will fix its interest charge on overdue rates and charges in accordance with the Section 566 (3) of the Local Government Act 1993 at the rate of 10.5 percent per annum from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2026, as determined by the Minister for Local Government. It will amend and align the ‘Halls, Meeting Rooms and Other Facilities’ section of the draft fees and Charges to be consistent with the structure used for Community Events and the hire of Sportsgrounds, Passive Parks, and Reserves. The pricing structure has fees for City of Ryde residents and increased prices for those individuals and organisations located outside our LGA. A report will be brought back to Council for consideration at the September 2025 Council Meeting, providing recommendations to establish a new pricing tier for non-City of Ryde residents and organisations and setting out the process of community consultation.

Draft Community Strategic Plan and draft Community Engagement Strategy

Council endorsed and adopted the draft Community Strategic Plan – Ryde to 2035, and draft Community Engagement Strategy.

2025 ALGWA NSW Annual Conference

Council reiterated the decision made at the March 2025 Ordinary Meeting and will decline to send any delegates to the 2025 Australian Local Government Women’s Association (ALGWA) NSW Annual Conference. It will write to conference organisers to express concern that the event remains exclusionary to working women by failing to offer single-day or digital ticketing options.

Councillor discretionary funds – water bubbler at Christie Park

Council approved the allocation of $17,250.00 excluding GST from Clr Dr Felix Lo’s 2024/2025 discretionary funds to the appropriate Operational or Capital Works budget for the purchase and installation of a wall mounted water bubbler at Christie Park.

Councillor discretionary funds – shade sails at Meadowbank Park

Council approved the allocation of $56,000 excluding GST from Clr Shweta Deshpande’s and Clr Daniel Han’s discretionary fund ($28,000 each) for the installation of shade sails at Meadowbank Park.

Councillor discretionary funds – breakout spaces at Kissing Point Park

Council approved the allocation of $50,000 excluding GST from Clr Tina Kordrostami’s 2024/2025 discretionary funds to the appropriate Capital Works Program for the design and construction of two breakout spaces at Kissing Point Park.

Councillor discretionary funds – installation of bubblers

Council approved the allocation of $50,600 excluding GST from Clr Keanu Arya’s and Clr Sophie Lara-Watson’s discretionary fund ($25,300 each) for the installation of one water station at Magdala Park, one water station at Westminster Park and one water station at Bremner Park.

Councillor discretionary funds – purchase of basketball equipment

Council approved the allocation of approximately $12,950 excluding GST from Clr Keanu Arya’s discretionary fund (approximately $8,200) and Clr Shweta Deshpande’s discretionary fund (approximately $4,750) for the purchase of equipment for basketball courts.

City or Ryde Social Strategy and Creativity Strategy 2025-2030

Council noted that $110,000 for the 2025-26 financial year is required for implementation of the Social Strategy 2025-2030 and Creativity Strategy 2025-2030 and deferred endorsement and adoption of the strategies until information is provided on how those funds will be spent in 2025-26.

Local Heritage Assistance Fund

Four eligible applications to the Local Heritage Assistance Fund for the March to June 2025 period (Round 8) will be supported and receive funding assistance pursuant to Section 356 of the Local Government Act, 1993, being: 19 Maxim Street West Ryde ($13,090.00), 72 Eltham Street Gladesville ($11,000.00), 30 Miriam Road Denistone ($3,500.00), and 95 Bowden Street Ryde ($4,000.00). Council will allocate the amount of $31,590.00 from the Heritage Reserve and the allocation be addressed in the next Quarterly Budget Review.

City of Ryde Customer Experience Charter

Through a workshop Council will facilitate that the Customer Service Charter be in alignment on the expectations, tone and delivery of customer interactions across all channels and to review the draft charter for clarity, consistency and practicality.

Critical infrastructure and open space protection and enhancement

Council will allocate $54,000,000 from the Ryde Section 7.11 Contributions Plan 2020 and the Macquarie Park Section 7.12 Plan 2025, for the delivery of Christie Park – Stages 2b and 3 (excl. Fitness Centre), Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre – Stage 2 only, Ryde Park, and Shrimpton’s Creek Corridor from the Critical Infrastructure and Open Space Protection and Enhancement program. It will further support an internal loan of approximately $12.6M from the Ryde Section 7.11 Contributions Plan 2020 to the Macquarie Park Section 7.12 Contributions Plan 2025. The loan is anticipated to be repaid within five-years. However, the repayments timeframe is flexible to allow earlier repayment if necessary. The loan repayments (including interest) are to be included in future budgets to be considered by Council. It will allocate the following amounts from the S7.11/S7.12 plans, for the 2025/26 Financial Year, to progress Delivery Phases 1 and 2: Design, Regulatory Planning, and Community Consultation: 

• $750,000 for Christie Park Stages 2b & 3 (excl. Fitness Centre) 
• $480,000 for Ryde Aquatic LC Stage 2 
• $70,000 for Ryde Park
• $60,000 for Shrimpton’s Creek

Traffic and parking matters

The following recommendations were made at the 4 June 2025 meeting of the Ryde Local Traffic Committee.

