Matraville Town Centre Set for Major Revitalisation with Bunnerong Road Upgrade

Matraville is poised for a significant transformation as the city kicks off its ambitious revitalisation project with upgrades to Bunnerong Road.



The works, which commenced this week, will see the existing footpath on Bunnerong Road between Daunt Avenue and Beauchamp Road completely replaced. There will be a wider asphalt path with paver borders in its place, along with several new street trees.

This initial phase marks a crucial step in the Council’s comprehensive plan to breathe new life into the Matraville Town Centre.

Mayor Philipa Veitch emphasised the importance of the project, stating that the Matraville Town Centre is a vital hub for local businesses and shoppers. The Council has collaborated closely with the community over the past few years to develop a plan that aims to unlock Matraville’s full potential, transforming it into a vibrant destination for visitors and residents alike.

Photo Credit: Matraville Public Domain Masterplan

“The Bunnerong Road streetscape upgrade is a critical first move in bringing the Matraville Town Centre masterplan to life,” Mayor Veitch said. “By expanding the footpath, we will create more room for outdoor dining and enhance pedestrian safety.”

The Mayor expressed her enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the numerous benefits it will bring to the area. The upgrades will not only improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists but also enhance the street’s overall aesthetic appeal, with the new trees providing welcome shade during the warmer months.

Matraville Town Centre
Photo Credit: Matraville Public Domain Masterplan

The extensive work entails the excavation and demolition of the existing pavement, then the pouring of fresh concrete and asphalt. The installation of new pavers, street trees, street furniture, and bins will complete the transformation.



Council has taken steps to inform Matraville residents about the commencement of the works through a letterbox drop. Mayor Veitch assured the community that the Council is dedicated to minimising any disruptions caused by noise, parking, and traffic during the construction period.

While acknowledging the potential for some inconvenience, Mayor Veitch expressed her gratitude for the patience and understanding of residents and local businesses as this essential upgrade progresses.

Published Date 07-June-2024

Malabar Lands New Bike Park for Adrenaline Junkies

Thrill-seekers and cycling fanatics in Malabar have scored a major win, with Randwick City Council giving the green light to build a dedicated bike park right in the heart of the suburb.



At their April 30th meeting, councillors endorsed Cromwell Park North as the site for the region’s first facility catering to mountain bikers, BMX riders, stunt cyclists, and scooter enthusiasts.

Photo Credit: Randwick City Council

The decision comes after strong lobbying from local bike riding groups who have been pushing for a park to call their own without having to trek to the Northern Beaches or Sutherland Shire.

Randwick Mayor Philipa Veitch said the large expanse of Cromwell Park and its proximity to parking made the Malabar location an ideal choice for a bike park.

“Bike riding is a popular activity for many young people. Bikes parks have been built in the Northern Beaches and Sutherland Shire and there has been strong demand from Randwick City residents for a local facility,” Mayor Veitch stated.

If the $1.35 million plans are realised, adrenaline junkies can look forward to a buffet of riding experiences including mountain bike trails, an asphalt pump track, a skills zone with stone and timber obstacles, and a dirt jump area.

Concept Plan proposed by Trailscapes
Photo Credit: Randwick City Council

The bike park ticks off a key initiative in the Council’s Open Space strategy and will be a huge draw card for families across the eastern suburbs looking to foster an active lifestyle.

Trailscapes also proposed these tracks, trails and ramps for the new bike park
Photo Credit: Randwick City Council


With concept designs and community consultation next on the agenda, construction is slated to kick off in the 2024-25 financial year.It’s a win for Malabar’s thrill-seekers, who will soon have a world-class riding playground right on their doorstep.

Published 5-May-2024

Comprehensive Intersection Upgrades Proposed for Maroubra Road

Following a meticulous comprehensive study of Maroubra Road, stretching from Bunnerong Road to Malabar Road, a series of intersection upgrades have been planned, in order to provide safer and more efficient routes for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists.



The proposals are a result of extensive community engagement, incorporating valuable feedback from residents. Data collected through traffic counts, intersection surveys, traffic modelling, crash data analysis, and safety reviews have also played a pivotal role in shaping these improvements. 

