Community members came together today (Friday 28 November 2025) to take a united stand against family and domestic violence in Mosman’s fourth annual Walk for Women. 

With representation from Mosman Council, NSW Police, Lifeline, Taronga Zoo, Rotary Club of Mosman, and local domestic and family violence support services, more than 100 people joined the walk in and around Rawson Oval.  

It follows the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 November and comes during a global 16 Days of Activism campaign. 

Attendees gathered after the walk to hear from guest speakers. They included Andrew Ward, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of mental health charity Head Above Water, who shared insights to his organisation’s work in helping boys to make the connection between the male stereotype, and the impact it can have on themselves and others. This is important in helping to reduce the number of domestic violence acts and to improve the mental health and wellness of those impacted. North Shore Police Area Command domestic violence supervisor Sergeant Larissa Ryan also spoke of measures undertaken in the last twelve months to better protect victims of domestic and family violence. 

Read the full media release.

Mosman Art Gallery and The Balnaves Foundation are pleased to announce artist Mitch Cairns as the inaugural recipient of The Neil Balnaves Fellowship.

Valued at $80,000 and in honour of the late Neil Balnaves AO, this is a major initiative to support the development of a significant piece of research or creative endeavour over a two-year period.

Honouring the legacy of Neil Balnaves and his longstanding commitment to Mosman’s place in Australian art history, The Neil Balnaves Fellowship continues the fruitful partnership between the Gallery, the Balnaves family and The Balnaves Foundation. Together they have fostered a rich legacy of collections, commissions, research, education and public engagement.

Cairns will develop and present a new exhibition that connects three sites of artistic and poetic significance: Little Sparta, Ian Hamilton Finlay's garden sculpture in Dunsyre, Scotland; Mosman Art Gallery's Grand Hall; and the Mosman Art Trail, which brings to life The Balnaves Gift – one of Australia’s most important collections of Impressionist and early twentieth-century painting.

This is the first of two Neil Balnaves Fellowships to be awarded. Applications for the second Neil Balnaves Fellowship will open in mid 2027.

Read the full media release. 

A full house was on hand at our recent Dementia Forum to hear from Associate Professor Susanne Roehr discussing the latest science on dementia prevention. 

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released this month (November) show dementia has become the country's leading cause of death. Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, accounted for more than 17,500 deaths, making it the cause of 9.4 per cent of deaths nationwide. Dementia had long been the second-highest cause of death nationally behind ischaemic heart disease, with the two trading places in 2024. 

Mosman’s Dementia Forum heard that removing barriers such as time poverty, unsafe neighbourhoods, and structural inequalities that prevent people from doing things like exercising, sleeping well, and staying socially connected are important in a community and society-wide approach to tackling dementia.  

Even small changes to lifestyle could have a big impact on dementia prevention; it's never too early or too late to start; going for a walk or taking up an enjoyable activity could greatly contribute to dementia prevention. 

Our Community Care team hosts two Dementia Forums each year and offers ongoing programs and services supporting individuals and carers. Find out more. 

Mosman businesses are being encouraged to beautify their shopfront displays as part of the annual Rapt decorating competition. 

The Mosman Council and Mosman Chamber of Commerce initiative is designed to help bring the spirit of Christmas to the area's business and retail precincts.  

Shoppers and pedestrians can enjoy the festive displays while visiting retail, hospitality and services stops around Mosman Village, Avenue Road, Bridgepoint and Mosman Junction.  

This year, members of the public can also vote for their favourite display for the People’s Choice Award. Simply scan the QR code at the chosen business premises to vote.

A judging panel will award first, second and third prizes, along with six commendations. Plus, there’s a participants’ prize draw—giving everyone a chance to win.

Business entries close on Monday 8 December, 12pm, while the People’s Choice voting closes on Thursday 11 December, 12pm.

Visit mosman.nsw.gov.au/rapt to enter your business or vote for your favourite display.

Advocacy on traffic and transport infrastructure to meet the demands of state-led planning reforms was a key focus of the Local Government NSW Annual Conference held in Penrith from 23 to 25 November. 

Mosman and Northern Beaches councils with support from Local Government NSW are calling for long-term, strategic solutions to support increased housing density. 

Mosman Mayor Ann Marie Kimber and Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins provide an update. 

Public comment is invited on the Harbour Trust’s Renewal Project for Middle Head / Gubbuh Gubbuh, located in Headland Park. 

A new headland loop path, demolition of some existing timber buildings and creation of a First Nations garden are features of the proposal, which the Trust has referred to the federal Minister for the Environment and Water to decide whether assessment and approval is required under relevant legislation. 

The deadline for submissions is 5 December. Visit The Harbour Trust website for more information. 

