Ordinary Council Meeting - 24 August 2026

Topics

• Council rejects current Woollahra Preschool expansion plan
  Woollahra Council has ruled out the current government-funded expansion proposal at the Hugh Latimer Centre and will seek alternatives.
  Families seeking more preschool places face continued uncertainty while alternative options are developed.
• $1 million funding pathway opened for Edgecliff harbour baths project
  Council approved a potential $1 million allocation for the Murray Rose Public Baths/Swimming Enclosure project.
  The decision could advance a significant new recreation facility, although the supplied minutes do not confirm construction approval or a delivery date.
• Yarranabbe Park swimming proposal moves to health and water testing
  Council has ordered further health-risk and water-quality investigations before deciding whether swimming is suitable at Yarranabbe Park.
  The testing is a key step for a proposed public swimming site, but no enclosure has yet been approved.

Decisions

• Capital and operational budget revotes approved
  Council approved $340,000 in capital revotes and $2,226,171 in operational revotes for inclusion in the 2026–2027 Budget. The revised budget surplus before capital grants and contributions is $1.686 million, down from $2.392 million.
  The changes affect the timing and funding of Council programs and reduce the forecast operating surplus.
• Potential $1 million allocation for Murray Rose Public Baths
  Council approved allocation of $1 million from sources including working funds, the section 7.12 Reserve Fund and Voluntary Planning Agreement funds for the Murray Rose Public Baths/Swimming Enclosure project at 136–148 New South Head Road, Edgecliff.
  The decision advances planning and potential funding for a major swimming and recreation facility, but the source excerpt does not confirm final construction approval.
• Current Woollahra Preschool expansion proposal rejected
  Council decided not to proceed with the NSW Government Expanding Quality Access Program proposal to expand Woollahra Preschool at the existing Hugh Latimer Centre site and requested a further report on alternative options to increase access.
  Families seeking additional preschool places will need to await alternative proposals and further Council consideration.
• Further investigations approved for Yarranabbe Park swimming proposal
  Council endorsed a Human Health Risk Assessment and additional water-quality monitoring for the Swimmable Harbour proposal at Yarranabbe Park. No decision was made to construct a swimming enclosure.
  The investigations will determine whether the site is suitable for swimming before any future project decision.
• Community space and staffing approved for HSC examinations
  Council approved a $33,600 increase to the Library operating budget for staffing the HSC Study Zone from 28 September to 5 November 2026. Suitable community space will be allocated to students preparing for HSC performance examinations from 25 August to 18 September 2026, with hire fees waived.
  Students can access study and performance-examination space without hire charges during the specified periods.
• Donations and Sponsorship Policy adopted
  Council adopted the draft Donations and Sponsorship Policy after public exhibition, with an amendment clarifying that an individual can make a contribution by way of bequest.
  The policy sets the rules for how Council handles donations and sponsorships.
• Youth engagement mechanism continued
  Council received the evaluation of the Youth Voice to Council mechanism, including the inaugural Youth Summit and Online Youth Hub, and noted that youth engagement will alternate annually between the 12–18 and 18–24 age groups.
  Young residents will have structured opportunities to contribute to Council decision-making, with the focus age group changing each year.
• Tennis centre lease application supported
  Council applied to the Minister for Local Government for consent to grant a proposed 10-year lease, with two five-year renewal options, at 550 New South Head Road, Rose Bay, to Tennis Nation by Rod Fahey for a tennis and permitted multisport centre.
  The proposal would establish a long-term tennis and multisport operation across six courts, subject to ministerial consent.

