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Message from the Mayor Cr Edward McDougall

I was very pleased to hear Council had taken out the top award for customer experience at the prestigious Local Government Professionals Australia Awards for Excellence 2026. Council’s winning initiative, focused on delivering better service, has enhanced how we engage with our community.

Council’s inaugural Project Planet eco-fair was also recognised as a finalist in the Environmental Leadership category.

I am very proud of what we are achieving for the Bayside community. Our Operational Plan and Budget for 2026-27 has been approved.

This comprehensive plan sets out a clear path for our future while providing meaningful opportunities for residents to stay informed and involved as we turn our vision into reality.

From strengthening essential services and investing in critical infrastructure, to supporting local organisations and community initiatives, we have worked to ensure Bayside remains a safe, dynamic and inclusive place for all.

Council remains firmly committed to delivering the major projects outlined in our 10 Bold Moves. These include the Arncliffe Community Hub; the Botany Aquatic Centre redevelopment; the Boulevarde Car Park; expanded Active Transport Corridors; the Mascot Oval upgrade; and ongoing enhancements to Sir Joseph Banks Park that will deliver lasting community benefits.

I encourage everyone to have a look at our Delivery Program and Operational Plan & Budget on our website that outlines our bold plans for Bayside.

This month, during NAIDOC Week, we celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples with an exciting program allowing younger generations to discover more about First Nations culture and history.

Our successful collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia saw a monumental First Nations artwork by local artist Dennis Golding installed at Ramsgate Beach where it attracted an estimated 40,000 visitors during its two-month installation.

Council’s second Creative Industries Forum on Thursday 30 July will bring together artists, performers, designers, filmmakers, and creative entrepreneurs for a day of inspiration, learning and collaboration. Details of the event are on our website.

If I can assist you with any Council matter, please reach out using the contact details on the back of this newsletter.

Cr Edward McDougall Mayor

Photo: Garry Trinh

STORIESONPARADE CARLTON

Carlton’s rich history came to life when Stories on Parade brought the Bayside community together on 17 May 2026.

Visitors browsed market stalls, joined heritage walks, enjoyed family entertainment and met animals at the petting zoo, followed by a Sydney Writers’ Festival author talk with Alexandra Lapierre on former Carlton resident and author Miles Franklin.

Bayside Wins Customer Experience Award

Good things are happening in Bayside, and others are taking notice! Our “Be Better For Bayside” program is transforming how we serve our community and has just received the top Customer Experience award at the 2026 Local Government Professionals Australia Awards, while our first “Project Planet” sustainability event was proudly recognised as a finalist for Environmental Leadership.

Walking Towards Reconciliation

National Reconciliation Week and National Sorry Day saw the Bayside community gather at Rockdale Town Hall, where a moving smoking ceremony and Flag Raising officially launched, Council’s Reconciliation Action Plan was officially launched, guided by the heartfelt storytelling of Aunty Brenda Matthews.

NAIDOC Week’s 50th anniversary then carried this spirit forward with a vibrant two-week program across Bayside, culminating in a much-loved Family Day at Cook Park, Kyeemagh (Kamay Bay).

Dennis Golding: On the Foreshore

A striking large-scale mural at Ramsgate Beach foreshore, delivered in partnership with the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, has drawn an estimated 40,000 visitors over its two-month installation.

Co-created by renowned First Nations artist Dennis Golding and local young people, Dennis Golding: On the Foreshore celebrated culture, community and connection to Country.

Pride Flags

Pride Month brought colour and visibility to Bayside this year, with original Pride artworks flying from civic flagpoles and a guest author talk with Shannon Molloy anchoring the celebrations.

Thursday 30 July 10am – 5pm Botany Town Hall

Learn from industry leaders, gain valuable insights and discover new strategies to boost your creative business

We are proud to host our second annual Creative Industries Forum. This important event brings local artists, makers and creative professionals together. The free one-day forum will feature panel discussions, group conversations, a tour of Botany’s growing creative precinct and a performance by the Bardwell Valley Ramblers, giving attendees fresh insights and new connections.

Remembrance

Garden Candlelight Vigil

A candlelight vigil at the Mutch Park Reflection Garden brought the Bayside community together to remember those loved and lost to family and domestic violence, and to stand in solidarity with survivors. Guided by heartfelt words from guest speaker Ms Salliane Faulkner, Mayor McDougall and local councillors, attendees lit candles and wrote personal messages of remembrance and hope.

Created by acclaimed artist and designer Gary Bigeni, three vibrant flag designs transformed key public spaces into symbols of pride, inclusivity and belonging.

Our Library at Rockdale Turns 10

Since our award-winning library opened in 2016 it has become one of Bayside’s most vibrant community hubs. The new library has welcomed more than 2.2 million visits and evolved into much more than a place to borrow books. Today it is a thriving space for community activities, workshops, classes and film screenings where people of all ages meet, connect, learn and create. Join us in July and August as we celebrate this milestone with special exhibitions, activities and events marking a decade at the heart of community life.

Spring Fair Returns

Bayside Alive’s Spring Fair is returning to Jack Mundey Reserve, Eastlakes on Saturday 5 September 2026, bringing a full day of colour, culture and community.

From 11am to 7pm, residents and visitors can enjoy multicultural dance performances, live music, free amusement rides, tasty food stalls and an outdoor family-friendly movie to close the day’s festivities.

4 | Bayside News July 2026

Food & Wine Festival

The Bayside Food & wine Festival returns to Mascot Memorial Park on Saturday 31 October 2026, bringing a full day of flavour, live music and community spirit to the heart of Mascot. From late morning into the evening, visitors can sample wines, spirits, craft beers and delicious food from local favourites, and attend demonstrations by Manu and Clarissa Feildel.

