Extraordinary Council Meeting summary – 30 April 2025
Published on 02 May 2025
Council held an Extraordinary Meeting on Wednesday 30 April 2025 after the Ordinary Meeting scheduled for 29 April was deferred due to a fire alarm evacuation. Here are the outcomes from the meeting:
Mayoral Minute – Pope Francis
The City of Ryde acknowledged the passing of Pope Francis and his global impact, particularly his leadership in advocating for peace, human dignity, and interfaith dialogue. Council observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.
Mayoral Minute – Armenian Genocide
Council recognised the contribution of the Armenian community in the City of Ryde. It called upon the Commonwealth Government to formally recognise the genocide of the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek peoples of Europe during the period of 1915-1923. It noted the City of Ryde’s Armenian Genocide Memorial being held on 10 May 2025 at 2.30pm at Memorial Park, Meadow Crescent, Meadowbank and observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.
Mayoral Minute – terrorist attack in Baisaran Valley
Council expressed its deepest sympathy for the victims, their families, and the people of India following a terrorist attack in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, located in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir, that claimed the lives of 28 people on 22 April. Council will write to the Sydney Indian Consulate expressing its condolences and solidarity with the Indian diaspora in Australia and in particular, City of Ryde residents. Council stands in solidarity with them and with all those who oppose the forces of hatred and violence. Council observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect.
Mayoral Minute – trial lighting extension at Meadowbank Skate Park
Council endorsed lighting at Meadowbank Skate Park to be extended by one hour to 8.00pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights as a trial for the period May 2025-September 2025 (inclusive). At the conclusion of this trial period, a report will be brought back to Council with a view to making this arrangement permanent. Council will consider undertaking an acoustic report of noise levels impacting local neighbours and present options for noise mitigation strategies to be included in the Council report.
Mayoral Minute – Red Shield Appeal 2025
Council will make a $2,500 one off donation to the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal 2025 to be funded from the Civic Services Donations budget. As part of the Ryde and Hunters Hill Zone Launch event for the Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal 2025 (being held on Friday 9 May 2025) the Mayor will present the cheque for $2,500 on behalf of the City of Ryde.
Mayoral Minute – sports field defibrillators
Council will investigate and bring back a report by October 2025 regarding the installation, management and maintenance of defibrillators in parks, sporting fields, and the Putney Beach swim site. Consultation with stakeholder groups such as the Heart Foundation, the Heart of the Nation and relevant sporting groups will be undertaken to incorporate their expertise into Council’s recommendations.
Buena Vista Avenue waste collection
Council will undertake necessary pruning and maintenance of overgrown trees along Buena Vista Avenue, Denistone, to improve accessibility and facilitate safer waste collection and vehicle movement. It will also approve the undertaking of further minor works to create and amalgamate dedicated bin bays along the street to enable safer and more efficient waste collection, funded by the Domestic Waste Management Reserve.
Council will also approve the installation of:
- A “NO STOPPING” zone on both sides of Buena Vista Avenue at the property frontages of 14 and 19-23.
- A “NO STOPPING” zone on both sides of Buena Vista Avenue at the property frontages 47-51 (hairpin bend).
- A “NO PARKING 5AM-11AM WEDNESDAY, WASTE VEHICLES EXCEPTED” zone to be installed on both sides of Buena Vista Avenue (loop road) except along the frontages of property nos. 14, 18, 26 – 28, 29, 35, 39 and 43 Buena Vista Avenue. These works are to be funded under the 2024/25 Traffic Infrastructure budget.
Staff will report back to Council with a design QS and funding pathway for the recommended road widening works proposed for Buena Vista Avenue within three months, with the proposed removal of signage once works are complete. Council acknowledged and validated the concerns of residents and will arrange a follow-up meeting with the affected residents within one week of the April Extraordinary Meeting.
Draft 2025-2029 Four Year Delivery Program, including Draft 2025-2026 One Year Operational Plan
Council, in accordance with legislative requirements, resolved to place the Draft Four-Year Delivery Program 2025-2029, Draft One-Year Operational Plan 2025-2026, Draft Fees and Charges 2025-2026, Draft Ten-Year Long Term Financial Plan 2025-2035, Draft Strategic Asset Management Plan, and Draft Workforce Management Strategy on public exhibition for the period Thursday, 1 May 2025 to Sunday, 1 June 2025 (inclusive). Council further resolved to adopt all the recommendations contained in this report.
Draft Community Strategic Plan and Draft Community Engagement Strategy – Public Exhibition
Council received and noted the Draft Community Strategic Plan – Ryde to 2035 and Draft Community Engagement Strategy. Council noted that extensive community engagement and a wide range of research methods were conducted to seek our community’s valuable feedback and input. Council will update the Community Strategic Plan to include a mechanism to provide proactive acknowledgement and continuous progress reports to all residents who provided feedback to ensure more community participation. Council, in accordance with legislative requirements, endorsed for public exhibition the Draft Community Strategic Plan – Ryde to 2035 and Draft Community Engagement Strategy for a period of 32 days from 1 May 2025 to 1 June 2025 (inclusive).
National General Assembly of Local Government
Council declined attendance at the National General Assembly, being held in Canberra from Tuesday 24 June 2025 to Friday 27 June 2025.
4 Pittwater Road, Gladesville, reclassification
Council endorsed the planning proposal to reclassify land at 4 Pittwater Road, Gladesville, being LOT 1 DP 816692 from Community land to Operational land. Council further endorsed the submission of the planning proposal to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office for finalisation under s.3.36 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Brush Farm and Lambert Park Masterplan
Council adopted the Brush Farm and Lambert Park Masterplan as its vision for the two parks prepared by TURF Design Studio (April 2025). Council will write to thank all participants who participated in the development of the Masterplan and inform them of this resolution.
