Ordinary Council - 24 Feb 2026

Topics

• Council tightens stance on co-living/student housing across Randwick
  Council backed stronger local controls and asked the NSW Government for better co-living supply tracking, signalling pressure on student accommodation growth.
  Could affect future development feasibility, housing mix and neighbourhood amenity in key precincts.
• Brook Street Bridge replacement moves forward with funding flagged
  Council endorsed a full bridge replacement and flagged budget and capital works funding, indicating a significant future project.
  This is a material infrastructure commitment likely to affect transport, access and construction activity.
• Shared e-bike crackdown and parking review broadened
  Council acknowledged rapid e-bike growth and backed expanded parking management, geofencing review and data-sharing requests from operators.
  Could change how micromobility is managed on streets, footpaths and in town centres.

Decisions

• Community donations and fee waivers approved
  Council agreed to donate $500 to Coogee Beach Tennis Club for its charity day, donate nursery plants worth $500 to St John’s Church on the Hill, note a $200 donation to the Boots on the Ground program, purchase councillor tickets worth $1,800 for the Randwick District Rugby Union Football Club annual lunch, and waive several event-related fees including for the WNOW touch football competition.
  Supports local community groups, charities and events through direct funding and in-kind assistance.
• Council response to the Bondi terror attack
  Council resolved to make donations to relevant support organisations, publicise support and resources for affected residents, and facilitate referrals and advocacy for the Randwick City Jewish community and other impacted residents.
  Provides local support and recovery actions for residents affected by the attack.
• Statement on civic standards and hate-based intimidation
  Council unanimously affirmed principles against violence, harassment and antisemitism, rejected collective blame and intimidation, and directed that the resolution be published as a statement of Council commitment to safety, inclusion and non-violence.
  Sets a public standard for conduct and community safety in the local area.
• Voluntary Planning Agreement for 6-10 Bowral Street, Kensington
  Council agreed to enter into the VPA, authorised minor drafting changes, and received an update on delivery of public domain and open space works linked to the development.
  Affects planning outcomes and local public domain delivery in Kensington.
• Co-living/student housing advocacy tightened
  Council noted research on co-living impacts, continued advocacy for co-living rooms to count in housing supply metrics, sought a publicly available co-living dashboard, and backed stronger interim local planning controls including balcony and aspect requirements in key areas.
  May affect future student housing supply, design standards and development outcomes across the city.
• Election waste reduction guideline to be produced
  Council will produce and promote a guideline on sustainable election practices to help future candidates reduce campaign waste.
  Could reduce litter and waste at election time and give candidates clearer guidance.
• Battery disposal expansion backed
  Council endorsed work to establish additional battery drop-off locations and improve education about safe battery storage and disposal.
  Improves household hazardous waste disposal options and reduces fire risk.
• Brook Street Bridge set for full replacement
  Council endorsed Option 4, a full bridge replacement, noted planning and design funding in the draft 2026/27 budget and capital works program, and agreed to begin naming considerations for Bruce Notley-Smith.
  Signals a major infrastructure project with future traffic and construction implications.

Discussion

• Dedicated parking at the Randwick hospital precinct
  Council noted medical staff submissions and the Mayor’s letter to the Health Minister seeking dedicated parking for the hospital campus, while also noting existing emergency drop-off and short-term parking spaces.
  Relevant to hospital access, patient drop-off and parking pressure around the precinct.
• Malabar Shops al fresco area
  Council will seek Transport for NSW’s in-principle support for proposed works and report back through the General Manager’s weekly update.
  May affect street activation and local business amenity in Malabar.
• Searle Avenue resident parking trial
  Council will consider a six-month trial extending resident parking zone spaces on the northern side of Searle Avenue to Frenchman’s Road.
  Could change on-street parking access for residents and visitors in Randwick.
• Shared e-bike management review
  Council noted rapid growth in shared e-bike use and supported current controls, more parking locations, future review of parking and geofencing arrangements, and access to aggregated operator trip data.
  Affects footpath amenity, safety, transport access and parking in town centres and the hospital/education precinct.
• Coogee Beach Christmas Day event management
  Council agreed to work with neighbouring councils and the NSW Government on a plan for future unauthorised Christmas Day events on the coastline and options to charge attendees.
  May influence crowd management, enforcement and beach access at Coogee and nearby coastal areas.
• Coogee Pleasure Pier columns
  Council accepted the heritage assessment that the remaining structures are shark safety-related columns rather than pier pylons, and supported documentation, potential reuse or disposal, and commemoration.
  Affects heritage interpretation and possible future public art or reuse decisions at Coogee.

Impacts

• Direct grants, donations and fee waivers will support local clubs, faith groups and charity events.
• Residents affected by the Bondi terror attack may be able to access more local support and referrals.
• Planning rules for student accommodation may become stricter in key precincts.
• More battery drop-off options may be added, reducing household disposal risk.
• Shared e-bike parking and enforcement may change across town centres and the health and education precinct.
• Brook Street Bridge replacement may affect future travel, construction impacts and budget commitments.
• Parking arrangements around Randwick hospital precinct and Searle Avenue may change after further review.
• Coogee coastal event management may become more structured following recent unauthorised gatherings.

Places

• Coogee Beach (beach/coastal area)
  Charity event donation, Christmas Day event management and Coogee Pleasure Pier columns
• Kensington (suburb)
  Bowral Street VPA and broader co-living planning settings
• Randwick hospital precinct (health precinct)
  Dedicated parking advocacy for the hospital campus
• Searle Avenue, Randwick (street)
  Proposed resident parking zone trial
• Malabar (suburb)
  Al fresco area investigation for Malabar Shops
• Brook Street Bridge (bridge)
  Bridge renewal project and naming consideration
• Randwick LGA (local government area)
  Student housing, battery disposal, shared e-bikes and election waste actions
• Prince of Wales Children’s Hospital (hospital)
  Referenced in community donation and support context

Next

• Execute community donations, ticket purchases and fee waivers approved by Council
  Immediately after the meeting
• Publish and distribute the Council statement on safety, inclusion and non-violence
  As directed by Council
• Prepare and lodge the voluntary planning agreement for 6-10 Bowral Street, Kensington
  Before execution, with minor drafting changes allowed
• Continue advocacy to NSW planning authorities on co-living metrics and local exemptions
  Ongoing, with further reporting after exhibition
• Investigate and establish additional battery drop-off locations and improve public guidance
  Staff to progress and report back
• Seek Transport for NSW support for the Malabar Shops al fresco works
  Via the General Manager’s weekly update
• Bring the Searle Avenue parking trial to the March 2026 Local Transport Forum
  March 2026
• Provide a further report on shared e-bike parking locations and framework review
  Before the June 2026 Council report
• Advance planning and design work for the Brook Street Bridge full replacement
  Included in the 2026/27 budget and capital works program

Extract

This is of the Minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting held on 24 February 2026 MINUTES OF ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY, 24 FEBRUARY 2026 AT 7.18 PM Present: The Mayor, Councillor D Parker (Central Ward) Central Ward - Councillors D Gordon & D Rosenfeld East Ward - Councillors M Asgari, C Martin & M Wilson North Ward - Councillors C Hamilton, A Magner & C Willington (Deputy Mayor) South Ward - Councillors B Burst, N D’Souza & D Said West Ward - Councillors A Hay, A Luxford & P Veitch Officers Present: General Manager Mr R Brownlee Director City Planning Ms M Bishop Director City Services Mr T Clarke Director Community & Culture Ms K Anderson Acting Director Corporate Services Mr...