Annual Report

1.1 Our natural environment is protected, enhanced and biodiverse

• We supported 29 street gardens and helped our community plant native trees in their gardens.  
• Bushcare celebrated its 30th birthday at our Community Awards. 
• We planted 1,597 plants on National Tree Day and continued to look after our bushland. 
• The Coal Loader held events such as ‘The Artisans Market’, ‘Sunset Sessions’ and ‘Wednesday Wellness’, and increased partnerships with universities and schools. 

1.2 Our natural environment is environmentally sustainable

• We collected 562,968 kilograms of waste at our CRC (Community Recycling Centre) and are now accepting clothing.  
• All Council buildings and streetlights became 100% powered by renewable energy. 
• The Living Futures Festival talks in April 2023 attracted an audience of 650 over 7 events. 
• Programs such as Future Proofing Apartments, food scraps trial, BBP (Better Business Partnership), and City Switch helped buildings and businesses become more sustainable. 

1.3 Our places are clean and green

• The Western Harbour Tunnel (WHT) and Warringah Freeway upgrade (WFU) affected our tree canopy cover through the loss of hundreds of mature trees and reduced public open space. 
• We distributed and planted over 10,500 plants and trees to help compensate for canopy loss. 
• Council continued to plant trees on streets and where sick trees needed replacing. 
• We set up a trial Trees for Newborns program, due to start July 2023. 

1.4 Our open spaces are well utilised

• Henry Lawson Parkland at the end of McMahons Point was landscaped. 
• We improved St Leonards and Fred Hutley playgrounds and added an outdoor gym in Brennan Park. 
• The Quarantine Boat Depot is now owned by Council and is being prepared for public use. 
• We hosted Women’s AFL, Women’s Big Bash cricket, Men’s Big Bash, Rugby Union, and Rugby League matches at North Sydney Oval

2.1 Infrastructure and assets meet diverse community needs

• We audited the condition of retaining walls, fences, marine structures, and seawalls. 
• The Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan was adopted by Council in November 2022.
• Council completed a joint Emergency Management Plan with Mosman Council. 
• We stabilised seawalls at Milsons Point and installed ‘Living Seawalls’ project at Lavender Bay which was the first of its kind. 

2.2 Our public domains and villages are vibrant

• We held a successful ‘Street Play’ event in Wollstonecraft in April 2023. 
• We completed designs for Willoughby Road, Crows Nest and Kirribilli Village. 
• In March 2023, we completed construction of the East Crescent Street shared space trial. 
• We upgraded bus shelters and street lighting. 

2.3 Sustainable and active transport is prioritised

• We encouraged students to walk to school with our Safety Around Schools program.  
• We completed the Road Safety Action Plan. 
• Council funded 8 ‘check-in and tune-ups’ with 130 bikes at Northside Produce Market. 
• We opened Stage 1 of the West Street Cycleway in June 2023. 

2.4 Efficient traffic and transport mobility

• We increased our car share spaces to 150. 
• All applications for car-share space were reviewed by The North Sydney Traffic Committee. 
• Council reduced the amount of parking spaces allowed in new high-density residential buildings which had good access to public transport. 

3.1 Our commercial centres are prosperous and vibrant

• The NTH SYD events such as lunch clubs and Christmas markets, and themed activities such as Japanese Culture Day and Star Wars Day were popular. 
• Council partnered with Greenwood Plaza for the ‘Snow Festival’ and ‘Spring into You’, and formed new partnerships with Nine Media and others. 
• The upgrade of the CBD continued, with work completed in Wheeler Lane, and Berry, William, and Mount Streets. 
• The monthly Business eNews reached over 900 subscribers, and linked local businesses to networking, grants, and rebates. 

3.2 Distinctive sense of place and design excellence

• Council advocated for the community on TfNSW (Transport for NSW) projects such as the Sydney Metro, and Warringah Freeway upgrade. 
• We initiated the Neutral Bay Alive Community Consultation Group to give feedback to the Neutral Bay Town Centre Planning Study. 
• Council voted to prohibit residential flat buildings in medium-density residential zones. 
• Council reviewed its Design Excellence Policy to include built sustainability.

