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Who Says Retirees Aren’t Pulling Their Weight? They’re Helping Support 485,000 Australian Jobs

By Mark Taylor – Chartered Accountant, Certified Financial Planner and Founding Partner of Stirling Warton Taylor

There’s a curious assumption in Australia that once you’ve retired, your contribution to the economy is largely behind you.

You’ve finished working. You’re collecting your superannuation. And you’re supposedly enjoying the fruits of your working life.

But the numbers tell a rather different story.

New research reveals that spending funded by retirees’ superannuation is expected to reach almost $121 billion across Australia in 2026, supporting more than 485,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

From the local café to the family holiday destination, retirees are helping keep Australian businesses going. And their economic influence is much greater than most people realise.

In NSW alone, superannuation-funded retiree spending is expected to reach approximately $44.5 billion, supporting around 181,100 jobs across the state.

The research, undertaken by ACIL Allen for the Super Members Council, also estimates that $22.7 billion of the national spending goes towards food and drink. So while holidays and leisure activities are part of the picture, much of this economic contribution comes from the ordinary purchases retirees make every week.

The Economic Contribution of Retiree Super Spending

Estimated superannuation-funded retiree spending and full-time equivalent jobs supported in 2026.

$121bn Australia — Spending

485,000+ Australia — Jobs supported

$44.5bn NSW — Spending

181,100 NSW — Jobs supported

Figures are modelled estimates from ACIL Allen research commissioned by the Super Members Council. Employment figures represent full-time equivalent jobs associated with superannuation-funded spending, including direct and domestic supply-chain effects. They describe an economic footprint, not jobs newly created or the number of positions that would disappear without that spending.

Retirement Isn’t the End of Contributing

Of course, the value retirees bring to their communities goes well beyond what they spend.

Many help care for grandchildren, look after ageing relatives, volunteer with community organisations or share skills developed over decades of working. These contributions don’t appear in the superannuation spending figures, but they’re no less important.

What the research reveals is another, often overlooked dimension of retirement: the money Australians have spent years putting aside continues to work its way through the economy long after their working lives have ended.

According to the Super Members Council, superannuation retirement benefits paid in 2025 were more than twice the value of Age Pension payments. The two serve different purposes, and many Australians rely on a combination of superannuation, personal savings and pension entitlements to fund their retirement.

For some, those savings provide the freedom to travel, pursue interests or spend more time with family. For others, they help cover essential expenses, particularly as household costs rise and healthcare needs change.

Not everyone enters retirement with the same financial resources, and the ability to spend more is certainly not a measure of someone’s worth. What matters is that retirement savings can provide greater financial independence while contributing to the businesses and communities around us.

With around 17 million Australians relying on the superannuation system, according to the Super Members Council, maintaining its long-term strength matters to both today’s retirees and those who will follow them.

The Retirement Date We Don’t Always Get to Choose

While the research offers an encouraging picture of retirees’ contribution to the economy, it also raises a practical question for those of us still working: how prepared are we for the day our regular income stops?

Most people have some idea of when they would like to retire. Perhaps it’s after the mortgage is paid off, the children have become financially independent or a particular savings target has been reached.

Unfortunately, life doesn’t always cooperate with those plans.

Health concerns, family responsibilities, employment changes or business circumstances can bring retirement forward, sometimes years earlier than expected.

In my work with investors, I’ve seen why planning ahead can make such a difference. Leaving retirement decisions until the final year or two of working life may limit the opportunities available to adjust investment arrangements, build savings or prepare for a change in income.

And planning involves considerably more than working towards a particular superannuation balance.

It means thinking about the income you’ll need, how your savings are invested, what happens if circumstances change and whether your arrangements can support a retirement that may last 20 or 30 years.

For some families, those considerations extend beyond their own retirement. They also want to understand how the wealth they’ve accumulated might eventually benefit their children or other loved ones.

The earlier these conversations begin, the more time there is to consider the options, seek appropriate advice and make informed decisions.

Making Retirement Savings Work for You

A good financial planning partner listens to investors’ needs and work with them on strategies designed around their longer-term financial objectives.

Our services include assistance with self-managed superannuation fund (SMSF) administration and compliance, tailored investment strategies, investment planning that takes account of tax considerations, and tailored estate planning.

For some investors, an SMSF may be worth considering because it allows greater involvement in decisions about how retirement savings are invested. This flexibility can be particularly relevant where people have specific investment preferences or more complex family wealth and succession-planning considerations.