Following, and subject to, the outcome of this process, the Harbour Trust will undertake a further planning assessment and approval process, providing further opportunity for public feedback.  

Council remains aware of a precautionary product recall involving educational sand products commonly used in education and play centres across Australia and sold by major retailers. 

Registered users for the twice-weekly Connections Playgroup held in the Mosman Drill Hall were advised earlier in the week that the recalled product had been safely removed from the premises, with sessions postponed to allow for a full deep clean of the site. 

The organisers for a small number of bookings at the Drill Hall were similarly advised. 

Council continues to follow all Product Safety Australia guidance and advice from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which published the recall notice. 

The supplier of the educational sand products initiated the recall because some batches may contain asbestos. The ACCC has advised that the risk of exposure is low. 

Council continues to follow all available advice, is taking precautions and will advise when the Drill Hall is once again available for regular activities. 

Community members seeking further information can contact 9978 4006. 

Information on the product recall is available from ACCC Product Safety.

Ensuring planning assessments remain transparent, accountable, and environmentally responsible will continue to be a key focus of Mosman’s advocacy on state-led planning changes, following the passage of the Planning System Reforms Bill 2025 through the NSW Parliament. 

It follows Mosman Council’s ongoing advocacy in relation to the Bill, which marks the most significant overhaul in a generation of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, and other components of the State Government’s broader planning reforms. 

Mayor Ann Marie Kimber said the Planning Minister had indicated that there will be broad consultation around the implementation of the latest reforms. 

"We welcome the opportunity to engage directly on the reforms, having been disappointed that there was no detailed community consultation prior to the legislation being enacted. Well-designed density can contribute to the liveability and well-being of communities,” she said. 

“But this needs to be led by the community and meaningful engagement is critical as part of this process.” 

This follows a unanimous resolution from Council's 4 November meeting, noting Mosman’s concern that the Bill reduces local planning control and transparency, increases the risk of corruption in planning processes, and will decrease community input and confidence in planning decisions. 

“We’ve already expressed our concerns to government ministers, our local parliamentarians and peak bodies that these changes weaken environmental and heritage protections,” Mayor Kimber said. 

“While the legislation has now passed, we’ll continue to advocate for genuine community consultation and local government decision making, and planning assessments that are transparent, accountable, and environmentally responsible. 

“Only with such a collaborative and united approach can we meaningfully address the housing crisis in a manner that does not erode what we value about our local areas and the trust our communities have in the planning system,” she said. 

Mosman, alongside other councils, will continue to raise the critical need for timely State Government investment in infrastructure to accommodate housing growth. 

Planning System Reforms Bill 2025   

Key reforms include: 

• Establishing the Development Coordination Authority – a single front door for advice on major projects across NSW government agencies. 
• Enshrining the Housing Delivery Authority in legislation to make sure there is an enduring, state-wide focus on housing delivery. 
• Expanding Complying Development pathways to enable faster approvals for low-impact development. 
• Introducing a new Targeted Assessment Pathway for developments already subject to strategic planning and community consultation. 
• Amending the EP&A Act’s objects to include housing delivery, climate resilience and proportionality for the first time. 
• Replacing more than 100 consultation plans with a single, state-wide Community Participation Plan. 
• Removing unnecessary duplication, including regional planning panels and outdated assessment pathways. 

Source: NSW Government 

The Northern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (NSROC) hosted a forum on 10 November to consider the housing crisis and opportunities for collaboration.

The event brought together Mayors and Councillors from across the region along with The Hon. Paul Scully, NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Local MPs, and industry leaders. Attendees engaged with a panel of experts who provided insights on the planning system from the practitioner, property industry and social housing perspective.

NSROC continued to call for development that preserves heritage, is sustainable, considers traffic impacts and maintains tree canopy. A well-planned built environment allows communities to grow while maintaining their unique character.

NSROC also called for the NSW Government to implement a clear vision for housing through a strategic plan, avoiding ad-hoc, reactive proposals. It asked that increased density be accompanied by affordable housing in perpetuity.

Attendees considered how well-designed density can contribute to the liveability and well-being of communities and discussed the need to ensure that increased density is accompanied by essential infrastructure including schools, green space and waste facilities.

Transport for NSW has advised that temporary access changes will be in place from 6am Saturday 8 November 2025 for citybound drivers using the Falcon Street/Military Road/ Ernest Street southbound on-ramps to the Warringah Freeway, to enable the construction of the final southbound lane and ramp configuration of the freeway. 

This is a critical traffic change for motorists who access the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Cahill Expressway from Military Road, Falcon Street and Ernest Street heading citybound. These temporary changes will be in place for approximately four months and are required to safely set up a new temporary work area south of Falcon Street as part of the Warringah Freeway Upgrade.
 
Please refer the attached notification outlining what motorists can expect and access maps.