Strategic & Corporate Committee - 3 August 2026

Topics

• Woollahra opens 28-day consultation on financial sustainability policy
  Council has put a draft Financial Sustainability Policy out for public comment.
  The policy could shape how Council manages its finances and makes future spending decisions.
• Woollahra seeks public feedback on borrowing policy
  A separate draft Borrowing Policy will be exhibited for 28 days.
  The policy may influence Council’s approach to borrowing and long-term financial management.
• Council declines request to define planning tests for adverse effects and housing capacity
  A proposal to develop Council criteria for 'significant adverse effects' and 'feasible housing capacity' was not carried.
  The decision leaves no new locally developed criteria from this motion for residents and planning applicants to rely on.

Decisions

• Draft Financial Sustainability Policy to go on exhibition
  Council endorsed the draft Financial Sustainability Policy for public exhibition for 28 days. A future report will consider submissions received during the exhibition period.
  Residents will have an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed policy before it returns to Council.
• Draft Borrowing Policy to go on exhibition
  Council endorsed the draft Borrowing Policy for public exhibition for 28 days. A future report will consider submissions received during the exhibition period.
  The policy may influence how Council approaches borrowing and long-term financial management; residents can provide feedback during the exhibition period.
• NSW Statement of Expectations report received
  Council received and noted the report on the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment (Statement of Expectations) Order 2026.
  The order concerns the State planning framework and may affect how planning and development matters are assessed.
• Request for criteria on significant adverse effects and feasible housing capacity not carried
  A request for the General Manager to consider developing criteria for 'significant adverse effects' and 'feasible housing capacity' and report back to Council was not carried.
  No new Council criteria will be developed under this resolution at this stage.
• Confidential State-Led rezoning information noted
  Following a confidential session concerning legally privileged advice, Council noted confidential information presented about the State-Led rezoning process.
  The public minutes do not disclose the substance of the advice or any specific rezoning outcome.

Discussion

• Public exhibition of financial policies
  The draft Financial Sustainability Policy and draft Borrowing Policy will each be exhibited for 28 days, followed by reports on submissions.
  Residents, ratepayers and community organisations can review the proposed policies and make submissions.
• State planning expectations and rezoning
  The committee considered the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment (Statement of Expectations) Order 2026 and separately discussed the State-Led rezoning process in confidential session.
  Planning rules and any future rezoning decisions may affect development, housing and property interests, but the minutes provide no public detail about the confidential matter.

Impacts

• Residents will have a 28-day opportunity to comment on the draft Financial Sustainability Policy.
• Residents will have a 28-day opportunity to comment on the draft Borrowing Policy.
• The committee did not carry a request to develop Council criteria for assessing significant adverse effects and feasible housing capacity.
• The public record provides no substantive detail about the confidential State-Led rezoning discussion.

Places

• Woollahra local government area (local government area)
  The policies and planning matters considered apply to Woollahra Municipal Council and its residents.

Next

• Place the draft Financial Sustainability Policy on public exhibition for 28 days.
  Following the 3 August 2026 meeting.
• Place the draft Borrowing Policy on public exhibition for 28 days.
  Following the 3 August 2026 meeting.
• Prepare future reports on submissions received for both draft policies.
  After the public exhibition periods.

Extract

Strategic & Corporate Committee Monday, 3 August 2026 6:30 PM Minutes Unconfirmed Woollahra Municipal Council Strategic & Corporate Committee Agenda 3 August 2026 Strategic & Corporate Committee Minutes Monday, 3 August 2026 Present:Her Worship the Mayor, Councillor Sarah Dixson, ex-officio Councillors:Sean Carmichael (Deputy Chair) Alexander Andruska (via Zoom) James Ardouin Mary-Lou Jarvis Jeanette Mitchell Julian Parmegiani Harriet Price (via Zoom, joined meeting at 6.33pm (during Item 6.1) and did not vote on any items on the agenda as she was in transit. Lucinda Regan Matthew Robertson Mark Silcocks Torsten Merrill Witt Hugh Woodgate Toni Zeltzer Staff:Craig Swift-McNair - General Mana...