However, greater control also brings greater responsibility. SMSF trustees remain legally accountable for their fund’s compliance obligations and investment strategy, even when they engage professional advisers. Establishment and ongoing costs must also be considered, and the structure is not necessarily appropriate for everyone.

“One of the advantages of an SMSF is the opportunity to plan for the family’s financial future across generations. An SMSF can have up to six members, so parents and adult children may be able to participate in the same fund, with appropriate strategies for retirement income and succession planning,” Mark Taylor of SWT says.

“There are also legal protections that may apply to superannuation assets in certain circumstances, including bankruptcy, although these are not absolute. Careful planning is important, particularly when considering how superannuation benefits will be distributed after a member’s death and the potential tax consequences for beneficiaries,” he added.

Costs are another important consideration. Investors need to understand what they’re paying for, what services are included and whether the arrangement remains appropriate as their circumstances change.

The right approach isn’t necessarily the one offering the greatest number of investment choices or the lowest advertised fee. It is the one that appropriately balances costs, responsibilities, professional support and the investor’s longer-term needs.

“We’ve spent 30 years refining our systems to make SMSF administration and compliance as streamlined as possible. That efficiency allows us to offer fixed pricing for compliance services, with clients receiving their annual financial statements, tax returns and statutory documentation as part of a complete package. Our aim is to make the ongoing administration of an SMSF straightforward and cost-effective, so trustees can meet their obligations without unnecessary complexity,” Mark explains.

A Contribution That Continues Long After Work Ends

The latest research is a useful reminder that retirement isn’t simply the end of someone’s working life. It is another stage in which the savings accumulated over many years can help support personal wellbeing, families, businesses and the wider community.

The estimated $121 billion in superannuation-funded spending is impressive, but behind that figure are millions of individual decisions about saving, investing and preparing for the future.

For Australians who are still working, the lesson is straightforward. The earlier we begin thinking seriously about retirement, the more opportunity we have to prepare for the lifestyle we hope to enjoy and the financial responsibilities we may need to meet.

After all, retiring from work doesn’t mean retiring from life — or from making a contribution.

Published 13-October-2026

About Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor is a founding partner of Stirling Warton Taylor and a Certified Financial Planner. He has more than 30 years’ experience as a tax agent and specialises in business services, taxation, superannuation and retirement strategies. Mark has also assisted Treasury and the Australian Taxation Office on superannuation policy.

Not sure where to start?

Stirling Warton Taylor (SWT) helps clients make sense of retirement planning, superannuation, taxation and investment decisions, with advice tailored to individual circumstances.

If you’re thinking about retirement but aren’t sure what your next step should be, you can provide some initial information to SWT and request further contact.

QR code to request contact from Stirling Warton Taylor

Scan the QR code to request a conversation with SWT or click here.

Authorised to provide investment advice to wholesale investors. Representative No. 1283343.

This column is for general information only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider your own circumstances and seek professional advice before making financial decisions.

Maroubra Fun Run Brings Race Entries and Free Oktoberfest to South Maroubra

Photo Credit: FB/Maroubra Fun Run & Oktoberfest

The Maroubra fun run returns on Sunday, 25 October 2026. Arthur Byrne Reserve will host the event beside the South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club. Runners, walkers and families will start the day there from 7.30am.

The event website says people can run, walk or wheel to the finish. That keeps the day open to a wide range of locals. It also gives the Maroubra fun run a practical, community-minded feel.

The race and Oktoberfest together make up the full day. The council listing notes food, entertainment and family fun will also be part of the program. That mix gives residents more than one reason to stop by.

Entry options for locals and school groups

Online entry is already open. The website says prices are lower before 5pm on Saturday, 24 October. After that, the cost rises. Online registration remains open until 9am on race morning.

Photo Credit: FB/Maroubra Fun Run & Oktoberfest

There is also a Family Pass. It covers two adults and up to four children in the same household for $100. The organisers say a minimum of four people is needed for that option.

Teams can also take part. Open teams can enter the 8km run, 4km run or 4km walk. Primary school and high school teams can enter the 4km run. That gives the Maroubra fun run a clear local school and family focus.

Bib and timer collection runs from 7.30am to 9am on race day. The organisers ask late entrants to arrive early. They say bib processing can take longer close to the start.

Oktoberfest adds a free community finish

Oktoberfest runs alongside the fun run, and entry is free. That opens the day to people who may not want to race. It also gives families a simple way to stay on after the run.

