Ordinary Council Meeting - 22 June 2026

Topics

• Tennis Nation wins 10-year Lyne Park lease despite 1,058-signature petition
  Council awarded the Rose Bay tennis-centre lease to Tennis Nation after rejecting an amendment to negotiate with the existing operator.
  The decision changes management of a heavily used public recreation facility and commits the site to major capital works and a long lease.
• Rose Bay parking meters and tighter time limits head to consultation
  Council will consult on paid parking with one hour free at two car parks and shorter on-street limits around Rose Bay Centre.
  The proposal could change parking costs, turnover and access for residents, visitors and local businesses.
• Woollahra adopts 50% fee relief for eligible footway and parklet businesses
  Small local businesses with approved footways or parklets can apply for a half-price fee for 12 months.
  The program directly reduces operating costs for cafés, retailers and other businesses using public space.

Decisions

• Lyne Park Tennis Centre lease awarded
  Council accepted Tennis Nation by Rod Fahey as the operator for an initial 10-year lease, with two possible five-year renewals. The lease includes staged rent, a capital commitment of at least $1,966,345 excluding GST over the first three years, and a $130,000 excluding GST contribution to demolish the disused toilet block and build an additional multi-sport court, subject to approvals.
  The centre will have a new operator, tennis will remain the primary use, and some existing community bookings and staff are expected to be retained where possible.
• 2026–27 operational plan, budget and long-term financial plan adopted
  Council adopted the Operational Plan and budget for 2026–27 and the Long Term Financial Plan for 2026–27 to 2035–36 after six public submissions. The adopted changes included removing proposed changes to the second car parking permit fee increase and continuing to explore pedestrianisation of Knox Street and/or Knox Lane in Double Bay.
  The plans set Council’s services, spending, rates and charges for the coming financial year and include changes affecting parking permits and Double Bay’s town centre.
• 50% footway and parklet fee reduction for eligible small businesses
  Council approved a Fee Reduction Program for eligible small local businesses holding Footway or Parklet Approvals. Eligibility includes a gross annual turnover threshold of $3 million per individual premises, verified through an opt-in application process. The reduction will apply for 12 months from 1 July 2026, with an uptake and financial-impact review scheduled for the January 2027 budget review.
  Eligible cafés, retailers and other small businesses may pay half the relevant footway or parklet fees for the program period.
• Rose Bay parking measures to proceed to community consultation
  Council resolved to consult on paid parking at the Wilberforce Avenue and Ian Street car parks, with one hour free parking, and tighter timed parking around Rose Bay Centre: maximum one-hour parking within approximately 200 metres and two-hour parking within approximately 400 metres.
  Residents, visitors and businesses may see changes to parking costs, time limits and parking turnover, but the measures are not yet final.
• Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2026–2030 adopted
  Council adopted the Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2026–2030 after considering submissions received during public exhibition.
  The plan sets Council’s approach to improving inclusion and accessibility in Council services, facilities and the local community.
• 2026–27 grants and sponsorships approved
  Council approved the staff selection committee’s recommendations for the 2026–27 Council Grants Program and Outgoing Sponsorship Program. Future reports must include specific information about how applicants address recurrent-funding criteria. A grants awards presentation is scheduled for 20 August 2026.
  Successful community organisations will receive Council support, subject to the approved program recommendations and conditions.
• Development contributions plan amendment approved
  Council approved Draft Woollahra Section 7.12 Development Contributions Plan 2022 (Amendment 4).
  The plan governs development contributions that help fund local infrastructure associated with development.

