Plans for a new two-storey clubhouse at Pioneers Park in Malabar have progressed, with Randwick officials endorsing a draft concept design as part of its latest infrastructure agenda.
Caption: Artist’s impression of the proposed clubhouse and amenities at Pioneers Park. Photo Credit: RandwickCityCouncil
Randwick Council has endorsed a draft concept design to replace the outdated amenities building at Pioneers Park, Malabar. The proposed two-storey facility will be designed to better serve local sporting needs, particularly for the South Eastern Seagulls junior rugby league club.
The redevelopment will include new change rooms, a canteen, meeting rooms, and improved accessibility. The project carries a cost estimate of $5 million and will be funded over several years, with construction scheduled for the 2028–29 financial year.
Support for Junior Rugby League in Malabar
The current facility is no longer adequate for the size and activity of the South Eastern Seagulls, one of the largest junior rugby league clubs in the Souths Juniors competition. The new clubhouse will provide improved functionality and access to meet ongoing community demand.
Part of a Wider Council Agenda
The decision to progress the Pioneers Park upgrade was one of several key items addressed at the April 2025 Randwick Council meeting. Local officials also endorsed the draft 2025–26 Budget and Operational Plan, which outlines $44 million in infrastructure investment across the local government area.
Other projects include a planned amenities upgrade at Malabar Ocean Pool, an upgrade to Malabar Memorial Hall, and the rollout of new outdoor gyms—including one at Ella Reserve in Malabar.
Additional Developments Across the LGA
Local officials also advanced planning for a First Nations Cultural Precinct at La Perouse, supported emergency access upgrades at Little Bay Beach, and reaffirmed its backing of the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ move to Allianz Stadium. Safety initiatives for rock fishing and a return of local events like Spot On were also confirmed.
The Pioneers Park proposal will now enter a community consultation phase. Feedback from local residents and stakeholders will guide the refinement of the design before final works commence in line with the 2028–29 schedule.
A Maroubra man has been charged after cybercrime detectives stormed a home in Sydney’s east, uncovering thousands of sensitive court documents that had been accessed without permission in what authorities are calling a serious breach of state security.
The arrest followed a two-month investigation into unauthorised access to the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) Online Registry, known as JusticeLink. Between late January and 20 March, nearly 9,000 restricted files were illegally downloaded.
Police allege the suspect used an account to automate document retrieval before the breach was discovered during routine maintenance, leading to a wider investigation with state and federal agencies.
Community Concerns Over Data Access
The accessed files included sensitive documents such as domestic violence orders and affidavits from civil and criminal cases across New South Wales. Legal experts warned of potential risks to vulnerable individuals if the data were leaked.
However, authorities said there is no evidence of information appearing online or on the dark web. Acting Attorney-General Ron Hoenig confirmed the breach was contained, the system stable, and no individuals under apprehended violence orders were at increased risk.
Police Operation In Maroubra
Strike Force Amherst, formed by the NSW Police Cybercrime Squad, led the early morning raid on 23 April. Footage showed heavily armed officers entering the Maroubra home, handcuffing a man who tried to hide his face, and seizing two laptops.
Officers also scanned hard drives for evidence. The man, identified as 38-year-old Christopher John Duff, was taken to Maroubra Police Station and charged with accessing restricted data and using a carriage service to cause harm.
Court Proceedings And Official Statements
Initially refused bail, Duff was later granted conditional release during his appearance at Waverley Local Court. He must pay a $1,000 bond, surrender his passport, and use only a basic mobile phone for calls and texts.
He is due back in court on 7 May. NSW Police and the Department of Communities and Justice said the breach was serious but assured the public it had been contained. Affected individuals are being contacted as the DCJ continues assessing the documents.
Did you know that Google has chosen Maroubra as the landing point for two major international subsea internet cables, Tabua and Honomoana, which will connect Australia with the United States, Fiji, French Polynesia and New Zealand? The infrastructure will provide critical backup and expanding connectivity options outside of Sydney’s already crowded cable protection zones.
The proposal, submitted by Google through its licensed carrier Perch Infrastructure, was sparked by mounting congestion in Sydney’s northern and southern cable landing zones. According to the company’s submission to New South Wales planning authorities, twelve subsea cables already land in these areas, six in the southern zone alone, pushing the infrastructure close to capacity. Google is seeking permission not only to land the cables at Maroubra but also to extend the official southern cable protection zone boundary to include this new site. See the EIS Scoping Report here.
The planned landing point will be about one kilometre offshore, where the cables will either be buried beneath the seabed or laid on it, depending on environmental and technical considerations. From there, the cables will stretch out to the edge of New South Wales’ coastal waters, which extend 5.56 kilometres from the shoreline.