The organisers say trophies and prizes will go to individuals, teams and schools. Every participant will also receive a certificate. Those details may seem small, but they help mark the day for first-time runners and younger entrants.

The event’s website says the day is organised by non-profit community groups and volunteers. It also asks entrants to use online registration where possible. That is a reminder that this event relies on local support.

For Maroubra, the Maroubra fun run is a familiar fixture on the spring calendar. It brings together fitness, school groups, stalls and community activity in one place. And once again, Arthur Byrne Reserve will be the centre of it all.

Published 15-October-2026

Snape Park Upgrade Moves From Plans to Work On Site

Photo Credit: Randwick City Council

For years, the Snape Park upgrade has been one of those projects locals hear about, then wait for again. That wait now looks closer to ending. Randwick City Council’s project page, updated on 1 October, says construction is expected to begin in October 2026. It is a small line on a council page, but it matters. It means the Snape Park upgrade has moved out of the planning drawer and into a real delivery window.

Council is targeting mid-2027 for completion. That gives the project a fairly clear shape after years of design work, consultation and revisions. For Maroubra residents, the key point is simple. The first real works are nearly on the horizon.

The first changes will be the useful ones

This first stage is not about flash. It is about fixing what people actually use. Council says the project will deliver a new amenities building and a new carpark. The existing amenities and change room buildings are set to come down and be replaced.

Artist impression of the new Snape Park amenities building (view from playing fields looking south west) Photo Credit: Randwick City Council

The new building will include change rooms, public toilets, a canteen and sports club storage. Council also lists accessible paths and bicycle parking. Those may not sound dramatic, but they are the parts that make a park easier to use from the moment people arrive.

There will also be landscaping, CCTV and sensor lighting. In other words, the park should feel more finished, more usable and a bit safer after dark. Council also wants better links between sport, recreation and community facilities. That is the kind of planning language that can sound dull on paper, but it usually means people can move around the site more easily and make better use of it.

A project with more chapters still ahead

It is worth separating what is happening now from what might come later. The current works cover stage one. Future stages could include an indoor cricket and rugby training facility, but those ideas are still subject to separate consultation. So they are not part of this construction window.

Artist impression of the new Snape Park amenities building (view from Storey Street looking north east) Photo Credit: Randwick City Council

That is an important distinction. Locals are not being asked to imagine the whole park finished at once. Instead, the first step is the amenities building and the carpark, with the rest to follow only if Council moves ahead later on. That approach is slower, but it is also clearer.

Council says access to sporting fields will be maintained during construction. Temporary facilities will also be provided while work is underway. That should help, although anyone who has lived near a major upgrade knows there is always some disruption. Council says it will give advance notice of significant construction activity and any temporary access changes.

A familiar project finally shifts gears

The Snape Park upgrade has been discussed long enough for many locals to assume it might sit around forever. Now it has a start month and a finish target. That alone makes this update worth noting. The project is still only at the point of getting started, but at least it is started on paper in a way it was not before.

Published 14-October-2026

Maroubra Café Billy’s Bar Espresso Named Cafe of the Year for Fast Service and Community Spirit

Photo Credit: Billy’s Bar Espresso/ Facebook

Billy’s Bar Espresso in Maroubra has been named Cafe of the Year by the Local Business Awards, with fast service and a strong community feel behind the win, according to background material supplied about the café.

What Set It Apart

Speed and neighbourliness were the standout points in the recognition. The café’s own message is simple: it wants to be a place locals use every day, whether that means a quick takeaway on the way to work, a business lunch or a relaxed weekend brunch with the family. Owner Billy Toskas runs the business with his wife, and their three sons help out, according to a 2024 BeanScene profile. The awarding body, region and year have not been independently confirmed.

Your Coffee, Your Call

How strong do you like it? How creamy? Hot enough to burn, or cool enough to gulp? The team wants to hear it all. Toskas is fussy about his own coffee and drinks several cups a day, so he knows his taste may not match yours. Customers are asked to speak up, and the baristas do the rest.

Those baristas are at work in the early hours, well before most of the suburb is up, and the café says they make hundreds of coffees a day. It also serves The Maroubra Blend, a house coffee made for the shop by Paradox Coffee Roasters. BeanScene reported in 2024 that the two businesses have worked together since 2019.

A Menu That Runs All Day

Chai lattes, frappes and cold brews sit alongside protein shakes called the Spartan and the Zeus. The café says regulars rate its mocha among the best around.