This holistic approach ensures that the upgrades are both data-driven and community-focused.

It’s important to note that the implementation of these upgrades will occur in stages, with timing contingent on community feedback, funding availability, and approval from Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW). This phased approach aims to ensure that the upgrades align with the evolving needs of Maroubra’s residents and commuters.

Intersection Upgrades Overview

Here are the specifics of the proposed intersection upgrades, each designed with a distinct rationale:

1. Bunnerong Road / Heffron Road

  • Removal of slip lane
  • Extension of right turn lane onto Bunnerong Road

2. Royal Street / Hinkler Street

  • Introduction of new traffic lights with pedestrian crossings
  • Creation of new turning lanes at traffic lights

3. Hannan Street

  • Installation of new pedestrian crossings and refuges
  • Implementation of left turn only from side streets

4. Walsh Avenue / Bruce Bennetts Place

  • Removal of slip lane and addition of a new left turn lane
  • Creation of a new shared zone

5. Anzac Parade

  • Introduction of new left turn only lanes onto Anzac Parade
  • Investigation of a 40km/h High Pedestrian Activity Area between Hannan and Garden Streets

6. Garden Street

  • Upgrade of traffic lights for longer pedestrian crossing times and new turning arrows
  • Introduction of new right turn lanes onto Maroubra Road
  • Extension of the School Zone

7. Cooper Street / Mons Avenue (priority project)

  • Installation of new traffic lights at the intersection with pedestrian crossings
  • Creation of new turning lanes

8. Flower Street

  • Relocation and upgrade of the existing pedestrian crossing
  • Installation of a new roundabout
  • Introduction of a new raised pedestrian crossing on Flower Street
  • Installation of a wider median and realignment of parking and travel lanes between Mons Avenue and Flower Street

9. Malabar Road

  • Upgrade of traffic lights
  • Extension of merge lane and widening of the slip lane
  • Improvement of footpaths
Maroubra
Photo Credit: Google Maps

Community Feedback and Engagement

Randwick City Council values community input and invites residents and stakeholders to share their thoughts on the proposed upgrades. An opportunity to meet Council staff at a drop-in session on Tuesday, 6 Feb 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Lionel Bowen Library in Maroubra Junction is also available. 



Comments and feedback can be sent via email to council@randwick.nsw.gov.au with the subject line “Maroubra Road Intersection Upgrades.”

Published 26-Dec-2023

Maroubra’s Iconic Rubik’s Cube Has Been Solved

After fifteen years, the Rubik’s Cube that sat on the shore of Maroubra Beach that many have taken to calling the ‘Maroubrix Cube,’ has finally been solved.



The Maroubrix Cube is now solved!
Photo Credit: Facebook / Randwick City Council

This piece dates back from 2008, when anonymous street artists added the quirky fixture that has captivated locals and tourists since then.

The unsolved Cube right next to an actual Rubik’s Cube, taken October 2023.
Photo Credit: Facebook / Cubos R Py

The unusual design of the Cube, endearingly called the Maroubrix Cube, has caught the attention of Maroubra Beach’s passersby. It was intentionally designed to be unsolvable, which caught on to Rubik’s Cube enthusiasts.

Maroubrix Cube is mentioned on Wikipedia’s Big Things of Australia, and is even featured in a children’s book as a ‘portal to another realm’.

Although the recent transformation of the Cube has been made by the still-anonymous artists themselves, a lively debate has sparked among the Maroubra community. This has divided the locals between embracing the refreshed look and cherishing the unsolved puzzle that gave it its original charm and recognition for over a decade.

Randwick Council Mayor, Philipa Veitch, expressed her surprise at this sudden change. She acknowledged the artists’ intention as thought-provoking. She states that this public art transformation challenges the community to contemplate and stimulate a healthy dialogue.



While some residents have applauded the Cube’s new appearance as “satisfying” and “long overdue,” others have voiced nostalgia for the original design, resisting the change. Over the years, temporary alterations like festive costumes and pastel paint caused mixed reactions, showcasing the community’s attachment to the artwork.