Community, Capacity and Connectivity
While the initiative is backed by one of the world’s largest tech companies, the impact is being felt on a local level.
A recent community event at Maroubra Beach marked the beginning of the Sydney section of the cable build, attended by stakeholders including Randwick City Council, UGL, UEA, and members of the La Perouse Aboriginal community. Local contractors such as UEA Group have been tapped to handle the initial construction, supporting regional employment and economic activity.
Photo Credit: Subco
This isn’t the first time Maroubra has been part of a significant digital infrastructure project. The area previously saw activity during the PPC-1 cable landing over a decade ago. In comparison, the new cables are expected to carry a far greater data capacity, up to 400 terabits per second, highlighting how much internet technology has advanced in just 15 years.
Preparing for the Future
Google’s broader project, known as the Pacific Connect Initiative, reflects rising internet demand across the Indo-Pacific region and the growing need for system redundancy. By using Maroubra as a landing point, the company aims to relieve pressure on existing zones while ensuring that Australia’s international internet links remain resilient and future-ready.
The final decision on the proposal rests with NSW planning authorities and the Australian Communications and Media Authority. If approved, Maroubra could soon become a key node in Australia’s digital network, linking the community directly to global communication routes.
Based on the EIS Scoping Report, construction of the project would take approximately 20 days (10 days per segment) within NSW coastal waters and is estimated to commence in December 2025.
The 28-year-old footballer purchased the original-condition semi in February 2024 for $3 million, located just 200 meters from Maroubra Beach. This acquisition places Heeney close to his first Sydney home, a two-bedroom garden apartment he bought in 2018 for $1.56 million, approximately 400 meters away.
Randwick City Council is now reviewing Heeney’s ambitious renovation plans, which would completely reimagine the three-bedroom property. The proposed redesign by ARCM Design, initially sketched last June, comes with a construction cost of $478,500.
The plans reveal a sophisticated three-story home featuring Lohas Roman handmade external brickwork. The redesigned property will include four bedrooms—three on the upper level and one on the entry level—along with an open-plan kitchen, living, and dining area that extends to an alfresco deck with access to the rear lawn.
In a significant layout change, the plans call for demolishing the existing four-car garage at the rear of the narrow 340 square meter block. New double garaging will instead be positioned at the front of the house, which will occupy 162 square meters of the site.
Timeline indicators suggest Heeney had been planning this redevelopment for some time, having placed the double-brick property on a six-month rental lease shortly after purchase.
The 206-game veteran, who performed strongly despite the Swans’ recent loss to Collingwood, has been with the team since 2015 after playing junior football with the Cardiff Hawks in his native Maitland.
Heeney appears to be following the property development path of former Swans captain Luke Parker, who recently joined Melbourne. Parker and his interior designer wife Kate are currently undertaking a major reconstruction of their nearby Malabar home.
Two veterans from Maroubra are among six local service members recognised in Randwick’s 2025 ANZAC Day banner campaign, which also honours individuals from Malabar, Matraville and Little Bay.
The campaign, endorsed by Randwick’s ANZAC Trust, aims to connect residents with local stories of military service—highlighting individuals who lived, worked, and served within the community.
Bert Tuck: Maroubra Surf Lifesaver and Gallipoli Soldier
Photo Credit: Randwick City Council
Sergeant Albert Victor “Bert” Tuck, born in 1881 and raised in Darlinghurst, was a founding member of the South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club. A surf competitor and early coastal guard, he had served with the Sydney Scottish Rifles from 1899.
Mr Tuck enlisted in the AIF in August 1914, carrying over his rank of sergeant from the Sydney Scottish Rifles, where he had served since 1899. He trained at Randwick Camp and sailed on the Euripides with the 4th Infantry Battalion. During the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, he led and instructed his men under fire and was mentioned in dispatches for gallantry. He was killed the following day in a bayonet charge and is buried at Shell Green Cemetery.
His legacy is remembered not only in military records but also by surf club members who continue to honour him as a community hero.
Danny Jeffery: Maroubra RAAF Veteran and Mental Health Advocate
Photo Credit: Randwick City Council
Squadron Leader Danny Jeffery served 35 years in the Royal Australian Air Force, including deployments in Malaysia, East Timor, the Middle East and Afghanistan. In Afghanistan alone, he flew and coordinated 85 combat missions.
After being medically discharged in 2018 due to PTSD, Mr Jeffery became a leading figure in veterans’ mental health recovery. He competed in multiple Invictus Games and now mentors other veterans while remaining active with the Maroubra RSL Sub-Branch.