Breakfast is a big deal here. The Big Brekky loads a plate with eggs, bacon, chorizo, haloumi, mushroom, tomato and a hash brown. There is also a Brekky Burger and a French toast built around sweet knefeh cheese, finished with rose water and pistachios. Later in the day, the lineup turns to gourmet burgers, including a Portuguese Chicken Burger, and protein bowls. The house carrot cake gets plenty of praise too. Menu items may change, so check with the café before you go.

Casual by Design

You won’t find fussy styling here. The café describes itself as a relaxed, easygoing spot and says that is deliberate. It aims to make every visit feel good enough to remember.

Visiting Billy’s

Billy’s Bar Espresso is at Shop 3, Pacific Square, 737 Anzac Parade, Maroubra, New South Wales. The café has been trading since 2007. Hours run from early morning to 6 p.m. and can vary by day, so it is worth checking before you visit.

Published Date 13-October-2026

Maroubra Guinness Record Breaker Jaxon Italiano Lands Second World Title

A musician with strong links to Maroubra has returned to the Guinness World Records books, four years after completing 8,008 pull-ups in a marathon challenge celebrated by a local gym.

Jaxon Italiano and fellow Fathom musician Cate Guirguis completed nine concerts across nine cities in 12 hours on 12 September 2026, travelling from Singleton to Canberra. Guinness World Records now recognises the pair as the holders of the record for the most concerts performed in 12 hours across multiple cities.

Maroubra knew him first for 8,008 pull-ups

Italiano’s latest record follows an earlier endurance feat that had a direct Maroubra connection.

Snap Fitness Maroubra publicly congratulated Italiano in 2022 after he completed 8,008 pull-ups in 24 hours, with photographs from the event showing him at the gym alongside Dementia Australia signage and the final repetition count displayed behind him.

Guinness World Records later confirmed Italiano had surpassed the previous mark of 7,715 pull-ups. He undertook the challenge while raising money for Dementia Australia after previously working in aged care and encountering dementia through that work.

His fundraising page set a target of $8,008 — one dollar for every pull-up he hoped to complete. The campaign ultimately raised $8,782 for Dementia Australia. The combination of physical endurance and fundraising would later reappear in a very different record attempt.

A second record moved from the gym to the stage

Four years later, Italiano exchanged the pull-up bar for keyboards as he and Guirguis attempted a music record with Fathom.

Their September route took them through Singleton, Newcastle, Gosford, Sydney, Penrith, Lithgow, Bathurst and Goulburn before the final performance in Canberra. Guinness officially records nine concerts completed within the 12-hour period.

The challenge required each concert to last at least 15 minutes, with venues separated by at least 50 kilometres. Road travel was combined with helicopter and aircraft transfers to fit the performances into the available time.

Delays began mounting later in the day. Fathom’s account says a helicopter transfer from Penrith was held up while the scheduled pilot was assisting with bushfires, while Italiano left his keyboard power cable behind and could not play the instrument during the next three performances.

A problem with an aircraft at Bathurst forced another change of plans before the musicians continued through Goulburn to Canberra. They finished their ninth concert with about 15 seconds remaining.

Charity remained part of the challenge

The new record also carried a fundraising purpose. Guinness World Records says Italiano and Guirguis attempted the nine-concert run to raise money for mental-health support while encouraging greater involvement in Sydney’s live-music culture.

Fathom reported more than $2,900 raised directly for Beyond Blue at the time of its release. Half of ticket proceeds from the tour were also allocated to Beyond Blue, with the remaining half going to supporting bands.

Record day also brought a new release

Fathom released Record Breakers on 12 September, the same day as the nine-show challenge. The song was released alongside the record attempt rather than after the result was confirmed.

A free Sydney performance is scheduled at The Lansdowne in Chippendale on 14 October, with Fathom appearing alongside Flyss, DAC Flow and Stereobuss.

Published 7-Oct-2026

Maroubra Lifesavers Return to Patrol as Little Bay AI Cameras Monitor Coastal Dangers

Photo Credit: Surf Life Saving NSW/Facebook

Maroubra’s volunteer surf lifesavers have returned to patrol as a nearby artificial intelligence camera trial at Little Bay continues to monitor dangerous rock fishing platforms, adding another layer of coastal safety protection ahead of summer.

The 2026–27 patrol season began on Saturday 26 September with a flag-raising ceremony at Maroubra Beach, attended by surf lifesavers, Nippers and NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib. Volunteer patrols operate on weekends and public holidays until 26 April 2027.