Discussion

• Lyne Park Tennis Centre tender and community petition
  A petition with 1,058 signatures asked Council to reject the Tennis Nation tender and negotiate with the existing operator. An amendment proposing negotiations with the existing operator was lost, and Council approved the Tennis Nation lease.
  The decision changes management of a major Rose Bay recreational facility despite significant community petition support.
• Housing affordability and construction costs
  Council requested a report by December 2026 on actions and costs to reduce construction costs, including streamlining approvals, possible changes to weekend construction controls, regional advocacy and regulatory reform. It also resolved to advocate for legislative changes relating to compulsory acquisition for housing supply or enabling infrastructure and to amend the draft Affordable Housing Policy to support recoverable contributions for affordable housing development.
  The measures could affect future housing supply, development processes and affordable-housing delivery across the local government area.
• Green-design incentives
  Council requested a report by December 2026 on incentives, excluding floor-space-ratio and height bonuses, for green and recycled materials, up-cycled design and prefabricated or modular construction.
  Future planning or financial incentives may support lower-impact building and alternative construction methods.
• Rent-to-buy and shared-equity housing
  Council resolved to seek advice from the Deputy-Secretary for Local Government on whether its affordable housing framework could give long-term affordable-housing tenants access to shared-equity purchase arrangements.
  The proposal could create a pathway from affordable renting to home ownership, subject to legal and policy advice.
• Lifeblood mobile donation services
  The Mayor will liaise with Waverley Council about promoting pop-up Lifeblood donor sessions, while the General Manager will investigate regular mobile donor-truck visits and suitable publicly accessible sites in Woollahra.
  Residents may receive better notice of donation sessions and potentially gain access to regular local blood-donation services.
• Construction and infrastructure incident reporting
  Council staff said they were not aware of a mechanism requiring Council to be notified about construction-related damage or problems involving infrastructure, although incidents could inform planning controls, development-application guidance and conditions. Private sewer-line matters may remain civil disputes, while Sydney Water handles blockages in its sewer mains and may charge the responsible party.
  The issue may lead to future improvements in construction oversight and planning controls, but no new reporting requirement was adopted at this meeting.

Impacts

• Council’s 2026–27 budget, rates and annual charges were adopted, although the supplied extract does not provide a complete readable schedule of individual rate amounts.
• Eligible small businesses with footway or parklet approvals can seek a 50% fee reduction for 12 months from 1 July 2026.
• Rose Bay parking changes will be subject to community consultation before any final implementation.
• Lyne Park Tennis Centre will be operated by Tennis Nation under a long-term lease, with additional multi-sport facilities planned subject to approvals.
• The Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2026–2030 is now adopted.
• Community grants and sponsorships for 2026–27 were approved.

Places

• Lyne Park Tennis Centre, 550 New South Head Road, Rose Bay (recreation facility)
  Subject to a new 10-year lease to Tennis Nation, with additional multi-sport facilities planned.
• Rose Bay (suburb and centre)
  Potential paid parking and revised timed-parking restrictions will be consulted on.
• Wilberforce Avenue car park (car park)
  Proposed paid parking with one hour free.
• Ian Street car park (car park)
  Proposed paid parking with one hour free.
• Double Bay (suburb and town centre)
  Council will continue exploring pedestrianisation of Knox Street and/or Knox Lane.
• James Street, Woollahra, between Victoria Avenue and Moncur Street (street)
  Council resolved not to proceed with a Shared Zone.
• Woollahra local government area (local government area)
  Affected by housing, accessibility, Lifeblood, development contributions and construction-policy initiatives.

Next

• Implement the small-business Footway and Parklet Fee Reduction Program and finalise application and verification arrangements.
  From 1 July 2026; uptake and financial impact to be reviewed in the January 2027 budget review.
• Progress the Tennis Nation lease and planned Lyne Park works, subject to necessary development approval.
  Following the 22 June 2026 tender decision.
• Consult the community on proposed Rose Bay paid parking and timed-parking changes.
  Future consultation; no final implementation date stated.
• Prepare a report on actions and costs to reduce construction costs and improve housing affordability.
  No later than December 2026.
• Prepare a report on incentives for green, recycled, up-cycled and modular construction.
  No later than December 2026.
• Investigate Lifeblood mobile-truck locations and promote upcoming pop-up sessions.
  Ongoing; timing for any regular visits has not been set.
• Hold the 2026–27 grants awards presentation.
  20 August 2026 at 2:00 pm.

Extract

Ordinary Council Monday, 22 June 2026 6:30 PM Minutes Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Ordinary Council 22 June 2026 Page | 2 Ordinary Council Meeting Minutes of the Meeting of Ordinary Council held at the Council Chambers, 536 New South Head Road, Double Bay, on 22 June 2026 at 6:30 PM. Present:Her Worship the Mayor, Councillor Sarah Dixson, ex-officio Councillors:Sean Carmichael (Deputy Mayor) Alexander Andruska (via Zoom) James Ardouin Mary-Lou Jarvis Jeanette Mitchell Julian Parmegiani Harriet Price Lucinda Regan Mark Silcocks Torsten Merrill Witt Hugh Woodgate Toni Zeltzer Staff:Craig Swift-McNair - General Manager Jennifer Chenhall - Manager, Governance & Risk Rhys Johnson - Te...