A lively program of music and entertainment will create a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere to catch up with friends.

Bayside is home to two dedicated historical societies, the Botany Historical Trust and the St George Historical Society, who work alongside Council to keep our local history alive. With our libraries, they help care for books, archival records, newspapers, photographs and historical footage of Bayside’s past. With a Bayside Libraries membership, you can explore these collections in person or online, and access resources such as Ancestry.com, and use the Bayside Libraries app to browse, borrow and manage your account wherever you are.

Many exhibitions can now be experienced online as well as in person, and we warmly welcome donations of significant items to our Local History collection via local_history@bayside.nsw.gov.au

Local History Competition

The Ron Rathbone Award for Local History Research and Writing celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2026, marking two decades of nurturing community heritage and storytelling across Bayside.

Created in honour of Ron Rathbone OAM, a much-respected teacher, historian, author and long-serving councillor, it now forms part of the Bayside Local History Awards & Program.

The $6,000 major prize, along with the Peter Orlovich Young Historian Awards for students in Years 5-12, will continue to encourage new voices to help keep local stories alive for future generations.

Unseen & Unsung Exhibition

The exhibition is open at Mascot Library until Wednesday 30 September. Come along to view photographs, objects and personal stories that highlight the vital wartime roles played by local women, both at home and abroad, with an online version available for those unable to visit in person.

Historical Markers

Bayside Council’s 2026 round of Historical Markers has been announced, with 5 new sites and individuals recognised: Lydham Hall, landscape architect Bruce Mackenzie for his role in creating Sir Joseph Banks Park, Earl Park, the former Botany Literary Institute and the Botany Fire Station. The plaques were formally unveiled by Mayor Edward McDougall on 2 July 2026.

Children’s playground, Eastlakes

Tindale Reserve’s new playground in Carlton is now open, offering a fresh and inviting place for children and families to enjoy. The upgraded play space includes new equipment, soft-fall surfaces and improved landscaping, creating a bright, safe area for play. With more comfortable places to sit and relax, it is set to be a favourite place for the community to meet and spend quality time outdoors.

Botany Aquatic Centre Update Tindale Reserve

Construction is underway on the Botany Aquatic Centre redevelopment, marking the next chapter for this much-loved community facility.

The upgraded hub will feature a 50-metre outdoor competition pool, a 25-metre indoor lap pool and an indoor learn-to-swim pool, supporting year-round swimming, lessons and programs. Families can look forward to slides, a new splash pad, improved amenities, a café and accessible adult change facilities, all designed to make the centre more welcoming and inclusive.

The project is on track for the Botany Aquatic Centre to reopen in time for the 2027-28 summer season.

Rockdale Netball Courts

Council has upgraded the existing grass netball courts on the southern side of Muddy Creek at West Botany Street, Rockdale to new asphalt acrylic surface courts, offering a more durable and consistent playing experience.

Supported by a Level Playing Field State Government Grant, this project is part of ongoing work to improve community sports facilities and create more inclusive environments for women and girls to participate, play and stay active.

L’Estrange Park

Upgrades to the playspace at L’Estrange Park are progressing well and the park is expected to reopen at the end of July.

The improvements, including new play equipment for children aged 2 to 6 as well new park furniture, have been designed to meet the needs of the local community and ensure the playspace is more inclusive.

Grant Funding for Bushland Restoration

Gardens for Wildlife

Gardens for Wildlife is a free program that helps Bayside residents transform their gardens into welcoming homes for native plants and animals.

It connects participants with trained Garden Guides who offer personalised advice, a simple habitat plan and native plant suggestions, registered households will also receive two free local native plants from IndigiGrow Nursery.

A $120,000 grant from the NSW Government’s Metropolitan Greenspace Program is supporting on-ground improvements in key bushland areas at Scarborough Park, Sir Joseph Banks Park and Bardwell Valley. The funding will go towards weed removal, native planting and habitat restoration to strengthen these green spaces for the community.

Project Planet

Project Planet will return to Cahill Park, Wolli Creek in October, bringing the community together for a day of practical, everyday ways to live more sustainably.

With interactive workshops, panel talks and a lively marketplace of eco-friendly stalls, the relaxed, family-friendly event will offer simple ideas to reduce waste, save energy and care for our local environment.

What’s On

THU 30 JULY

Creative Industries Forum

10am – 5pm Botany Town Hall

FRI 14 AUG

Australian Poetry Slam Workshop

6pm – 8pm

Sans Souci Library

FRI 21 AUG

Australian Poetry Slam Heats

Doors open and poet sign-up is at 5:30pm for:

6pm – 8pm

Sans Souci Library

SAT 5 SEP

Spring Fair

Community performances, market stalls, food, a petting zoo and a free movie.

11am – 7pm

Jack Mundey Reserve Eastlakes

SAT 12 SEP

Reuse and Repair

10am - 5pm

Alf Kay Eastlakes Community Centre

SAT 17 OCT

Project planet

10am - 4pm

Cahill Park, Wolli Creek

SAT 31 OCT

Bayside Food & Wine

The Bayside Food & Wine Festival is back! Enjoy local wines, spirits, craft beers, delicious food, music and live cooking demonstrations by Manu and Clarissa Feildel.

11am –9pm

Mascot Memorial Park Mascot

For more information visit Council’s What’s On webpage.

Provide your feedback on Council’s upcoming projects and initiatives. A vibrant online hub showcasing the creative talent of Bayside