Discussion

• State-led rezoning and metropolitan housing growth
  Council noted The Sydney Plan's expectation that established eastern suburbs accommodate more housing growth and that councils demonstrate feasible housing supply. Council also noted its existing housing achievements and planning proposals for Edgecliff and Double Bay, while recording an alternative approach to the proposed State-led rezoning of parts of Edgecliff and Woollahra.
  Residents may face significant future changes to housing density, development controls, infrastructure requirements and neighbourhood character.
• Urban forest and school tree planting
  Council noted that achieving its 30% canopy target by 2050 requires approximately 5,000 trees on private land and asked staff to investigate incentives for schools, including a possible one-for-one program supplying and installing a tree for each tree funded and planted by a school.
  The proposal could increase shade and tree canopy on school grounds, subject to future funding and program design.
• HSC study and examination spaces
  Council approved temporary staffing, community-space access and fee waivers for HSC students during the 2026 examination preparation periods.
  Students and families receive practical access to study and performance-examination facilities.
• Affordable and social housing planning context
  Council considered the State-led rezoning context and noted that existing pathways, including State Significant Development Assessments and the Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, may already enable substantial additional dwelling capacity. Detailed questions were raised about traffic, social infrastructure and cumulative impacts.
  The issues may affect future traffic, infrastructure capacity, housing supply and development assessment across Edgecliff and Woollahra.

Impacts

• The revised 2026–2027 Budget includes $2.566 million in approved capital and operational revotes and a lower forecast operating surplus.
• A potential $1 million Council funding allocation advances the Murray Rose Public Baths/Swimming Enclosure project in Edgecliff.
• The current proposal to expand Woollahra Preschool at the Hugh Latimer Centre will not proceed; alternative options are to be reported later.
• Yarranabbe Park swimming remains subject to health-risk and water-quality investigations, with no construction decision yet made.
• HSC students can use Council-approved study and examination spaces during the specified 2026 periods without hire fees.
• A proposed long-term tennis centre at Rose Bay requires approval from the Minister for Local Government.
• Planning and rezoning changes could affect future development capacity and infrastructure needs in Edgecliff and Woollahra.

Places

• Edgecliff (suburb)
  Location of the proposed State-led rezoning area and the Murray Rose Public Baths/Swimming Enclosure project at 136–148 New South Head Road.
• Woollahra (suburb)
  Included in proposed State-led rezoning and the metropolitan housing-growth discussion; location of Woollahra Preschool.
• Double Bay (suburb)
  Council has submitted a planning proposal for the Double Bay Centre Planning and Design Strategy.
• Yarranabbe Park (park)
  Site of the Swimmable Harbour investigation.
• Rose Bay (suburb)
  Location of the proposed tennis and multisport centre at 550 New South Head Road.
• Hugh Latimer Centre (facility)
  Existing Woollahra Preschool site where the current expansion proposal was rejected.
• Murray Rose Public Baths/Swimming Enclosure (project)
  Proposed harbour swimming and recreation project at 136–148 New South Head Road, Edgecliff.
• Woollahra Council area (local government area)
  Area covered by the meeting's budget, youth, planning, environmental and community-service decisions.

Next

• Allocate approved capital and operational revotes into the 2026–2027 Budget.
  2026–2027 financial year
• Progress funding arrangements and project work for the Murray Rose Public Baths/Swimming Enclosure project.
  Future project stages; no construction date stated
• General Manager to present alternative options for increasing preschool access after the current EQAP proposal was declined.
  Future Council report; date not stated
• Undertake a Human Health Risk Assessment and further water-quality monitoring at Yarranabbe Park.
  Before any future decision on a swimming enclosure
• Develop a mechanism for allocating suitable community space and waiving fees for HSC performance examinations in future years.
  Future years
• Apply to the Minister for Local Government for consent to the proposed Rose Bay tennis-centre lease.
  Following the 24 August 2026 resolution
• Consider school tree-planting incentives, including a possible one-for-one tree program, in the next biannual Urban Forest Strategy progress report.
  Next biannual progress report

Extract

Ordinary Council Monday, 24 August 2026 6:30 PM Minutes Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Ordinary Council 24 August 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 24 August 2026 at 6:30 PM. Present:Her Worship the Mayor, Councillor Sarah Dixson, ex-officio Councillors:Sean Carmichael (Deputy Mayor) (left meeting at 7:57pm during Item 13.1.7 and did not return) Alexander Andruska (via Zoom, left meeting at 9:15pm during Item 19) James Ardouin (via Zoom, left meeting at 9:15 during Item 19) Mary-Lou Jarvis Jeanette Mitchell Julian Parmegiani Harriet Price Lucinda Regan Matthew Rober...