Bayside Council has announced a record $70 million infrastructure investment as part of its Operational Plan and Budget for 2025–26, endorsed at Wednesday night’s Council meeting.
This landmark commitment will deliver a number of transformative projects that will enhance liveability, connectivity, sustainability, and community wellbeing across the Bayside Local Government Area.
The $70 million investment in the 2025/26 financial year will be distributed across a wide range of infrastructure categories.
Close to $15.6 million will be spent on roads and transport with funding allocated for a road renewal program, car park upgrades, footpath rehabilitation, cycleways and cycle links, bus shelters and seats and other transport-related improvements.
Works on the Botany Aquatic Centre redevelopment in the 2025-26 financial year will account for $25 million of the total budget, while open spaces will receive nearly $9.6 million, supporting playspace renewals and designs, park refurbishments and upgrades, lighting upgrades, new recreational facilities and the upcoming Sir Joseph Banks Pump Track project.
Buildings and property upgrades will be funded with $5.3 million, including works on community hubs, libraries, public toilets and car parks with exciting projects such as The Boulevarde Car Park, Le Beach Hut and Arncliffe Community Hub. While beach and waterway projects such as foreshore upgrades, seawall repairs and groyne restoration, will receive $750,000.
Libraries and IT infrastructure will receive close to $1 million, enabling the purchase of new library resources and the installation of CCTV and communications systems in Mascot and along the foreshore. Town centre upgrades in Banksia, Bardwell Park and Rockdale will be funded with $490,000.
Council will invest $8.8 million in plant, fleet and equipment, including heavy plant purchases, motor vehicles, waste management tools and a portable solar deployment camera project. Stormwater and drainage improvements will be supported with $1.65 million, targeting stormwater drainage renewal, pipe rehabilitation and drainage upgrades.
Finally, $1.57 million will be allocated to asset planning and systems, including funding for the Spring Creek Naturalisations project, several master plans, conservation strategies and site inspections.
The newly endorsed Operational Plan and Budget for 2025-26 includes ten major projects, known as Council’s Ten Bold Moves that will deliver long-term benefits for residents.
These include the redevelopment of the Botany Aquatic Centre, which will feature a range of state-of-the-art facilities including new indoor and outdoor pools, a splash pad, gym, amenities, and landscaped areas to serve the community.
The Boulevarde Car Park in Brighton Le Sands will be transformed into a multi-level facility that includes a community hub and library, enhancing parking space while delivering more for the community.
A new Arncliffe Community Hub will be delivered through a Voluntary Planning Agreement, providing a collaborative space for learning, creativity and connection within a residential building.
Mascot Oval is set to undergo an upgrade in two stages with new grandstands, changerooms, landscaping, and lighting to provide impressive sporting facilities for residents.
The Kamay Greenway Active Transport Corridor will link Scarborough Park to Sans Souci, while the Arncliffe and Banksia to Barton Active Transport Corridor will improve pedestrian and cycling access across the area.
Sir Joseph Banks Park will receive new amenities, car park upgrades, landscaping, and an exciting new pump track while the Spring Creek Naturalisation Project will rehabilitate concrete channels and wetlands to improve waterway health and biodiversity.
The Rockdale Centre Masterplan aims to revitalise the city centre and public spaces, and the Le Beach Hut at Dolls Point will be refurbished to include a café, public amenities and outdoor dining.
Bayside Mayor Edward McDougall said
“This landmark commitment to infrastructure is not just about bricks and mortar - it’s about creating vibrant spaces where our community can thrive,” Mayor McDougall said.
“From upgraded aquatic centres and sporting precincts to new community hubs and green corridors, these projects will shape the future of Bayside for generations to come”
“These works will help activate our suburbs, connect our multicultural communities, and create spaces where people feel safe, welcome and inspired.
“We’re proud to be investing in the future while continuing to deliver the services our community relies on every day.”