Maroubra and South Maroubra surf lifesaving clubs are among 129 clubs participating in the statewide season. Both beaches, along with Little Bay, are also included in the expanded daily shark drone surveillance programme, which operates separately from volunteer patrols.

The season began against a troubling record of coastal drownings. By late September, nine people had drowned along the NSW coastline since 1 July 2026, including a swimmer at unpatrolled Marley Beach south of Cronulla. The previous financial year recorded 60 coastal and ocean drowning deaths, all occurring outside patrolled areas or away from lifesaving services.

Little Bay cameras detect coastal emergencies

Little Bay is one of two NSW locations taking part in a 14-month trial of Surveillance AI for Lifesaving (SAIL), a camera-based system designed to identify people swept from rock platforms into the ocean. The other trial site is Kiama Blowhole, with the project scheduled to conclude in November 2026.

The cameras capture video feeds analysed by artificial intelligence. When a possible emergency is detected with high confidence, the system alerts Surf Life Saving NSW’s State Operations Centre, where operators can assess the footage and coordinate an appropriate rescue response.

Little Bay’s inclusion follows eight rock fishing drowning deaths across the Randwick local government area during the decade preceding November 2025, five of them at Little Bay. The location’s exposed rock platforms and history of emergencies contributed to its selection for the trial.

The technology has already assisted in a rescue near Malabar, where cameras detected two fishermen being swept into the water during a heavy swell. According to Surf Life Saving NSW, a rescue jet ski was dispatched and both men, who were wearing lifejackets, were brought to safety.

Rock fishing deaths drive local safety measures

Other safety initiatives have focused on access to lifejackets and education for people fishing along Randwick’s coastline.

A free lifejacket borrowing trial began at Des Renford Leisure Centre in Maroubra in May 2026, providing equipment for rock fishers visiting nearby coastal locations. The programme was originally scheduled to conclude on 30 June, followed by a review.

Randwick City Council reported 24 rock fishing deaths across the local government area over the preceding 25 years. Wearing a lifejacket while rock fishing is mandatory throughout the area, with fishers also advised to check swell conditions, use non-slip footwear and avoid fishing alone.

Surf Life Saving NSW has also expanded its Gone Fishing education programme, targeting communities at greater risk of rock fishing accidents. A workshop was held at Little Bay in September, with further sessions scheduled across NSW through March 2027.

Volunteer ranks grow ahead of summer

Surf Life Saving NSW enters the season with 22,123 active patrolling volunteers, an increase of two per cent from the previous year. Total membership reached 86,456, including 31,023 junior Nippers.

*Photo Credit: Surf Life Saving NSW/Facebook*

Organisation president Elissa Hancock said the growing volunteer workforce was preparing for a demanding summer, with increased beach attendance expected to place pressure on coastal safety services.

Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said the government was continuing to support lifesavers through investment in rescue equipment and technology. He urged swimmers to follow safety advice and remain between the red and yellow flags.

Beachgoers can check patrol locations and coastal conditions through Beachsafe.

Published 1-Oct-2026

Mahon Pool at 90: The Maroubra Story Behind A Name In The Water

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Ninety years after the Maroubra Bay Progress Association asked for a new ocean pool to carry Patrick Mahon’s name, swimmers still descend the steps below Jack Vanny Reserve to the stretch of coastline he helped improve.

Mahon never saw the project finished. The Randwick alderman died in 1935 while the rock pool was still taking shape, after supporting plans to turn a natural bathing spot at northern Maroubra into a safer and more accessible swimming place.

Mahon Pool — *Photo Credit: Google Maps*

From Rock Platform To Ocean Pool

Maroubra swimmers had already been using the natural rock formations at the northern end of the beach when plans emerged for a formal pool. Mahon became one of the strongest supporters of the proposal and sought the workers and materials needed to carry it out.

Archival reporting records Randwick Council receiving correspondence from NSW Minister for Labour and Industry John Dunningham about the possibility of constructing a rock swimming pool at Maroubra. Mahon then moved for a council deputation to seek materials and workers for the project, and the proposal was adopted.

The Rock Pool — *Photo Credit: RandwickCityCouncil*

The pool was developed during the Depression, when public works were also providing employment. Mahon pursued broader improvements along the foreshore and beach reserves, including a proposal seeking £13,500 a year for seven years for coastal works.

His efforts were not confined to the shoreline. Mahon also supported improved conditions for outdoor council workers, additional land for Randwick General Cemetery and better services for families living in the Long Bay Camps. He also backed shark protection measures at Coogee and Maroubra.

