No matter where we were born, what languages we speak, or what we believe, every one of us is welcome in Randwick City.

Next week is Refugee Week, acknowledging and welcoming those of us that came to Australia after fleeing persecution, war and other forms of conflict.

Council is marking the week by hosting a water safety event for new arrivals at Coogee Beach on Tuesday 18 June.

We’re also holding a special screening of Simple as Water, a 2021 documentary exploring the impact of war, separation, and displacement on four Syrian families. I hope you’re able to join us for the event at the Ritz on Monday 24 June.

Look out too for our special “Refugees welcome” banners on the Randwick Town Hall, a proud celebration of our community’s diversity.

You may have read recent coverage of Council’s opposition to UNSW’s proposal to build towers up to 23 storeys with up to 1,066 student rooms on a small parcel of public land on Anzac Parade. I’m disappointed the media has entirely ignored Council’s history of increasing housing supply near the university.

Rather than addressing the complex challenges of housing affordability and supply, the proposed development would instead deliver more profit to a private student accommodation company charging sky-high rents that most students – international or not – are unable to afford.

Since residents raised concerns about Sydney Water’s plans to plans remove more than 100 trees on the perimeter of the Maroubra Reservoir, Council has been engaging with Sydney Water to advocate for a better outcome for locals and the environment.

As a result, Sydney Water revisited the previous proposal and is currently consulting on its review of environmental impacts associated with the project before finalising its plan. Visit the website to read the report and have your say before Monday 24 June.

Finally, congratulations to all those staff involved in the three winning projects at last week’s NSW Local Government 2024 Excellence Awards.

Council won the partnerships and collaboration category for the Heffron Centre and the special projects category for the eastern suburbs EV charging project with Waverley and Woollahra Councils. We were also highly commended in the customer experience category for our community engagement on the Randwick Local Environment Plan (LEP) Review

Cr Philipa Veitch

Mayor or Randwick