Draft Macquarie Park Corridor Section 7.12 Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan
Council noted the public exhibition of the Draft Macquarie Park Corridor Section 7.12 Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan 2025 and the Draft Section 7.11 Development Contributions Plan 2020 Version 2. Council supported the post-exhibition amendment to the savings and transitional provision and adopted the Draft Macquarie Park Corridor Section 7.12 Local Infrastructure Contributions Plan 2025 and the Draft Section 7.11 Development Contributions Plan 2020 Version 2. A notice will be published on Council’s website within 28 days of Council’s decision, in accordance with Clause 214 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation 2021.
Northern Districts Local Business Awards
Council declined the request for sponsorship of the Northern Districts Local Business Awards for 2025.
Precis of correspondence
Council received and noted correspondence from the Deputy Premier of NSW, Minister for Education and Early Learning and Minister for Western Sydney, The Hon. Prue Car MP dated 14 April 2025, and a State Government media release dated 28 April 2025 regarding construction beginning on new West Ryde Multi-Sports Facility.
Community sporting facility amenities
Council will investigate the recent shift towards incorporating unisex toilet facilities in newly built sporting amenities, assessing the implications for community safety, comfort and accessibility – particularly for young female participants and neurodiverse individuals. It will support the consideration of separate male and female facilities alongside unisex options where appropriate and commits to ensuring that all future sporting facility developments prioritise the safety, privacy and comfort of all users. It will further engage proactively with key stakeholders, including local sporting clubs, LGBTQIA+ groups, neurodiversity advocates and relevant community organisations to ensure open, respectful communication and inclusive feedback on the planning and designing of community amenities.
Local Disability Art Festival
The City of Ryde will provide a report to explore and create a local disability art event with artistic works by people living with disability, experiencing social isolation, or at risk of marginalisation, providing a platform for artists of all abilities to promote themselves and expand their creative talent. The report should include a wide community discussion with all disability networks in Ryde and local artists. The event - a celebration of International Day of People with Disability - will be open to artists aged 18 and over, with a disability art award to be presented by the Mayor. Artists will be encouraged to submit drawings, graphic art or paintings. The report will be made available at the July Council meeting with usage of Clr Maggio’s discretionary fund of $1,000 in support of the event.
Improved bus services for Gladesville and East Ryde
The Mayor will write to the NSW Minister for Transport, John Graham MP, and the Member for Lane Cove, the Hon. Anthony Roberts MP, requesting an extension of the Route 516 bus service into Sagar Place, East Ryde, to better service the surrounding community. The letter will also seek insights into the feasibility of introducing a new bus route that would provide a direct connection between Gladesville and the North Ryde Metro Station, travelling via Pittwater Road.
Expanding Ryde’s basketball facilities
A report will be brought back to Council outlining the following:
- Investigate and record the existing locations and number of basketball courts, half courts and hoops in Ryde, including any multi-purpose facilities, together with indicative costings for the annual maintenance of these facilities.
- Explore options for deploying cost-effective basketball court facilities (e.g. half courts and individual hoops) where feasible, including associated costing and the availability of grants to assist with funding, while recognising that larger scale facilities requiring substantial funding would need to be planned and budgeted accordingly.
- Identify proposed locations for five new basketball facility sites in Ryde on a scale from lowest costing (e.g. hoop on a wall) to highest costing (e.g. half court/full court), with a view to commencing installations in 2026.
- Identify a second round of proposed sites for consultation in 2026, with a view to installation in 2027/2028.
Enhancing inclusivity and support for the Ryde LGBTQIA+ community
Council reaffirmed its commitment to social inclusion for all residents and welcomes members of the LGBTQIA+ community to apply to join the City of Ryde’s Inclusion and Wellbeing Committee, recognising the importance of identity, equity and a sense of belonging. A proposed LGBTQIA+ advisory group will be established as a subcommittee under the City of Ryde’s Social Inclusion Advisory Group to ensure an integrated but more focused approach to supporting the needs of the LGBTQIA+ community within Council’s advisory framework. The subcommittee will be operational for 18 months, with a report making recommendations for the establishment of a community group supporting the LGBTQIA+ community at the end of that term.
Blenheim Park masterplan
Staff will prepare a report detailing any work to progress the masterplan that has already been carried out alongside the remediation of Blenheim Park that began in August 2024. It will also detail the contaminants, the remediation process, cost of remediation, funding source for the remediation and any safety risk to the public (those who attended a public tree planting on 28 July 2024 and residents living on adjoining land). The report will further detail fox and invasive species management at the park, an updated timeline for delivery of the masterplan, and an update on the health of plants that were planted by the public on National Tree Day in July 2024, including how many plants were planted and how many of those have survived.
Proposed new environmental Category in grants program
Council noted the recent launch of the City of Ryde Grant Finder, a free service available to all businesses, community groups, and not-for-profit organisations located within the Ryde LGA, which provides access to a comprehensive list of grant funding opportunities across Australia, including those related to environmental projects.
Dementia Friendly City
The City of Ryde will liaise with Dementia Friendly Australia staff to prepare a report exploring the delivery of Dementia friendly workshops to Council staff as suggested in the toolkit and attaining recognition as a dementia friendly council. Council will also explore opportunities to collaborate with national initiatives such as Step Up for Dementia Research to promote community participation in dementia research and clinical trials and to build partnerships with local university dementia research centres.
To view the minutes of the meeting, click here