Mr Jeffery’s banner highlights both operational excellence and his continued contribution to veteran welfare in Maroubra.
Terry Farley: Malabar Army Officer and Fire Service Leader
Photo Credit: Randwick City Council
Warrant Officer Class 2 Terry Farley has lived in Malabar since 1979. A career soldier, he served with Sydney-based Army units including Randwick Barracks and was deployed in Operation Resolute, Australia’s maritime border security mission.
In civilian life, Mr Farley became a senior officer in Fire and Rescue NSW, rising to Chief Superintendent. He also volunteers as a surf lifesaver and rugby league coach. His banner honours his parallel careers in military service, emergency response and community leadership.
Vic Simon: Matraville Vietnam Veteran and Indigenous Leader
Photo Credit: Randwick City Council
Private Victor “Vic” Simon was a proud Worimi man. Mr Simon was one of only five Indigenous soldiers to fight at the Battle of Long Tan in 1966. Aged just 20, Mr Simon held off enemy forces during the four-hour battle, despite suffering blast injuries.
After returning home and settling in Matraville, Mr Simon worked for Sydney County Council and served on the board of the Matraville RSL. He was an active voice in Indigenous veteran history, placing a poppy each year for his mate Paul Large, who died at Long Tan.
Mr Simon passed away in 2020 after a battle with cancer. His story is now part of local history and national remembrance.
Edith Blake: Little Bay Nurse Lost at Sea
Photo Credit: Randwick City Council
Sister Edith Blake trained at the Coast Hospital in Little Bay from 1908. In 1912, she registered with the Australasian Trained Nurses’ Association. Ms Blake’s application to join the AANS was rejected. She enlisted in 1915 with the British Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve.
Ms Blake served in Egypt and on hospital ships, and later cared for German POWs in England. In 1918, while serving aboard HMHS Glenart Castle, she was killed when the ship was torpedoed by a German U-boat in the Bristol Channel.
She is believed to be the only Australian nurse killed as a direct result of enemy action in World War I and is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial and Australian War Memorial’s Commemorative Roll.
Ted Sullivan: Randwick Anti-Aircraft Gunner of WWII
Photo Credit: Randwick City Council
Craftsman Ted Sullivan served with anti-aircraft artillery units in the Pacific during World War II, helping defend Allied positions under frequent Japanese air attacks. He lived in Randwick after the war and was active in the Coogee Randwick Clovelly RSL Sub-Branch.
Mr Sullivan passed away in 2024. His banner honours steady wartime duty and his quiet role in preserving community memory across generations.
Looking Ahead to ANZAC Day
The “Honouring Service” campaign was developed in 2024 through community nominations and is partly funded by an ANZAC Community Grant. Each veteran or their surviving family members will receive a replica of their banner at the 2025 ANZAC Civic Reception.
As banners fly across suburbs including Maroubra, Malabar, Matraville and Little Bay, the campaign brings the stories of local veterans into the public eye. It is part of Randwick Council’s broader effort to ensure their legacies remain visible beyond 25 April — the date Australians stop to remember their sacrifices.
An educational business founded in Maroubra has been recognised nationally after winning ‘Business of the Decade’ at the 2025 Australian Small Business Awards.
Fifteen years ago, Harry Mavrolefteros and his brother launched First Education in a small storeroom above their parents’ optometry practice in Maroubra. The business began with a vision to change how students experienced learning—prioritising enjoyment, confidence, and empowerment. The optometry practice still operates in the community today, reflecting the family’s long-standing local ties.
From its Maroubra roots, First Education has grown into a leading tutoring provider with over 200 tutors and more than 1,000 students. Centres now operate across Sydney, including Bondi, Earlwood, Mascot, and Randwick, with daily availability. The organisation offers one-on-one tutoring for students from Kindergarten through to Year 12, supporting all subjects with a focus on individual needs.
First Education’s method prioritises in-centre, personalised tutoring over group or home-based sessions. According to the business, this structure provides focused attention while avoiding distractions that often hinder learning at home. Sessions are designed to build student confidence and foster a lasting interest in learning.
The founder’s early passion for mathematics shaped the organisation’s philosophy: education should uplift and empower. Tutors at First Education work to instil lifelong learning skills, aiming to build students’ self-esteem alongside academic performance. This approach has supported improved results, particularly in the senior years.
Community Engagement in Maroubra and Beyond
First Education’s original Maroubra centre remains active, contributing to local educational outcomes and community development. The business’s expansion into neighbouring suburbs has strengthened its presence across the Randwick area, helping students gain skills and confidence in a structured learning environment.