*Caption: A painting of Mahon Pool by Brother John Mahon.*
*Photo Credit: RandwickCityCouncil*

Mahon attended a special council meeting on 27 August 1935 where unemployment relief funding and beach works were among the matters considered. By the next regular meeting on 3 September, the 43-year-old had died after collapsing during a council meeting and later dying in hospital.

His son, Brother John Mahon, later recorded that his father had been in declining health and died from kidney failure. Patrick Mahon left his wife Ellen and nine children, with friends and former colleagues helping the family through the difficult period that followed. Council also established a community fund to assist them.

Maroubra Gave The Pool His Name

Mahon was buried at Botany Cemetery on 4 September 1935, with Father Fitzpatrick officiating at the graveside. Relatives, council representatives, union members and other people connected with his work attended the funeral.

Six months later, Maroubra residents moved to preserve his connection with the unfinished swimming pool. On 3 March 1936, the Maroubra Bay Progress Association asked that the bathing pool at the foot of Torrington Road be named the Mahon Memorial Pool. Randwick Council agreed later that month.

*Caption: Brother John Mahon.*
*Photo Credit: RandwickCityCouncil*

Construction took place across 1935 and 1936 around the existing natural swimming area. Unlike a conventional aquatic centre, Mahon Pool retained much of the character of its coastal setting, with direct seawater, a sandy and rocky floor and waves able to wash over its seaward edge.

Generations of swimmers have since used the pool. The Maroubra Seals Winter Swimming Club has held Sunday handicap races and social gatherings there for decades, while athletes have also used the water for training.

Its exposed position has brought an ongoing cycle of maintenance and repair. New amenities were completed in 2019, while severe winter storms in 2020 sent a large boulder into the pool, requiring machinery to break it up and remove it. Entry stairs and balustrades were upgraded and the pool resurfaced in 2025.

Mahon Pool remains free and unpatrolled, with tides, swell and marine conditions affecting the water from day to day. Cleaning is generally scheduled for Wednesdays.

Ninety years after the Maroubra Bay Progress Association secured Patrick Mahon’s name for the pool, it remains part of the suburb’s everyday coastline — still used for early swims, winter races, training sessions and time in the water.

Published 30-September-2026

Maroubra’s Masked Lapwing Family Faces Another Lost Breeding Season

Photo Credit: Wikipedia/Charles J. Sharp/CC BY-SA 4.0

A pair of masked lapwings has returned to a North Maroubra headland for a third consecutive breeding season, drawing local attention to the birds’ recurring struggles to raise their young.

Two chicks hatched in early September at Jack Vanny Reserve, above Mahon Pool. The newly hatched birds moved across the open ground while the adult pair defended them, swooping people, dogs and drones that ventured too close. Community members monitored the family, and WIRES volunteers installed signs around the nesting area advising owners to keep dogs leashed.

About a week after they were first observed, both chicks disappeared. Local residents following the family’s progress could no longer find the young birds, while a local WIRES volunteer also reported not having seen them. The parent birds disappeared from the headland for a time before returning without their young.

The fate of the two chicks remains unknown. Dogs, cats, foxes, birds of prey, vehicles and the surrounding cliffs were among the hazards identified around the nesting site, but no cause for their disappearance has been established. Previous breeding attempts at the site also failed to produce surviving young, with some chicks from earlier seasons reportedly struck by vehicles on the nearby road.

Ground Nesting Meets Coastal Activity

Masked lapwings, also known as spur-winged plovers, inhabit open grasslands, mudflats and coastal areas, but are also common in urban settings including playing fields and parklands.

Jack Vanny Reserve combines open grassed and rocky areas on Marine Parade, with a car park, scenic lookout and the Eastern Beaches Coastal Walk. Masked lapwings build simple scrape nests on the ground, often away from ground cover.

Chicks can leave the nest and feed themselves within hours of hatching, while both parents continue to guard and care for them. Their early mobility can take them beyond the immediate nest site while they are still being protected by the adults.

*Photo Credit: Wikipedia/Benjamint444/GFDL 1.2*

Parent lapwings become particularly defensive around eggs and young, using alarm calls and swooping to deter perceived threats. At Jack Vanny Reserve, the pair swooped people approaching the area while the chicks were present. After returning without their young, the adults were reported to move away from passers-by instead.

Native birds are protected in NSW under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016. NSW environmental authorities say it is an offence to harm, kill or remove protected native animals without appropriate authority.