The Maroubrix Cube is now solved!
Photo Credit: Facebook / Randwick City Council

The ongoing debate revolves around honouring the artists’ intentions and the council’s role in preserving or altering public art. Mayor Veitch advocates for maintaining the solved state. She highlights the importance of allowing artistic expression to evolve naturally without intervention.

As Maroubra grapples with this unexpected twist, the future of the Rubik’s Cube remains uncertain. Whether it will persist in its solved form or undergo further transformations, the Cube continues to serve as a focal point for artistic expression and community conversation in this beachside locale.

Published 19-December-2023

Shark Mitigation Technologies Deployed in NSW Beaches Including Maroubra Beach

Did you know that shark mitigation technologies are being trialled along Randwick’s coastline? These technologies – SMART drumlines and shark listening stations – were rolled out in February this year, along with drones flying over NSW beaches, including Maroubra Beach.



Following Randwick Council’s decision in April 2021 approving the deployment of shark mitigation technologies in cooperation with the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), SMART (Shark Management Alert in Real-Time) drumlines and listening stations were deployed along Randwick coastlines in February 2022.

These tools were put in place in at least 21 locations, 500 metres off the coastline to catch, tag, release and monitor dangerous sharks, and will complement the two shark nets already positioned in Maroubra and Coogee.   

What exactly are SMART drumlines and listening stations?

A SMART drumline is a baited hook attached to two buoys and equipped with a GPS that can send alerts to contractors when an animal takes the bait. The contract boats then go to the site to tag the shark with an acoustic tag before taking it about one kilometre offshore and finally releasing the animal.

SMART drumlines are shown to be 15 times more efficient than nets in catching target sharks and are less likely to catch non-target animals. As a result, animals caught by these tools have 99 per cent of survival as compared to 40 per cent in nets.

Listening stations, on the other hand, are buoys that are capable of sending real-time alerts to the SharkSmart app, website and Twitter account whenever a tagged shark is detected to be within 500 metres. It provides the date and time, the location where it was previously detected and where it was tagged.

See the Shark Smart map here.

“They don’t often stick to one beach and ‘lurk’,” said Dr Paul Butcher, Principal Research Scientist with the DPI who has been tracking sharks since 2015.

“They move quite vast distances. We’ve seen one white shark travel to WA and back three times. It’s covered more than 40,000kms since it was first tagged in 2016.

White shark
Photo Credit: Pietervisser, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0> / Wikimedia Commons

“The benefit of this program is that we primarily catch the species that are responsible for most serious shark bites in NSW.” 

Non-lethal alternatives

Along with these technologies, drones are also being used on 50 NSW beaches including Maroubra Beach. Dr Butcher is currently working on a program that would make autonomous, image recognition software-equipped drones that could fly over beaches and detect shark presence close to the beach and alert lifeguards who would usher beachgoers to safety.

Another research project aims to eliminate the need to capture sharks altogether. The project involves some environmental DNA sampling of water columns to “detect spikes or troughs that would indicate the presence or absence of white, tiger and bull sharks.” Dr Butcher said that a one-litre sample of water is enough to determine the presence of dangerous sharks in the region.



According to International Shark Attack File data, Australia ranks second in the world when it comes to the number of unprovoked shark bites in 2021. There have been just 12 unprovoked incidents recorded in 2021 which is lower than the region’s recent five-year annual average of 16 and significantly lower than the top ranked USA’s 47 incidents. 

New South Wales recorded six incidents – two were fatal – whilst Western Australia had four and one of which was fatal. Queensland and Victoria have one incident each.

Four School Pedestrian Crossing Upgrades in Maroubra Completed

Four school pedestrian crossing upgrades in Maroubra have been completed. The upgrades include raising two existing pedestrian crossings, installation of pedestrian refuge in two areas, and even a wombat crossing.



The upgrades involve converting pedestrian crossings into raised “wombat” crossings, installing pedestrian refuge islands, and installing signalised intersections at an accident blackspot location on Anzac Parade.

