It is both an honour and a privilege to have been elected as Mayor and I will be working closely with Deputy Mayor Heidi Lee Douglas and my fellow Councillors as we continue to serve and deliver across all Bayside.

We also welcome several new Councillors, and this combination of long-serving Councillors and new voices brings a diverse range of perspectives that will better serve our community.

I’d like to thank our incredible Bayside community for their continued contributions to our local area. Without the support and involvement of our residents, none of what we achieve would be possible. My fellow Councillors and I are proud to work alongside you, as we strive to make our community an even better place to live.

I am very pleased that Bayside Council is one of 16 Councils selected for an innovative pilot program run by Transport for NSW that will make it easier for street-based events to be held in Bayside.

Council was successful in receiving a $500,000 grant from Transport for NSW under the Permit, Plug, Play Pilot Program, to identify event-ready streets and deliver long-term cost reductions by streamlining approval processes for temporary road closures.

Street-based events have been shown to transform and re-energise our streets and local centres, stimulating local economies and building community wellbeing.

I am looking forward to working with Council to activate our streets and transport hub precincts.

I am also pleased to announce that our innovative AI Flood Detection and Early Warning System project received an award at the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW 2024 Sustainable Cities Awards on Thursday 10 October.

This award recognises our commitment to using cutting-edge technology to safeguard our community against the effects of climate change.

Bayside was also a finalist in the Overall Sustainable Cities award category.

These awards are a testament to our hard-working staff and help highlight the fact that Council is on the right track.

As Mayor I committed to ensuring that Bayside remains a wonderful place to live, work, and play. If I can assist you with any Council matter, please contact my office at mayor@bayside.nsw.gov.au.

Councillor Edward McDougall
Mayor