Off-Leash Concerns Predate Nesting

Randwick Council requires dogs to remain leashed outside designated off-leash areas and lists 17 leash-free locations across the city. Jack Vanny Reserve is not among those designated areas, while dogs are prohibited at rock pools including Mahon Pool.

Concerns about off-leash dogs at Jack Vanny Reserve predate the latest nesting attempt. A Council consultation report on the Muraborah Reserve off-leash proposal recorded requests for greater enforcement around Maroubra, with Jack Vanny Reserve among the locations specifically identified. The report said those comments would be passed to Council’s Ranger Services.

A recent Maroubra community post highlighted the pair’s repeated breeding attempts and expressed hope that community and Council support could give future chicks a better chance. If the pair returns to Jack Vanny Reserve next spring, Council rules require dogs to remain leashed, while wildlife guidance recommends giving nesting lapwings and their chicks plenty of space.

Published 30-Sept-2026

Overfilled Green Bin Causes Service Rejection in Maroubra

Photo Credit: RandwickCC/Facebook

It is a classic high-density living nightmare: one neighbour’s shortcut turns into an entire building’s collective headache. Residents of a Maroubra townhouse complex are currently counting down the days until their next waste cycle after a fellow occupant packed their shared green bin past breaking point, triggering an immediate rejection from passing council garbage trucks.

Standing tall inside the bin was a thick tangle of branches and twigs jutting nearly a metre into the air. The lid hovered completely open, creating a glaring violation of local collection standards that collection trucks simply passed by.

One neighbour’s pruning spree leaves a whole complex stranded

The oversized garden waste left the complex stranded without a green bin collection until the following week. An affected resident discovered the untouched bin after collection trucks had already departed the neighborhood, leaving the building’s occupants to handle the leftover debris.

In high-density suburbs like Maroubra, where shared waste infrastructure requires cooperation, a single improper disposal can stall service for an entire block. The uncollected greenery means occupants are now forced to manually trim the jutting limbs, haul the waste to a local disposal facility, or let the overflowing organics sit until the next cycle.

Mechanical limits and strict standards force drivers to skip non-compliant bins

Randwick City Council collection trucks use automated mechanical arms to lift standard wheelie bins. When foliage spills over the top or protrudes past the rim, branches can entangle the arm mechanisms, spill debris across the roadway, or jam the truck’s packing hopper.

Local regulations require all wheelie bin lids to shut completely flat before pick-up. Council guidelines for the FOGO system accept branches under 10 centimetres in diameter, provided all contents fit fully within the bin with the lid securely closed.

Under state-level environmental frameworks, strict purity targets for organic waste processing mean collection drivers are instructed to reject overfilled or contaminated bins to prevent issues at commercial composting sites.

Free council clean-ups and smart strategies prevent collection day chaos

Residents tackling extensive backyard prunings can avoid bin rejection through several official council channels. Randwick City Council offers households up to six scheduled kerbside clean-ups each year, which accommodate tied and bundled garden cuttings under one metre in length and 15 kg per bundle when placed directly on the verge.

For smaller routine maintenance, cutting branches into shorter segments ensures lids close properly and prevents waste from jamming inside the container during tipping. Staggering large garden clear-outs across multiple fortnights or coordinating with neighbours in shared complexes can also prevent communal bins from becoming overloaded.

Published 25-Sept-2026

The Retirement Mistake That Is Easiest to Make Years Before You Retire

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Vitaly Gariev

By Mark Taylor – Chartered Accountant, Certified Financial Planner and Founding Partner of Stirling Warton Taylor

Retirement is one of those things most of us know is coming but are quite happy to leave sitting somewhere in the distance.

Then the years move faster than expected. The mortgage is still there, the cost of living has gone up and suddenly the questions become much more immediate: When can I actually afford to retire? How much will I need? And will what I have accumulated last as long as I do?

There is good reason to be asking those questions earlier. Australians are living longer, which means retirement savings may need to support us for considerably longer than previous generations expected.

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures put life expectancy at birth at 81.1 years for men and 85.1 years for women. Thirty years ago, the corresponding figures were around 75 and 81.

For someone hoping to retire in their 60s, that makes planning for 20 years or more without a regular salary a very real consideration.

And plenty of Australians aren’t quite sure when that retirement will begin. The latest ABS retirement data shows 806,000 people intend to retire within the next five years, including 294,000 within two years. Yet 40 per cent of people who intend to retire don’t know when they will actually leave the workforce.

The average intended retirement age is now 65.6.