The various pedestrian crossing safety projects, funded under the Federal Stimulus Road Safety Program School Zones project, are situated in 29 locations near local school areas.

In Maroubra, four projects were already completed:

  • Loch Maree Street, Maroubra – Raise existing crossing
  • Fitzgerald Avenue (at Robey Street), Maroubra – Install pedestrian refuge
  • Fitzgerald Avenue (at Walsh Street), Maroubra – Install pedestrian refuge
  • Moverly Road, Maroubra – Raise existing pedestrian crossing, create wombat crossing

The pedestrian crossing safety project on Wride Street (at Duncan Street), Maroubra involving the installation of pedestrian refuge is now in its design phase.

Did you know that a study on raised platforms published in the Journal of the Australian College of Road Safety revealed that “wombat” crossings reduce casualty crashes by as much as 63 per cent? 

Raised “wombat” crossings are zebra crossings placed on a raised section of the road to allow better visibility of pedestrians and encourage approaching vehicles to reduce speed. The same principle applies to raised pedestrian crossings.

A refuge island, on the other hand, is a median with a refuge section installed to help pedestrians determine when it is already safe to cross the road.



The list of Council’s school pedestrian crossings upgrade projects and their status are as follows:

StatusSchool areaLocation and project
CompletedClovelly Public School / St Anthony’s Catholic Primary SchoolVarna Street (at Arden Street), Clovelly – Install pedestrian refuge
CompletedCoogee Boy’s Preparatory School / Randwick Coogee Preschool / Randwick Public SchoolBotany Street (at Waratah Avenue), Randwick – Upgrade existing pedestrian refuge
CompletedCoogee Public SchoolHoward Street (near Lee Street), Coogee – Install pedestrian refuge
CompletedCoogee Public School / Rainbow Public School / Randwick Boy’s High School / Randwick Girl’s High SchoolOberon Street & Higgs Street, Coogee – Install pedestrian refuge
CompletedEmanuel School / St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Primary SchoolKing Street, Randwick- Install pedestrian refuge near Montifiore Randwick (Head Office)
CompletedKensington Public SchoolBowral Street (near Doncaster Avenue), Kensington – Raise existing crossing
CompletedKensington Public SchoolBowral Street, (near ANZAC Parade), Kensington – Raise existing crossing
CompletedMaroubra Junction Public SchoolLoch Maree Street, Maroubra – Raise existing crossing
CompletedOur Lady of the Annunciation Primary School / South Sydney High School / Champagnat Catholic CollegeSturt Street (west of Paton Street), Kingsford – Install raised pedestrian (wombat) crossing
CompletedOur Lady of the Annunciation Primary School / South Sydney High School / Champagnat Catholic CollegeFitzgerald Avenue (at Robey Street), Maroubra – Install pedestrian refuge
CompletedOur Lady of the Annunciation Primary School / South Sydney High School / Champagnat Catholic CollegeFitzgerald Avenue (at Walsh Street), Maroubra – Install pedestrian refuge
CompletedOur Lady of the Rosary Primary School and Our Lady of the Rose CollegeVilliers Street (at Addison Street), Kensington – Install pedestrian refuge
CompletedRandwick Girls’ High School/ Randwick Boys’ High SchoolBarker Street West of Easy Street – Pedestrian Refuge
CompletedRandwick Primary School, Coogee Preparatory Primary SchoolChurch Street (at Frances Street), Randwick – Install pedestrian refuge
CompletedSouth Coogee Public SchoolRainbow Street (at Hendy Avenue), Coogee – Install pedestrian refuge
CompletedSt Anthony’s Catholic Primary SchoolArden Street, Clovelly – Raise existing crossing
CompletedSt Anthony’s Catholic Primary SchoolClovelly Road (at Knox Street), Clovelly – Install pedestrian refuge and kerb nibs
CompletedSt Anthony’s Primary SchoolArden Street (north of Clovelly Road), Clovelly – Raise existing pedestrian crossing, create wombat crossing
CompletedSt Bridgid’s Catholic Primary SchoolArden St & Bream St , Coogee – Pedestrian Refuge
CompletedSt Margaret Mary’s Catholic Primary SchoolAvoca Street, Randwick – Raise existing crossing
CompletedThe French School (Lycée Condorcet)Moverly Road, Maroubra – Raise existing pedestrian crossing, create wombat crossing
Construction PhaseBrigidine College and Claremont Primary SchoolPerouse Road (at Aeolia Street), Randwick – Raise existing pedestrian crossing, create wombat crossing
Construction PhaseSt Margaret Mary’s Catholic Primary School / Emanuel SchoolCarter Street (at Avoca Street), Randwick – Install continuous foot
Construction PhaseSt Margaret Mary’s Catholic Primary School / Emanuel School / Randwick Primary SchoolClovelly Road (at Centennial Avenue), Randwick – Install pedestrian refuge
Design PhaseCoogee Public SchoolBream Street (at Mount Street), Coogee – Install pedestrian refuge
Design PhaseEmanuel SchoolChepstow Street (at Stanley Street), Coogee – Install pedestrian refuge
Design PhaseMatraville Sports High SchoolAnzac Pde at Franklin Street (southern intersections), Matraville – Signalise multi-carriageway intersection
Design PhaseOur Lady of the Sacred Heart PrimaryDutruc Street (at Alison Road), Randwick – Install pedestrian refuge
Design PhaseSouth Coogee Public SchoolRainbow Street (at Ellen Street), Coogee – Install pedestrian refuge
Design PhaseSt Margaret Mary’s Catholic Primary School / Emanuel School / Randwick Public SchoolGilderthorpe Avenue (at Frenchmans Road), Randwick – Install pedestrian refuge
Design PhaseSt Mary, St Joseph Catholic Primary School / Maroubra Public SchoolWride Street (at Duncan Street), Maroubra – Install pedestrian refuge

