From the moment news first broke in mid-August that the Northern Beaches’ Liberal Party aligned candidates would be out of the running for the 14 September local council election – thanks to what can only be described as, excuse my French, un débâcle monumentale – it was clear there’d be many fresh faces amongst the councillors in charge of the nation’s scientifically proven greatest LGA for the next four years. And that’s precisely what residents have voted for.
Moving from south to north then out to the mountains of Frenchs Forest, here’s a rundown of the locals steering our Peninsula from now through to 2028 at the most important level of all, local grassroots.
In the Manly ward: Good for Manly’s Candy Bingham and Your Northern Beaches Independent’s Sarah Grattan retained their seats, while former Deputy Mayor Georgia Ryburn’s position was won by Greens young star Bonnie Harvey.
In the Curl Curl ward: Incumbent Green Kristyn Glanville retained her seat, while Your Northern Beaches Independents picked up two seats, Joeline Hackman and Nicholas Beaugeard successful, with long-serving Liberal councillor David Walton out of the picture.
In the Narrabeen ward: Your Northern Beaches Independent Ruth Robins retained her seat, while Vincent De Luca proved so popular, Narrabeen voters granting a seat apiece to Vincent and his Party running mate, highly experienced former Deputy Mayor of Warringah Council as well as professional Australian tennis player, Robert Giltinan.
In the Pittwater ward: The Greens’ Miranda Korzy retained her seat, while newcomers Sunny Singh, the Liberal Party aligned Narrabeen café owner, and Your Northern Beaches Independent’s Rowie Dillon, both proving popular and winning seats.
Finally, in the Frenchs Forest ward: Mayor Sue Heins of Your Northern Beaches Independent’s Party won her seat, while Party mate Jody Williams proved successful too, alongside the youngest member of Council, Greens’ Ethan Hrnjak, poised to bring his Solarpunk problem solving positivity to Chamber.
After being sworn in, Northern Beaches Council elected Sue Heins as Mayor for a 2-year term until September 2026, with Cr Ruth Robins voted Deputy Mayor for a one-year term. “Being elected Mayor of the area I love once more is a true honour,” Cr Heins said.
“I thank my fellow Councillors for their trust in me as we work together to continue the considerable progress made last term and provide the services and infrastructure our community rely on every day.
“I am thrilled our community has elected 9 women out of 15 councillors and that we are welcoming 8 new faces to the table who will bring fresh ideas and perspectives. We have a duty to protect and enhance all that people love about the Northern Beaches and ensure we manage it carefully to support housing, employment, local business and recreational opportunities while prioritising the protection of our local environment and community services.”