While the recent national recognition highlights First Education’s business success, its founder described the achievement as a shared victory involving students, families, tutors, and local support. The acknowledgement also reflects the lasting educational impact the organisation continues to deliver across the region.
With its foundation in Maroubra, First Education remains focused on its mission to support students through personalised education. The award marks a significant milestone in the business’s development and its ongoing contribution to learning in local communities.
A warning has been issued to Malabar residents, stating that individuals caught poisoning public trees could face fines of up to $3,000. This comes after multiple incidents of tree vandalism in the area, with several trees deliberately damaged using drill holes.
Tree vandalism has become a growing problem in Sydney, with four separate incidents reported in the past two years. The latest case involved a young tree on Cromwell Place, Malabar, being damaged with drill holes at its base. Local officials responsible for managing public greenery in the eastern suburbs have labelled tree poisoning a serious offence.
The first incident occurred in November 2023, when council staff discovered drill holes in a tree. A month later, two more Queensland Brushbox trees were vandalised. To address the issue, council workers performed ‘habitat pruning’ on the damaged trees in April 2024, ensuring the safety of the area while leaving trunks and main branches to provide a habitat for wildlife.
Margaret Hogg from Saving Sydney’s Trees has called for stronger action, highlighting that tree poisoning is becoming increasingly common in waterfront suburbs. She condemned the acts as selfish and ignorant, expressing support for the city authorities’ proactive stance on the matter.
Local officials have continued their efforts to restore the area by planting new scribbly gum trees in June 2024. However, suspected vandalism of these new trees was reported just five months later. In response, additional signage was installed to warn residents and potential vandals.
Voices of Concern
Residents and campaigners alike have expressed frustration at the repeated damage. Ms Hogg praised the authorities’ commitment to protecting the urban forest, emphasising the need for continued vigilance and community involvement to prevent further vandalism.
Legal Actions and Penalties
Under New South Wales law, the maximum fine for illegal tree removal can reach $1 million if the Land and Environment Court deems it severe. However, in Sydney, it is limited to issuing fines up to $3,000. In comparison, Melbourne councils can issue fines of up to $3,800, while other states, such as Western Australia, have significantly lower penalties.
Caption: For Illustration Purposes Only Photo Credit: Pexels
The council’s commitment to tackling tree vandalism in Malabar remains strong, with continued efforts to replant and protect public greenery. As authorities call on the community to help safeguard urban trees, the message is clear: acts of tree vandalism will not be tolerated.
On a breezy Sunday morning, the shoreline at Maroubra is alive with colour. Dozens of red and yellow caps bob between the waves, as Nippers paddle out under the watchful eyes of surf lifesavers. But beneath the excitement, there’s a growing unease. Soon, the shark nets that have lined Maroubra’s waters for decades will be gone. Not just here, but across 51 beaches in New South Wales, the state is pulling them out early—by a full month.
The nets usually stay in place until the end of April, but this year, they will be removed on 31 March, a move aimed at protecting sea turtles migrating along the coast. For some, it’s a necessary shift toward more environmentally responsible management. For others, like Paul Fownes, it’s a risk they’re not ready to take.
Mr Fownes is the president of the South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club, and on any given Sunday, he’s responsible for more than 1,000 children in the surf. For him, the nets have always been one part of the safety net—literal or not—that helps keep those kids safe.
“I remember a day when a four-and-a-half metre white shark got caught in the net,” he said. “That same morning, we had our Nippers in the water.”
To him, removing the nets without solid, consistent alternatives—like drone patrols or drumlines—feels like trading a proven system for an uncertain one. “There are days when we have no drones. Sometimes it’s cloudy, sometimes there’s no one available to fly them,” he explained.
Lawrence Chlebeck, a marine biologist with Humane World for Animals, believes the real danger isn’t removing the nets—it’s thinking they ever provided solid protection in the first place.
“Shark nets don’t form a wall,” he said. “They’re only 150 metres long and six metres high. Sharks can, and often do, swim over, under or around them.”
The data backs him up. In the 2022–23 season, not a single target shark—meaning great whites, tiger sharks or bull sharks—was caught in the nets off Sydney beaches. The following season, only three were. Instead, nets caught 124 other marine animals, including dolphins, rays, turtles and smaller sharks that pose little threat to humans.
Chlebeck says that almost half of the sharks caught in nets are found on the beach side—meaning they’ve already gotten past the barrier. To him, this proves that the nets don’t work the way many believe they do.
“People think nets make the water safe,” he said. “But the safety is more psychological than real.”
He argues that newer technologies—like shark listening stations, drones and SMART drumlines—are far more effective at detecting sharks before they become a threat. “It’s time we let go of 100-year-old tech and put our trust in tools that actually work.”