4.1 North Sydney is connected, inclusive, healthy and safe

• Council launched the revised Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), and staff took part in inclusive training. 
• We ran conversation classes in partnership with Sydney Multicultural Community Services and held a workshop ‘Everybody has a Story’ to counter racism and discrimination. 
• The Crows Nest Safe Village Project produced a training video and resources to educate businesses and services about domestic violence.  
• We provided mental health and wellbeing programs to youth including Need a Lift? and Aunty Time; and held a ‘Colour Fest’ event to celebrate Youth Week. 
• Council partnered with Link Wentworth to deliver 12 new community housing units in Miller Street, Cammeray, and provided over 90 hours of outreach and support to people experiencing homelessness. 
• We delivered 21 events for the February 2023 Seniors Festival, formed the North Sydney Abuse Prevention Collaborative, and held ‘End of Life’ workshops with Community Centres. 

4.2 A centre for creativity and learning

• We created new artist studios in the new Ridge Street Window Gallery which opened in May 2023, and Council adopted the Public Art Masterplan in February 2023.  
• Literacy Skills and Accessibility Tech 1:1 sessions supplied training for older people, and the Bus to Books program enable access to the library for less mobile community members. 
• Writers @ Stanton delivered 28 author talks and the library held many events including Children’s Book Week, Winter Writers Festival, Diwali, and NAIDOC week. 
• We supported Community Book Clubs with updated Book Club Kits, and a new online club ‘Book Hive’ in response to community demand.  
• The Nan Manefield Young Writers Award continued its popularity, and schools’ packages and developed support programs for local schools and students.  
• Stanton improvements to equipment included, modern furniture, improved power supply to meet the high student demand and upgraded AV equipment in the Conference Room. 

4.3 Our heritage is preserved and recognised

• Events included Family History Month, History Week, the Australian Heritage Festival, and the North Sydney Seniors Festival along with 9 exhibitions and 8 workshops.  
• Building plans, original photographs, and oral histories continue to be digitalised with 4 oral histories recorded in celebration of 50 years of our Community Precincts. 
• We prepared Conservation Management Plans for Don Bank Museum and May Gibb’s Nutcote.
• Council sought feedback on a policy and procedure about the application of memorial plaques within public open space, and recognised some of our prominent locals through plaques.

5.1 Lead North Sydney’s strategic direction

• The North Sydney Community Strategic Plan 2022-2032 and 4-year Delivery Program 2022-2026 started 1 July 2022 and we reported our actions each quarter against the Operational Plan & Budget 2022/23 (Year 1), with year 2 being adopted 26 June 2023. 
• Council collaborated with NSROC (Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils) on infrastructure contributions, the Domestic Waste Management Charge, and a review of rate pegging. 
• Council discussed enhanced public benefits with the State Government as offsets for the impacts of the construction of WHT/WFU and the loss of public open space and trees. 
• Council advocated for the community regarding TfNSW’s plans for a bike ramp at the northern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway. 

5.2 Strong civic leadership and customer focused services

• Our new organisational structure was adopted in March 2023. 
• The AV equipment in the Council Chambers was upgraded to provide a better experience for Councillors and the public gallery in Council meetings, along with improved webcasts. 
• Staff took part in Resilient Sydney Network Meetings from different Divisions depending on the agenda topics. 
• Delegations of Authority for the Mayor and General Manager were reviewed and adopted, and staff delegations are being reviewed in line with the organisational restructure. 

5.3 Community is engaged in what council does

• Council increased followers on all social media platforms, 22 videos were produced, Council’s e-newsletters remained popular, and new digital bus shelters and billboard advertising helped promote Council projects and services. 
• Several Precinct areas were merged following a review of the Precinct System, and we celebrated 50 years of North Sydney Precincts in May 2023. 
• There was strong attendance at all Council-led events with highlights including the Sunset Series, Twilight Food Fair, Symphony in St Leonards Park and 6 Village Vibe events. 
• Our new website launched in February 2023 to positive, feedback about its design and enhanced searchability. 