Source: Randwick City Council

The $4.365-million project is made possible through a grant awarded to Randwick City Council under the Federal Stimulus Road Safety Program School Zones project. The Australian Government committed a total of $3 billion for the Road Safety Program over three years from 2021 to 2021 and is offered to states and territories to help fast track their lifesaving road safety upgrade projects.

The program is being offered under a “use it or lose it” scheme where states and territories are to use their funding within each six-month tranche for them to receive the full allocation for their next tranche. 

Drowning in Little Bay Prompts Call to Observe Increased Rock Fishing Safety Measures

Surf Life Saving Australia is calling on the public to observe increased safety measures for rock fishing following the tragic drowning of a father and his son in Little Bay near Maroubra.



Shane Daw, the general manager for coastal safety of Surf Life Australia has been advocating for those engaging in rock fishing to wear lifejackets and he believes that this should be mandated nationwide. The safety expert also wants more education on the importance of a lifejacket, including in areas where it has become compulsory.

A 40-year-old father and his nine-year-old son were believed to have been swept by the tide as they were rock fishing in Little Bay on Monday, 31 Jan. The pair were not wearing lifejackets when paramedics took them out of the water. According to reports, the dad and son were in critical condition and could not be saved. 

According to Mr Daw, every council in Australia should have laws about mandatory lifejackets, as well as continued enforcement and education about its use. He said that even in councils where it has been required, many fishers are still not aware of the law, especially among recreational fishers. He believes that this safety guideline should also be taught in schools and community groups as the death toll has been climbing.

Data from Surf Life Saving Australia showed that 80 per cent of all rock fishing fatalities were not wearing a lifejacket.

Little Bay, under Randwick City Council, is considered one of the most dangerous places for rock fishing. In 2018, the Council mandated lifejacket use for rock fishers. 

However, according to NSW Police, only two violations have been logged in Little Bay since its enforcement. The recent accident is the fourth rock fishing-related death in the area since 2017 and the 21st since 2001. 

A review of the lifejacket policies, education, and implementation will be conducted by Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker.  Meanwhile, the victims’ family and friends have launched a GoFundMe page for the mother, who painfully watched her husband and son drown in the water. 



