Willoughby South - Our Community
Local News
September WSPA General Meeting:
The Willoughby South Progress Association would like to sincerely thank Nick Jones from Sotheby’s International Realty for speaking at last night General Meeting. (8th September 2026) at the Naremburn Community Hall.
Nick gave the meeting really informative insights into the Willoughby real estate market, and specifically down sizing.
He was entertaining and educational, and being a life long resident of the area himself had some real pearls of wisdom to impart.
He then opened the floor to questions and kept everyone enthralled with his knowledge and good humour.
Thanks from everyone Nick it was a great night.
We have summarized Nick’s delivery into a few points that might help some Willoughby residents who are contemplating a “down sizing” or move in their future, and I’m sure Nick would happily expand on this and impart his wisdom if you contacted him directly.
His aim wasn’t to tell people when or how they should downsize. It’s was help them think more clearly about what is often a much bigger life decision than it first appears.
He broke his delivery up into five myths, five tips, five “gotchas”.
The biggest myth:
“It’s just another house move.”
It’s so not! it is often so much more than that it first seems.
Downsizing can involve selling a long-held family home, sorting through years of possessions, making significant financial decisions and working out what you want the next stage of life to look like.
It can be physically, mentally and emotionally demanding — but with enough time and planning, it can also be enormously positive.
The best tip:
Go where you know. Familiarity matters.
Staying close to family, friends, shops, transport, medical services and the places that form part of your everyday life can make the transition much easier.
If you are considering somewhere new, spend real time there before making a permanent move. Nick’ advice was to visit the area often, and at different times of the year, or if it’s not close possibly rent an Air BnB for a few weeks, or even don’t fullly commit and take a long term rental to really make sure it is the right decision.
The biggest gotcha: The financial implications.
The cost isn’t simply the difference between the home you sell and the one you buy.
There can be stamp duty, selling costs, legal fees, moving expenses and other changeover costs. Releasing capital can also affect superannuation strategies, pension eligibility and gifting decisions.
Good financial advice before making the move can be just as important as good property advice.
The overall message was simple:
Give yourself time, understand your options and make the move because you are moving towards something — not simply away from something else.
Thanks again Nick.
Contact Info: Nick Jones , Sotheby’s International Realty
M: 0434 679 059
Have your say:
Northern Beaches Network Review.
Click on this LINK to take you to the NSW Government page for comment.
Help Shape the Future of Transport on the Northern Beaches
The Northern Beaches Network Review examines how the transport network serving the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore is performing and where improvements can be made.
The Review looks at how we can improve travel in and around the Northern Beaches with a focus on practical proposals that can be delivered in the short to medium term.
The goal is to make the transport network work better for everyone, improving efficiency and supporting more people to choose public and active transport. They are at the early stages of planning and what we focus on next will be shaped by resident feedback.
Tell them what you think
To have your say:
- Tell them what you think about the opportunities identified by clicking on the locations in the map link attached. Give them a thumbs up/down if you want this location prioritised, and add your comments
- Select “Add Marker” to provide feedback you may have about any other areas/intersections/roads etc.
Your insights will help refine priorities and shape practical, community focused solutions from the opportunities and initiatives identified.
They want to hear about your experience using the transport network: how you travel, when you travel, and whether the challenges and opportunities we’ve identified reflect what you see day to day.
Willoughby Leisure Centre Redevelopment Update.
February 2026
What’s next and opening timeframe
We had initially hoped to open the new facility in early 2026, but we are now forecasting an opening around August or September 2026. Whilst construction is progressing well, and the building is now 94% complete, a range of finishing items is taking slightly longer than anticipated.
As you can see from the picture the new facility is looking stunning and the pools will soon be filled with water to enable testing of the plant and equipment.
We’re preparing for opening, including installing new systems to streamline online bookings for the swimming school, along with staff recruitment and training.
Once the building finishes construction, Council will then undertake final system commissioning, safety testing, and completing staff inductions and rehearsals to ensure the Centre can open. During this time, access to the gym will be unavailable to the public, due to ongoing construction and commissioning activities.