5.4 Council services are efficient and easy to access

• The storage of digital records is being reviewed to make sure it meets legislative requirements. 
• A new application tracking system that works with Council’s existing property and rates system is in progress, as are plans to supply a more personalised customer service through an improved IT system.  
• We are working on continuous improvement of WHS with systems in place to manage all known hazards with ongoing training, reporting, and site inspections. 
• Council became a Child Safe organisation and awareness of child safety has increased with posters, staff presentations and updated policies with young people in mind. 

Hume Street Park Stage 1 

• Council spent $265 thousand on the construction of Hume Street Park Stage 1 in 2022/23 making a total of $4.9 million (excluding purchase of land), which included a $3.5 million grant from the NSW Government 
• Stage 1 of Hume Street Park was opened in September 2022 and adds more than 1,200 square metres of open space in Crows Nest 
• When the new Metro station opens in 2024, thousands of people are expected to use the new pedestrian link during rush hour 
• Features include: 
  • pedestrian link from Willoughby Road to a spacious green park 
  • modern lighting and well-placed seating 
  • the heritage features of the old Penfold shop façade above the walkway 

Primrose Park Tennis Courts

• Primrose Park Tennis Courts were mostly constructed in 2021/22 opened in August 2022  
• Council spent $265 thousand in 2022/23 making a total of $2.3 million, including a $2.2 million grant from the Commonwealth Government  
• Funding was provided through a $2.18 million grant from the Commonwealth Government and Council contributed $128.5 million toward the project 
• The new facilities include: 
  • 4 new tennis courts with synthetic grass and line markings 
  • ‘hit-up’ practice wall 
  • new court lighting, netting, fencing and seating 
  • change facilities, a communal barbeque area and children’s playground 

Council also continued work on the redevelopment of the North Sydney Olympic Pool. As this is an ongoing project, it has been removed from this Annual Report page to ensure there is no confusion for people looking for current information.

IPART partially approved a SRV, and minimum rate increase in May 2019, meaning that for the 3-year period 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2022, Council could increase both residential and business rates by 7% per annum, inclusive of the rate peg. This was a permanent increase and is therefore included in Council’s General Permissible Income on an ongoing basis. As the nominated projects are completed the funds become available to fund Council’s regular program of asset renewals. 

The SRV expired on 30 June 2022, and not all funds raised were spent. The remaining funds were used for the implementation of the St Leonards Park Masterplan, public domain upgrades in the commercial village areas of Neutral Bay, Cremorne, Kirribilli and McMahons Point, and the Fred Hutley Reserve playground upgrade.  

In 2022/23 at total of $906.7 thousand, the SRV funds were spent as follows: 

• St Leonards Park Landscape Masterplan implementation     $227 thousand 
• Neutral Bay and Cremorne village upgrades $189.1 thousand 
• Kirribilli and McMahons Point village upgrades $137.4 thousand 
• Fred Hutley Reserve playground upgrade $282.4 thousand 
• Gore Cove to Smoothey Park walking track upgrade $70.7 thousand 

As of 30 June 2023, a balance of $679,081 thousand remains. This is due to the flow-on impacts from 2021/22 of rain delays, lockdown delays, the time taken to prepare designs for projects in the Neutral Bay and Cremorne Public Domain Masterplan, material supply problems, and the withdrawal of the initial contractor for the playground upgrade. These funds are restricted and will be used to fund the continued progress and finalisation of the nominated projects in 2023/24. 

In 2022/23: 

• Including grants and contributions, Council showed a net operating surplus of $24.5 million.  
• Excluding grants and contributions, Council showed a deficit of $2.3 million, which was impacted by a non-cash decrease in the value of Council’s investment property portfolio. 
• Council successfully contained expenses resulting in a positive Operating Performance Ratio 
• Capital expenditure including plant replacement was $52.5 million. 
• Total assets increased by 5% to $1.8 billion. 
• Total liabilities increased by 2% to $89.8 million. 
• Community equity increased by 5% to $1.7 billion. 

View the 2022/23 Financial Statements