Council - 28 Oct 2026

Topics

• Cumberland Council awards nearly $9.72 million in two major infrastructure contracts
  CA&I Pty Ltd secured contracts for the Toongabbie Bridge Intersection Upgrade and Regents Park Amy Street Precinct Upgrade.
  The projects involve substantial public expenditure and may bring construction and traffic impacts to two suburbs.
• Council approves $196,098 for 32 Cumberland community grants
  Community organisations will share funding under Round 1 of the 2026/2027 Community Grants Program.
  The grants will support local activities, services and participation, while unsuccessful applicants will receive feedback and assistance.
• Lidcombe Remembrance Park toilets face urgent upgrade investigation
  Council ordered a 60-day feasibility report after concerns about reduced cubicles and long queues during busy events.
  The park hosts large community and commemorative gatherings, including events attended by older residents, veterans and families.

Decisions

• Community Grants Program funding approved
  Council approved 32 applications under Community Grants Program Round 1 2026/2027, allocating $196,098 from the program budget. The General Manager was authorised to execute grant documentation, and unsuccessful applicants are to receive feedback and assistance.
  Funds will support local community organisations and activities during the 2026/2027 financial year.
• Toongabbie Bridge Intersection Upgrade tender awarded
  Council awarded the contract to CA&I Pty Ltd for $4,256,867 excluding GST, including provisional sums, and authorised the General Manager to execute the contract.
  The project will deliver an upgrade to the Toongabbie Bridge intersection, with potential construction and traffic impacts in the project area.
• Regents Park Amy Street Precinct Upgrade tender awarded
  Council awarded the contract to CA&I Pty Ltd for $5,464,087 excluding GST, including a provisional sum, and authorised the General Manager to execute the contract.
  Residents and businesses in Regents Park may experience construction activity and benefit from precinct improvements.
• Street lighting audit and priority upgrade plan requested
  Council requested a comprehensive audit of street lighting across Cumberland, a priority upgrade schedule, engagement with WSROC, Endeavour Energy and Ausgrid through the Light Years Ahead program, and a report within 90 days.
  The work is intended to identify unsafe, inadequate or non-functioning lighting near locations such as schools, stations and town centres.
• Gambling harm minimisation policy development progressed
  Council noted NSW Audit Office findings that gaming machine losses in Cumberland were approximately $488 million in 2023–24 and requested work to develop a gambling harm minimisation policy.
  The policy work will address gambling-related harm in one of Greater Sydney’s highest-loss local government areas.
• Lidcombe Remembrance Park public toilets investigation approved
  Council unanimously directed the General Manager to investigate expansion and upgrades to public sanitary facilities at Lidcombe Remembrance Park and provide a feasibility report within 60 days.
  The investigation responds to reported long queues and reduced toilet capacity during busy weekends and events.
• Sauna feasibility investigation approved
  Council agreed to investigate the feasibility, cost, funding options, operating costs and potential revenue from installing a sauna at the Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre, also referred to in the motion as Lidcombe Swimming Centre.
  The investigation could lead to a new paid health and recreation service for aquatic centre users.
• Alcohol-Free Zones renewed and expanded
  Council adopted the renewal and expansion of all Alcohol-Free Zones identified in the report attachments and will notify the NSW Police Force of their locations and expiry dates.
  The zones affect where alcohol may be consumed in designated public areas across Cumberland.