Malabar Ocean Pool Amenities Building Development Up for Consideration

The Malabar Ocean Pool could get a brand new amenities building after overwhelming support from the public to proceed with the development.

In a survey conducted by Randwick City Council, 70 percent of the residents agreed that the ocean pool must have its very own amenities building whilst 24 percent said that a structure might unnecessarily ruin the site’s character. 



There are currently no toilets near the Malabar Ocean Pool and locals have to use the amenities at the Cromwell Park some 700 metres away. 

The Malabar Ocean Pool has been around since the 1890s. In the 1970s, the Council, along with the Sydney Water and NSW Department of Land and Water Conservation, closed the site due to pollution. Following an extensive restoration, the ocean pool was ready for public use again in 1997 but it was still without the needed amenities.

Photo Credit: Asif Zaveri/Google Maps

Because of its popularity with the locals, especially in the summer months, the Malabar Ocean Pool usually accommodates a large number of visitors. The precinct committee has approached the Council to build toilet facilities around the site, while a probe into a potential location was conducted in 2019. 



Locals said that the car park area could be an ideal space for the amenities building, which must also include outdoor showers, changing rooms, drinking fountains and disabled access. 

Following the result of the public consultation, the Council will now consider allocating funds to develop detailed plans in its 2021-22 budget.  

Maroubra SLSC Secures $400,000 for Stage 1 Upgrades

Good news for Maroubra locals as the people prepare to enjoy a safe and healthy summer! Randwick City Council has agreed to allocate $400,000 for Stage 1 of the planned upgrades to the Maroubra Surf Lifesaving Club (Maroubra SLSC).

The scope of works covers the following:

  • 140sqm increased storage capability for lifesaving equipment
  • New beach surveillance and observation platform
  • New training and education room
  • Improved community room space

The start date of construction has yet to be determined. The remaining stages of redevelopment and upgrades will still be decided upon based on the Maroubra Beach Foreshore plan.



Maroubra SLSC is crucial to the community’s safety and protection in the water, especially when Maroubra’s beach is deemed as one of the more hazardous beaches in Sydney. Club members rescue some 285 people every year, which is considered as one of the highest in New South Wales.

The organisation also hosts various community activities for physical and mental well-being, making the clubhouse an important social hub. Club membership increased by more than 25 percent in three years, making the current building’s format and condition unfit for the expanded membership.

Photo Credit: Facebook


The facility improvements will help support Maroubra SLSC’s mission and value to the precinct. The upgrades will also push the club to become a world-class site.

Heffron Centre Development: Concept Design Unveiled, Project to Bring 200 Jobs

The concept design for the Heffron Centre development in Maroubra has been unveiled following a public consultation in April 2020. The planned multi-purpose, state-of-the-art sports facility will move on with the development application, with an estimated target date of construction in mid-2021. 

The new Heffron Centre will include two indoor sports halls with spectator seating and ample storage spaces. This site will house the Community and High-Performance headquarters of the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Souths Cares. 



Lecture rooms, gymnastic zones, training and operational areas, bathrooms for athletes and guests, as well as a merchandise shop were incorporated in the design, based on the residents of the locals. 

Photo Credit: CO-OP Studio/Randwick City Council

Part of the centre will also include a cafe within an open plaza with both indoor and outdoor seating. The plaza is envisioned as a community hub for relaxation and socialisation.

Photo Credit: CO-OP Studio/Randwick City Council

An internal street will be built to link these facilities and connect the front and back of the site. Visitor areas for viewing the NRL training field will also be established. 

“The concept designs have been informed by community feedback and are the result of more than four years of hard work, research, consultation and planning,” Randwick Mayor Danny Said stated in the unveiling of the concept design. “This is an exciting project that will see grassroots and elite sports co-exist at Heffron Park. It will also see the Rabbitohs move to their supporter heartland in Maroubra,” Mr Said added. 



Randwick City Council and the South Sydney Rabbitohs were able to secure about $21 million in state and federal funding for the Heffron Centre. About 200 jobs will be generated once construction starts, with at least 60 ongoing jobs to be retained once the site is operational. 

The Council expects the development to be completed in late 2022.