Retirement by the numbers

65.6 years

Average intended retirement age

806,000

Australians intending to retire within the next five years

40%

People intending to retire who don’t yet know when they’ll leave the workforce

$55,900

Approximate annual ASFA comfortable-retirement budget for a single homeowner aged 65–84

$78,600

Approximate annual ASFA comfortable-retirement budget for a couple aged 65–84

So, how much is enough?

It is probably the retirement question I hear most often, and unfortunately there isn’t a magic number.

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia’s Retirement Standard currently estimates that a comfortable lifestyle for a homeowner aged 65 to 84 costs about $55,900 a year for a single person and $78,600 for a couple.

ASFA’s corresponding savings benchmark for homeowners retiring at 67 is around $630,000 for a single person and $730,000 for a couple. Those calculations assume retirees draw down their capital over time and receive some Age Pension support.

Those figures are useful as a reference point. They aren’t, however, a target that can simply be applied to everybody.

A person entering retirement with their home paid off is in a very different position from somebody still paying a mortgage or renting. Then there are all the other variables: travel, health, helping children or grandchildren, hobbies and, quite simply, what you expect retirement to look like.

There is no one-size-fits-all retirement strategy. The appropriate mix of superannuation, investments, income and growth assets will depend on the individual — their circumstances, goals, time horizon and tolerance for risk.

That is why I prefer to start with the life somebody wants to fund, rather than immediately reaching for a particular dollar figure.

Starting earlier gives you more room to move

This is where time becomes particularly valuable.

Thinking about retirement well before you get there can give you more opportunity to build superannuation progressively, reduce debt and consider how your investments and other assets fit together. There may also be legitimate tax concessions and strategies worth considering along the way.

None of this means putting today’s life on hold for a retirement that may still be decades away. Nor does it necessarily mean choosing between paying down the mortgage and saving for retirement. For many people, several financial priorities will be running at the same time.

There is another reason not to leave all the planning until the final few years: retirement doesn’t always arrive on schedule.

Among Australians surveyed by the ABS in 2024–25 who had retired, reaching retirement age or becoming eligible for superannuation was the most common reason for leaving their last job, at 33 per cent. But 13 per cent had stopped because of sickness, injury or disability, while another 6 per cent had been retrenched, dismissed or found there was no work available.

In other words, the date you expect to retire and the date you actually stop working aren’t necessarily the same thing.

Starting earlier gives you more time to adjust if circumstances — or your plans — change.

Inflation is easy to underestimate

One of the quieter risks is inflation because its effect tends to creep up on us.

Something that costs $100 today is unlikely to cost $100 in another 10 or 20 years. So while protecting savings matters, simply preserving the dollar value of capital does not necessarily preserve what that money will actually buy.

The changing ASFA benchmarks give some indication of that pressure. In 2026, ASFA lifted its comfortable-retirement lump-sum estimates for the first time in three years, taking the benchmark from $595,000 to $630,000 for a single homeowner and from $690,000 to $730,000 for a couple.

The other side of the equation matters too. Pursuing higher growth can mean accepting greater volatility, and that can become particularly important when someone has retired and is drawing an income from their investments.

This is why I don’t think retirement investing is usefully reduced to a simple choice between “income” and “growth”. The right balance depends on what the money needs to provide, when it will be needed and how much investment risk the individual is comfortable carrying.

The important thing is to do something

For a lot of people, superannuation, investments, tax and retirement income can feel complicated. Put enough choices in front of somebody and it becomes very easy to put the whole subject aside for another day.

You don’t need to solve retirement in one sitting. But doing nothing because you don’t know where to begin is still a decision — and the longer retirement planning is postponed, the less time there is to make adjustments.

Start with some fairly ordinary questions. When would I ideally like to stop working? What sort of lifestyle do I want then? What debts might I still have? What assets am I building now? And do I actually understand what my superannuation is likely to provide?

For a lot of people, an SMSF may also be worth considering as part of that conversation. SMSFs can provide greater control over investment choices and retirement strategies, but they also bring additional costs, responsibilities and compliance obligations and will not be appropriate for everyone. Professional advice can help determine whether an SMSF is suitable for an individual’s circumstances.

The answers will change over time. That’s fine. Starting early isn’t about predicting your future perfectly; it’s about having enough time to change course when you need to.

The first step doesn’t have to be a major financial decision. It can simply be finding out where you stand.

Disclaimer: This column is for general information only and does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider your own circumstances and seek professional advice before making financial decisions.

Published 22-September-2026