Discussion

• Accessible parking and kerb ramp audit
  Council supported a comprehensive audit of accessible parking spaces and associated kerb ramps, followed by a priority upgrade schedule near medical, education, retail, community and transport facilities.
  The work may improve access for people with disability, older residents and people using mobility aids.
• Public recycling bins
  Council agreed to investigate installing public recycling bins alongside general waste bins at key locations including parks and main roads.
  The proposal could make recycling more convenient in public places and affect waste infrastructure planning.
• Economic Development and Employment Strategy
  Council requested a strategy focused on attracting business and investment, supporting existing businesses and increasing local employment, with a draft due within six months for public consultation.
  The strategy may influence future business support, employment initiatives and economic development priorities.
• Public park toilet safety and CCTV
  Council requested safety audits of public toilets, including assessment of lighting, sightlines and structural vulnerabilities with Cumberland Police Area Command, and investigation of compliant outward-facing CCTV at entrances, pathways and nearby parking areas.
  The work addresses safety concerns while requiring consideration of privacy, regulatory compliance and cost.
• Project Pluto Data Centre, Guildford West
  Council noted resident concerns about the data centre at 132 McCredie Road and noted that the development was approved by the NSW Government as a State Significant Development. Council is to prepare and distribute a community information Q&A flyer to households within 2.5 kilometres of the site.
  Nearby households will receive information about the project, which remains a State Significant Development rather than a council-approved development.
• Deferred confidential agenda items
  The Letter of Offer for 2–6 Gladstone Street, Merrylands and the Merrylands Chambers Audio Visual Systems Upgrade tender were deferred to the next Ordinary Council Meeting.
  No final public decision was made on these items at this meeting.

Impacts

• $196,098 was allocated to 32 successful community grant applications.
• Two major contracts were awarded with a combined value of $9,720,954 excluding GST.
• A 90-day report is due on street lighting audit findings and a priority upgrade plan.
• A feasibility report on Lidcombe Remembrance Park toilets is due within 60 days.
• A draft Economic Development and Employment Strategy is due within six months for public consultation.
• Residents within 2.5 kilometres of the Project Pluto site are to receive a community information flyer.
• Alcohol-Free Zones across Cumberland were renewed and expanded.

Places

• Cumberland Local Government Area (local government area)
  Area covered by the street lighting, gambling harm, accessible parking, public toilet, recycling bin and economic development decisions.
• Guildford West (suburb)
  Location of the Project Pluto Data Centre at 132 McCredie Road.
• 132 McCredie Road (road/site)
  Site of the State Significant Development known as Project Pluto Data Centre.
• Lidcombe Remembrance Park (park)
  Site of the public toilet expansion and upgrade feasibility investigation.
• Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre (aquatic centre)
  Facility considered for a potential sauna installation.
• Toongabbie Bridge intersection (intersection/project area)
  Location of the infrastructure upgrade contract awarded to CA&I Pty Ltd.
• Regents Park Amy Street precinct (precinct)
  Location of the precinct upgrade contract awarded to CA&I Pty Ltd.
• Merrylands (suburb)
  Location of the deferred 2–6 Gladstone Street offer and Merrylands Chambers AV Systems Upgrade item.

Next

• Notify successful community grant applicants, provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants and execute grant documents.
  Following adoption of the funding recommendations.
• Report street lighting audit findings, priority upgrades, estimated costs and funding sources to Council.
  Within 90 days.
• Report on expansion and upgrades to Lidcombe Remembrance Park public toilets.
  Within 60 days.
• Prepare a draft Economic Development and Employment Strategy for consideration and public consultation.
  Within six months.
• Prepare and distribute a Project Pluto community information Q&A flyer to households within 2.5 kilometres of 132 McCredie Road.
  Timing not specified.
• Investigate a sauna at the Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre, including costs, funding, operations and potential revenue.
  Timing not specified.
• Conduct public toilet safety audits and investigate compliant CCTV options.
  Timing not specified.
• Bring deferred items back to the Ordinary Council Meeting agenda.
  Next Ordinary Council Meeting.

Extract

Council Meeting 28 October 2026 Minutes of the Council Meeting 28 October 2026 Present: Councillors Joseph Rahme (Mayor) Mayor Michael Zaiter (Deputy Mayor) Deputy Mayor Ola Hamed Councillor Nadima Kafrouni-Saba Councillor Steve Christou Councillor Dr Diane Colman Councillor Glenn Elmore Councillor Paul Garrard Councillor Helen Hughes Councillor Ahmed Ouf Councillor (arrived 6:33pm) Suman Saha Councillor Eddy Sarkis Councillor Sujan Selventhiran Councillor Steve Yang Councillor Officers Peter Fitzgerald General Manager Tony Chahine Acting Director Corporate Performance Daniel Cavallo Director Environment & Planning Brendan Govers Director City Services Nicole Byrn Director Community & Cultu...