Randwick Councillors met at Randwick Town Hall on Tuesday 28 May 2024 for their May Council Meeting. Councillors discussed a range of important matters including an update on the review of the Randwick Development Control Plan, a new arts and culture program at La Perouse, and the return of Aboriginal artefacts to the La Perouse Aboriginal community.

Update on the review of the Randwick Development Control Plan
The second stage of the review of the Randwick Development Control Plan (DCP) 2013, which outlines the planning and design requirements needed to prepare a Development Application, is in progress. Stage two includes a review of the design, amenity, landscaping, and sustainability standards for low and medium-rise residential buildings in response to the NSW government’s proposed housing reforms. It also includes a review on waste management, transport, traffic and parking, and commercial areas, among other things.

Council began a two-stage review of the Randwick DCP 2013 last year to ensure the Plan is current, workable, and sets in place appropriate policies to take Randwick City into the next decade. The first stage of the review was completed late 2023 and included new controls for Housing Investigation Areas (HIA), revised controls for low-density residential development including attached dual occupancies, a new Heritage Conservation Area (HCA), and changes to the boundary of an existing HCA.

The draft Randwick DCP stage two report will be presented to Councillors in late 2024 before being exhibited to the public for feedback.

La Perouse Aboriginal community congratulated for work in returning artefacts
Councillors congratulated the La Perouse Aboriginal community on their decades-long work in advocating for the return of several Gweagal spears. These Aboriginal artefacts, which were taken by James Cook at Botany Bay in 1770 and then given to Trinity College in England, have now been returned to the La Perouse Aboriginal community. Noeleen Timbery, Chair of the La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council, recently travelled to the United Kingdom to bring back the spears.

The Gweagal spears will be displayed at a new visitor centre that will be built at Kurnell in Kamay Botany Bay National Park. In the meantime, at the request of the La Perouse Aboriginal community, they will be cared for by the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney.

Council will work with representatives of the La Perouse Aboriginal community on ways to appropriately acknowledge and celebrate the return of the Gweagal spears.

Leader of Gamay Rangers recognised for contributions to Country
Councillors congratulated Robert ‘Binta’ Cooley, an Aboriginal leader in the La Perouse community, on being awarded an Honorary Fellow of the University of Sydney. Robert was recognised for his contribution to Country and community, and for his collaboration with Aboriginal researchers to better understand marine and coastal management practices.

Robert is a saltwater man with connections to Gamay-Botany Bay and the NSW south coast. He leads Gamay Rangers as a senior ranger and oversees the coastal management of Gamay, which includes protecting and conserving the area, managing threatened species, and raising awareness on cultural and environmental matters. The University of Sydney awards the title of Honorary Fellow to recognise exceptional individual achievement by conferring an honorary degree, and outstanding service to the university.

Proposed upgrades to Finucane Reserve at Matraville
Students from Soldiers’ Settlement Public School in Matraville presented a proposal at the May Council meeting on the planned upgrade of Finucane Reserve, a park located adjacent to their school. The students identified a need for new playground equipment, gardens, bicycle racks, lighting, and more shade structures, benches, drinking water facilities for people and dogs, and dog poo bag dispensers. Council will work with the school in finalising concept plans for the park if the project is adopted in the draft 2024-25 Operational Plan and Budget.

New arts and culture program at La Perouse
A new multidisciplinary arts and culture program, Sea Place on Country, is set to begin in early 2025 at La Perouse. The program, which Council will create with the La Perouse Aboriginal community, will include a documentary film screening and major exhibition at La Perouse Museum celebrating the cultural history of the area including the mullet run, a family event involving an Aboriginal cultural fishing practice.

New framework for Council service reviews
Council has adopted a new framework and template for its 2022-26 Service Review Program, which aims to improve customer service and ensure that reviews on Council services are reported, completed, and implemented consistently.

Reviews help Council to direct resources to where they are needed most; this includes services such as Lifeguard and parking patrols, and managing sports fields and events. Council prioritises which services to review based on factors such as community satisfaction, how much the service is used, new trends, and legislative requirements.

The adopted framework is based on an approach taken in the University of Technology’s Service Review Guide and incorporates elements from the Australian Business Excellence Framework.

Proposed protection of sculptured sandstone facade in Coogee
Council will investigate whether a sculptured sandstone facade at 199 Coogee Bay Road, Coogee – the location of the former Commonwealth Bank branch – needs protection. This will include investigating the significance of the facade, particularly its heritage and contribution to the beachside suburb’s character and streetscape. The artwork consists of sandstone panels with etched designs depicting sea motifs.