• Patricia Street, Marsfield: Extend NO STOPPING on the northern side of Patricia Street from 10m to 17m adjacent to property no. 15-17 Herring Road, Marsfield, and the southern side of Patricia Street from 10m to 15m adjacent to property no. 72 Patricia Street, Marsfield.
• Brabyn Street, Denistone East: install NO PARKING 8:00AM-9:30AM 2:30PM-3:30PM SCHOOL DAYS ONLY on the northern and southern sides of Brabyn Street between Boronia Lane and the boom gate crossing. Install NO STOPPING 8:00AM-9:30AM 2:30PM-3:30PM SCHOOL DAYS ONLY on the northern and southern sides of Brabyn Street between the boom gate crossing and Kings Road. Extend the duration of the closure of the boom gate in Brabyn Street by an additional 30 minutes in the afternoon school pick-up period by changing its operation hours from 9:00AM-3:00PM to 9:00AM-3:30PM SCHOOL DAYS ONLY.
• Boronia Lane, Denistone East: Boronia Lane be made one-way southbound between Lovell Road and Henderson Street, Denistone East, subject to approval of a Traffic Management Plan by Transport for NSW. Transport for NSW considers converting Boronia Lane between Lovell Road and Henderson Street to a shared zone.
• Malvina Street, Ryde: An at-grade pedestrian crossing be installed on Malvina Street located south of Forrest Road, Ryde (subject to availability of funds). The existing BUS ZONE 8-9:30 AM & 2:30-4 PM (School Days) on the eastern side of Malvina Street be relocated to south and extended to accommodate the statutory NO STOPPING associated with the proposed pedestrian crossing. The existing full time BUS ZONE be relocated to south to accommodate the relocation of the BUS ZONE 8-9:30 AM & 2:30-4 PM (School Days). The existing NO STOPPING 8-9:30 AM & 2:30-4 PM (School Days) be shortened to accommodate the extension of the BUS ZONE 8-9:30 AM & 2:30-4 PM (School Days).
• Doig Avenue, Denistone East: Eleven 90-degree 12P MON-SAT parking spaces be created on the eastern side of Doig Avenue. Six unrestricted parallel parking spaces from the western side, and five parallel spaces be removed from the eastern side of Doig Avenue. Fourteen metres of parallel parking on the western side be converted to two DISABLED ACCESSIBLE parking spaces compliant with AS2890.6. Painted islands be installed to keep the pedestrian access ramps clear. A 31m NO PARKING zone be installed on the western side of Doing Avenue to facilitate drop-ff and pick-up.
• Station Street, West Ryde: Approval in principle be given for the installation of traffic calming devices on Station Street. The project proceeds to a detailed design stage when funding becomes available.
• Greene Avenue, Ryde: Approval in principle be given for the installation of speed humps in accordance with Local Area Traffic Management guidelines on Greene Avenue.

Use of IT Reserve for Windows 11 personal computer refresh

Council approved the release of $1,063,000 from the IT Reserve to fund $913,000 for the purchase of new personal computers, $100,000 to hire temporary and/or contingent labour to support the accelerated rollout of the new computers, and $50,000 as a contingency to mitigate unplanned increases in device or resourcing costs.

Pathway connection at Marsden High School

Council will investigate and bring back a report on the feasibility of removing a section of garden bed adjacent to Gate 22 at Marsden High School to allow for the installation of a safe pedestrian pathway connecting the school gate to the bus stop on Rhodes Street. As part of the investigation, Council staff will undertake a site visit and consult with school representatives on the ownership of the land in question and on the installation of a path measuring approximately 3000mm wide and 1500mm long connecting this school gate (Gate 22) with the existing footpath on Rhodes Street to access the newly established bus stop.

Prioritising Ryde’s community grants

City of Ryde will reprioritise community grants to encourage those projects and events that do not overlap with existing Council-run events when assessing future applications. If necessary, it will update the community grants guidelines so that a more diverse range of events is supported by City of Ryde in its community grants program. Any updated guidelines will be reported to Council for adoption.

Civic Centre community consultation

Council noted that a community stakeholder engagement plan was incorporated into the original recommendations for this project. It further acknowledged that a Councillor workshop is being held on 29 July 2025 which will include information presented by the newly appointed Communications and Engagement advisor.

To view the minutes of the meeting, click here