Strategic & Corporate Committee - 10 August 2026

Topics

• Woollahra Preschool expansion proposal rejected at Hugh Latimer Centre site
  The committee recommended abandoning the current government-funded expansion proposal at the existing site after reviewing survey feedback and project risks.
  Families need more preschool access, but the proposed location will not be expanded under the current plan.
• Council backs $1 million allocation for Murray Rose Baths swimming project
  A Voluntary Planning Agreement contribution linked to an Edgecliff development would fund the next stage of the Murray Rose Baths/Swimming Enclosure project.
  The allocation is a significant public-facility funding decision, although the source does not confirm construction approval.
• Yarranabbe Park swimming plan moves to health-risk testing, not construction
  Council will commission health-risk and water-quality investigations before deciding whether swimming is feasible at Yarranabbe Park.
  The proposal remains uncertain, with public-health testing required and no construction decision made.

Decisions

• Capital and operational budget revotes recommended
  The committee recommended receiving the June 2026 Capital Works Program progress report and approving $340,000 in capital revotes and $2,226,171 in operational revotes for inclusion in the 2026–2027 Budget. It also recommended a $33,600 Library operating-budget increase for HSC Study Zone staffing from 28 September to 5 November 2026. The revised budget surplus before capital grants and contributions would be $1.686 million, down from the original $2.392 million.
  The changes affect Council spending, service delivery and the forecast operating surplus.
• Funding recommended for Murray Rose Baths/Swimming Enclosure project
  The committee recommended allocating $1 million from the Voluntary Planning Agreement contribution for 136–148 New South Head Road, Edgecliff, to the Murray Rose Baths/Swimming Enclosure project.
  This directs developer-contribution funding towards a public aquatic and recreation project.
• Preschool expansion at Hugh Latimer Centre not supported
  The committee recommended not proceeding with the current NSW Government Expanding Quality Access Program proposal to expand Woollahra Preschool at the existing Hugh Latimer Centre site. It also recommended a further report on alternative ways to increase preschool access.
  Families seeking preschool places will not see the current expansion proposal proceed at that site, while alternative options are investigated.
• Further investigations approved for possible Yarranabbe Park swimming
  The committee recommended further investigations for the Swimmable Harbour proposal at Yarranabbe Park, including a Human Health Risk Assessment and additional water-quality monitoring. No decision was made to construct a swimming enclosure, and any future project would require separate Council endorsement and substantial external funding.
  The investigations will determine whether the site may be suitable for swimming, but do not authorise construction.
• Traffic and parking changes approved
  Measures were approved for Attunga Street, Woollahra; Campbell Avenue, Paddington; Adelaide Street, Woollahra; and Churchill Road and Rawson Road. Changes include new line marking and give-way treatments, extended angle parking, removal of a redundant mobility space, and revised no-stopping and no-parking restrictions.
  Residents and road users may experience changed parking availability, traffic priority and enforcement conditions in these streets.
• Youth engagement model updated
  The committee noted the evaluation of the Youth Voice to Council mechanism, the inaugural Youth Summit and the Online Youth Hub. It also noted an alternating annual engagement model focused on ages 12–18 and 18–24 in different years.
  Young residents will have a continuing, age-targeted pathway to provide input to Council.
• Long-term tennis centre lease recommended for approval
  The committee recommended that Council seek the Minister for Local Government’s consent for a proposed 10-year lease, with two further five-year options, over community land at 550 New South Head Road, Rose Bay, to Tennis Nation by Rod Fahey for tennis and permitted multisport use.
  The proposal would establish a long-term commercial tennis-centre arrangement on Council community land, subject to ministerial consent.

Discussion

• Capital works and budget position
  The June 2026 progress report included capital and operational rollovers and revotes, with a combined operational-revote value of $2.226 million and a revised operating surplus of $1.686 million before capital grants and contributions.
  The revised position indicates how carried-over projects and operational commitments affect Council’s available budget.
• Woollahra Preschool access
  The committee considered the EQAP proposal, community survey results and risks associated with expansion at the Hugh Latimer Centre site before recommending that the proposal not proceed there.
  Preschool capacity and the location of future places remain unresolved.
• Yarranabbe Park water quality
  Council will investigate health risks and undertake more water-quality monitoring before considering whether swimming could be suitable at the site.
  The work addresses public-health and environmental questions before any possible swimming facility is considered.
• Local road and parking management
  Several Local Transport Forum recommendations were adopted, covering traffic calming, parking layouts, mobility-parking changes and stopping restrictions.
  The measures are intended to improve safety, traffic operations and parking management at specified locations.

Impacts

• $33,600 is recommended for temporary Library staffing for the HSC Study Zone during the 2026 examination period.
• The recommended revotes reduce the forecast operating surplus from $2.392 million to $1.686 million before capital grants and contributions.
• The current Woollahra Preschool expansion proposal at the Hugh Latimer Centre site will not proceed, subject to Council’s decision on the committee recommendation.
• Traffic priority, parking layouts and stopping restrictions will change at several streets in Woollahra and Paddington.
• Further testing will precede any decision about swimming at Yarranabbe Park.
• A youth engagement program will alternate its annual focus between people aged 12–18 and 18–24.

Places

• Woollahra (suburb)
  Attunga Street traffic-calming measures and Woollahra Preschool expansion proposal.
• Paddington (suburb)
  Campbell Avenue parking and traffic-calming measures.
• Rose Bay (suburb)
  Proposed tennis-centre lease at 550 New South Head Road.
• Edgecliff (suburb)
  Voluntary Planning Agreement funding from 136–148 New South Head Road.
• Yarranabbe Park (park/project area)
  Proposed Swimmable Harbour investigations.
• Attunga Street (road)
  Line marking and give-way treatments between Chester Street and Milton Avenue.
• Campbell Avenue (road)
  Angle-parking extension near property numbers 1–13.
• Churchill Road and Rawson Road (roads)
  Revised stopping and parking restrictions.

Next

• Council to consider the committee’s recommendations on the budget revotes, Library staffing allocation and Murray Rose Baths funding.
  At a subsequent Council decision meeting.
• Undertake a Human Health Risk Assessment and additional water-quality monitoring at Yarranabbe Park.
  Before a further report to Council.
• Prepare a further report on alternative options to increase preschool access.
  Future Council meeting; date not specified.
• Seek Minister for Local Government consent for the proposed Rose Bay community-land lease.
  Following Council consideration; date not specified.
• Implement the approved traffic and parking measures at the specified Woollahra, Paddington, Churchill Road and Rawson Road locations.
  Timing not specified.

Extract

Strategic & Corporate Committee Monday, 10 August 2026 6:30 PM Minutes Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Strategic & Corporate Committee Agenda 10 August 2026 Strategic & Corporate Committee Minutes Monday, 10 August 2026 Present:Her Worship the Mayor, Councillor Sarah Dixson, ex-officio Councillors:Sean Carmichael (Deputy Chair) Alexander Andruska Mary-Lou Jarvis Jeanette Mitchell (left meeting at 6:40pm during Item 4) Julian Parmegiani Harriet Price Lucinda Regan Mark Silcocks Torsten Merrill Witt Hugh Woodgate Toni Zeltzer (left meeting at 9:18pm during Item 8.4) Staff:Craig Swift-McNair - General Manager Fiona Calverley - Governance & Meeting Officer Jennifer Chenhall - Manager, G...