community - 2026-05-16

Northern Beaches Council Unveils Record $627 Million Budget Focused on Roads, Paths and Community Infrastructure

The 2025–26 Operational Plan allocates the largest capital works program in the council's history, directing $113 million to roads and transport upgrades and $30 million to footpaths and cycleways across the Northern Beaches

Northern Beaches Council has adopted a record $627 million budget for the 2025–26 financial year, with the largest capital works program in the council's history set to deliver significant improvements to roads, footpaths, cycleways, parks and community facilities across the region. The Operational Plan and Budget, endorsed by councillors, allocates $113 million to roads and transport infrastructure — a figure that reflects sustained community feedback about the need for safer, better-maintained streets. A further $30 million has been directed to footpaths and cycleways, and $21 million to parks and open spaces. Mayor Sue Heins said the budget was shaped by what residents had consistently told the council they valued most. "This is the largest capital works program in our council's history and it's focused on what our community has told us matters most — safer roads, better paths and quality open spaces," she said. The overall budget of $627 million includes $271 million in capital expenditure, representing a major step up in infrastructure investment compared with previous years. The council's total revenue is projected at $356 million, with rates income forming the largest...