Member for Coogee

Discover One Bright Pearl in Blackburn Gardens

If you’re visiting Murray Rose Pool during summer, be sure to check out new sculpture One Bright Pearl, located in Blackburn Gardens outside the Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf.

Created by internationally renowned artist Lindy Lee, the work is a 260kg mirrorpolished stainless steel sculpture, measuring 2m in diameter. During the day, the sculpture absorbs and reflects its surrounds, while it is just as striking at night thanks to internal lighting.

One Bright Pearl reflects on new beginnings and modern migration, and is symbolic of the diversity of Woollahra’s community,

The work was selected by Woollahra Council’s Public Art Panel and is the most significant commission by Woollahra Council, with principal support from The Carla Zampatti Foundation and other commission donors.

Learn more about the sculpture and other pieces of public art in the Woollahra LGA at woollahra.nsw.gov.au/community/arts_

and_culture.

Service requests

Woollahra Council Chambers in Double Bay reopens on Tues Jan 3, 2023. Please call us on 9391 7000 or log a service request anywhere, anytime via the Woollahra Council App.

Real/organic Christmas trees can be left out for collection next to your green waste bin on your regular service day until Jan 31. Visit woollahra.nsw.gov.au/services for further details.

School holidays activities

We are running a number of fun events for kids these school holidays, including creative craft workshops, games, movies and more. Head to woollahra.nsw.gov.au/ schoolholidays for details on all activities and events and to book.

Summer reading challenge

Woollahra Libraries' Build a Better World Summer Reading Challenge is open to kids 0-12 years old. To get involved, visit Double Bay, Paddington or Watsons Bay libraries to register and collect your Summer Reading Club booklet. Some great prizes are up for grabs.

Sydney WorldPride

The countdown is on to Sydney WorldPride 2023 (Feb 17 to Mar 5), a once-in-a-lifetime global festival encompassing the muchloved annual events of Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, plus many never seen before events.

Sydney WorldPride will be the first to be held in the southern hemisphere and will celebrate our LGBTQIA+ community and showcase the beautiful diversity of Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. On Mar 4, Bondi will be hosting one of the key Sydney WorldPride events, the Bondi Beach Party, from 3-10pm, with performances by Nicole Scherzinger and an all-Australian DJ line-up. Sydney WorldPride is working closely with NSW Government, Waverley Council, NSW Police, Transport for NSW and other government stakeholders to deliver this event to minimise impacts on residents, businesses and road users.

Another exciting local event is The Air is Electricphotography exhibition – presented as part of Sydney WorldPride’s curated artistic program – in partnership with the Australian Queer Archives and Waverley Council at Bondi Pavilion Gallery from Feb 10 to Mar 26. Waverley Council is presenting more performing arts and community events at the Pav and Waverley Library as part of Pride Amplified. Details:

sydneyworldpride.com

Bondi Junction Cycleway and Streetscape Upgrade

The final section of cycleway along Oxford St, west of St James Rd, became operational in Dec and up to 6000 trips are being made along the route each week. The Bondi Junction Cycleway and Streetscape Upgrade is a priority project of the Council’s Complete Streets plan to enhance the vibrancy of the Bondi Junction CBD, making it a more beautiful place to live, visit and do business.

Float to Survive

We’re continuing to promote the Float to Survive message with Randwick City Council to help reduce drownings in Australia. Our Float to Survive pilot water safety campaign promotes floating as the best chance of survival for swimmers who get into trouble in the water and is being delivered in partnership with the University of NSW Beach Safety Research Group this summer. See the beaches section of our website for an instructional video on how to Float to Survive.

Bondi Pavilion

The Pav continues to delight this summer with exciting live events and activities and the much-anticipated arrival of our café and dining tenants Glory Days, Bondi Promenade and Surfish. Find new events each week at the What’s On page at

bondipavilion.com.au

Council to investigate hosting Matildas live site

Following the success of the Australia V Argentina football live site at Maroubra Beach, Council will now investigate the potential to hold more live screened sporting and other events. This could include the 2024 Olympics and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup which is being held from July 20 to Aug 20 in Australia and New Zealand. Council staff will investigate options and costs and bring a report back to Council.

Council adopts Disability Inclusion Action Plan

A four-year plan to improve access for people with disabilities is now in effect after Council adopted a Disability Inclusion Action Plan. The plan outlines a range of actions Council will take to make out streets, parks and beaches equally accessible to everyone regardless of ability.

Renters to be notified about DAs

Renters will now be notified via mail about development applications near them as part of changes contained in Council’s new Community Engagement Strategy. As part of the new strategy, minimum public exhibition periods have been set for all Council projects and regular Let’s Chat drop-in events will be held across the City.

Visionary plans for Maroubra Junction

A 20-year masterplan to guide future public domain improvements at Maroubra Junction will soon be put to the community for feedback. The Maroubra Junction Public Domain Masterplan proposes a range of short, medium and long-term actions. Short term actions include new cycleways, tree plantings and kerb widening. While longer term plans involve visionary ideas to transform Anzac Pde into dedicated pedestrian areas and green spaces with travel lanes consolidated or undergrounded. Sign up to www.yoursay. randwick.nsw.gov.au to be notified when this consultation commences.

New Coogee heritage items

Councillors resolved to heritage list three properties in Coogee (11A Marcel Ave and 1 and 3 Berwick St). The proposals were recently publicly exhibited and received general support from the community. The buildings were identified as good examples of interwar art deco bungalows and residential buildings.

Marjorie O'Neill MP

MEMBER FOR COOGEE

Hi Everyone,

As another year draws to a close, whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Chanukah, or just enjoying the chance to relax, reset, and reconnect with loved ones over the New Year break I wish everyone all the best through the upcoming holiday period. I’d like to specially acknowledge the heroes in our public healthcare system who continue to work just as hard during this time in understaffed wards while many of us are enjoying our breaks.

As we make arrangements to catch up with our friends, family, and loved ones over the coming period, I’d like to highlight the importance of remaining vigilant and considerate of the risk COVID-19 still poses, especially to the elderly and immunocompromised in our community. Both locally and statewide cases have more than doubled throughout November and hospitalisations have risen by nearly half. Take full advantage of the warmer weather and host gatherings outdoors where you can, and don’t risk infecting others by going out if you are experiencing symptoms.

I’d also like to acknowledge that for many in our community the holidays can be quite a difficult time, please know that help is available with the NSW Government offering free 24/7 hotlines for mental health (1800 011 511) and domestic violence (1800 65 64 63) assistance.

To keep up to date with local events, COVID numbers, and charity initiatives, use the QR code below to sign up to my weekly email newsletter.

Stay safe and look after each other.

OFFICE CONTACT DETAILS

If you have any issues relating to the NSW Government, or you are not sure where to go to for help, please contact my office on (02) 9398 1822;

coogee@parliament.nsw.gov.au

or visit us at 15/53-55B Frenchmans Rd, Randwick.