A Decision That Ripples
Back in Maroubra, the debate is about more than just sharks. It’s about how a community balances safety, tradition, and science.
Photo Credit: South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club
Six of the eight NSW councils that use shark nets have now voted in favour of permanently removing them, citing damage to marine life and limited effectiveness. In Randwick, where Maroubra is located, the decision was a close call, a split 8–7.
Even so, the final decision rests with the state. The Department of Primary Industries has been gathering feedback from 25 coastal councils, with a full review due to go before Cabinet later this year. Any long-term changes to the Shark Management Program could come into effect in the 2025–26 season.
Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said the government is relying on tracking data from more than 2,200 tagged sharks to shape its future approach. “We’re continuing to consult with local councils and communities,” she said.
For now, though, Maroubra’s nets will be gone by the end of the month. The beach will look the same. The Nippers will still run into the surf. But for many in the community, it will feel just a little different.
Maroubra Bus Riders Shocked After Woman Allegedly Stabs Two People with a Pen
A quiet bus trip on Maroubra was left agog when a 41-year-old woman was charged with stabbing a 21-year-old tourist in the face with a pen over a fight.
The assault occurred at around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 22, as the bus was driving along Anzac Parade to Westfield Eastgardens. A 34-year-old man who attempted to prevent him was stabbed but slightly injured.
Bus Commotion Near Local Shopping Centre
The bus, which was travelling to one of Sydney’s busiest shopping districts, was at the centre of a police operation after emergency services were called. The 41-year-old female was arrested on the spot and later charged with two offences of wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.
Police stated that the witnesses did not know each other and the motive remains unknown. There is no current threat to the public, and the swift response of emergency services helped keep the situation under control.
The 21-year-old female victim was rushed to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and the male victim who saved her received immediate treatment.
Charges and Court Appearance
The defendant was refused bail and appeared before Parramatta Local Court on Sunday. Authorities are continuing their investigation, studying CCTV footage from the buses and hearing witnesses.
The incident, which happened during the day, has upset citizens. The police assured the citizens that the incident was isolated and public transportation is still safe.
A measles alert has been issued for Sydney after an infectious person visited multiple locations, including Maroubra, while carrying the highly contagious disease. Health authorities warn that individuals who were at specific sites may have been exposed and should monitor for symptoms.
The case involves a traveller who arrived from Vietnam, where a large measles outbreak is ongoing, and later visited several public places in Sydney.
Confirmed Case and Exposure Sites
NSW Health confirmed that the infected person arrived in Sydney on Monday, 10 March, landing at 11 a.m. on Jetstar flight JQ62 from Ho Chi Minh City.
The individual was present at Sydney International Airport’s arrivals terminal and baggage claim until 1 p.m. before proceeding to 169 Cafe in Randwick from 1:30 p.m. to 2:05 p.m. Later that evening, they visited OOSHMAN MAROUBRA at Pacific Square, Maroubra, between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
The person sought medical attention multiple times in the following days. On Thursday, 13 March, they attended the Matraville Medical Complex on Bunnerong Road from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by a stop at HealthSave Pharmacy nearby from 1 p.m. to 1:35 p.m.
They returned to Matraville Medical Complex on Friday, 14 March, between 1:55 p.m. and 2:35 p.m. and again on Saturday, 15 March, from 9:50 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. On that same day, they were in the Prince of Wales Hospital emergency department waiting room from 10:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Health Advisory and Symptoms to Watch For
Health officials are urging anyone who visited these locations at the specified times to watch for symptoms until 2 April 2025, as measles can take up to 18 days to appear after exposure. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, sore eyes, and cough, typically followed by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head down after a few days.
Dr Vicky Sheppeard, Director of Public Health for South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, emphasised the importance of calling ahead before visiting a doctor or hospital if symptoms develop. This measure prevents further transmission in medical facilities.
Vaccination and Prevention
Measles is preventable with vaccination, and NSW Health is encouraging people to check their immunisation status. The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is free for children at 12 and 18 months of age, as well as for anyone born after 1965 who has not received two doses.
Travellers, particularly those heading to regions experiencing outbreaks, are advised to get vaccinated before departure. Parents of children under 12 months planning to travel internationally should consult a GP about receiving the first dose of MMR early.
People who are unsure if they have had both doses of the vaccine should receive an additional dose, as extra vaccinations are safe, according to NSW Health. The MMR vaccine is available through GPs for all ages and at pharmacies for individuals over five years old.
Community Response and Next Steps
NSW Health is working to identify close contacts of the case and has reminded the public that measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The department urges community members in Maroubra, Randwick, and Matraville to remain vigilant and seek medical advice if they develop symptoms.