Please be aware the opening date is still dependant on the normal construction risks and builder finishing construction, and we will keep you informed regularly as construction progresses, and we hope to announce a formal opening date in the coming months.
Fees and member loyalty offers
We received feedback from the public exhibition of the swim and aquatic fees and are now in the final stages of preparing the fees and charges for the new Centre. Please be assured that we will be considering special loyalty rates and offers for existing members to recognise your support.
Council will soon be considering the fees and charges at an upcoming Council Meeting. Once the fees and charges have been approved, we’ll be in touch with details about membership options, pricing, and loyalty offers.
What to look forward to at the new Centre
As a reminder, the new facility includes
- Eight-lane 25m lap pool – new and expanded for training and fitness swimming
- Dedicated learn-to-swim pool – specifically designed for swim school programs
- Warm-water 25m program pool – for aqua-fitness, rehabilitation and therapy
- Children’s splash zone – safe, engaging water play area
- New spa and sauna – relaxation and recovery amenities
- A café at the heart of the building, designed as a place to relax and connect
When the Centre opens, you’ll be able to enjoy a full swim school program with online bookings, an expanded group fitness timetable, and aquatic fitness classes in the dedicated program pool.
Thank you again for your patience and continued support. We are looking forward to welcoming you back and sharing this fantastic new facility with you.
Kind regards,
Willoughby Leisure Centre
News: 8th January 2026.
Artarmon’s “Bowlo” close to opening.
An adaptive reuse of the former Artarmon Bowling Clubhouse, the new structure is a designed based on the principles of community, sustainability, and recognition of the site’s heritage.
The structure is fully accessible, and features a range of energy efficient technologies, including solar panels and rainwater harvesting.
It incorporates a community room, kitchen, all-weather community pavilion, and new public bathrooms. Landscaped terraces and ramps are connect to the pavilion with the adjoining playground and passive recreation spaces.
10th December 2025
5th December 2025 – Edward Street Upgrade
In the last three years the Willoughby South Community provided feedback on a project to improve the streetscape at Edward Street and Penshurst South.
Project background information is available using this link Have Your Say Willoughby site
Council will consider a report including the latest engagement outcomes at its Meeting on Monday 15 December 2025.
More information:
- Read the Council report using this link Scroll down to access the Edward Street Report, it is agenda item 16.
- Should you wish to address Council on this issue, you can find information about how register to speak at the Open and Public Forum on Monday 10 December 2025 using this link
- Please note that there is no opportunity to address Council at the Meeting on 15 December 2025 when the item is being considered.
Walter Street looking west.
Walter Street Development nearing completion. 24.11.25
The long suffering residents of Walter Street can finally start to see the end of a long tunnel as the scaffold comes down and the plantings are nearing completion.
There is still some road works at Willoughby Road, and the turn around area is still a work in progress, but the majority of Walter Street is now complete, and the latest development for Willoughby South ends it’s construction phase.
Good to see bushcare are still working on the Nine to Walter Street bush path, and a zebra crossing has been installed on the path to Hallstrom Park, allowing a walking path from NINE all the way to Tunks Park now.
12th November 2025:
Willoughby City Council have posted up a development application for a new multi storey block of ~30 units on Penshurst Street, on the block between Willoughby Girls basketball court and the vacant block next to the post office.
Apart from the construction disruption this will have on both WPS and WGHS during development, once complete this may lead to overshadowing of playground space, increased traffic along Medway Lane and loss of potential future amenity for this already constrained site that has 2000 kids, as well as the adjacent OOSH facility at Willoughby Kids House.
Whilst we understand the need for more housing, is this necessarily the best location? Both the P&Cs at WPS and WGHS are looking into this and expect to arrange parental inputs in due course. You can also see more detail and provide feedback to council in the WCC DA page.
On Willoughby Road going south from Naremburn Shops towards Crows Nest it is also 50kms, but on Willoughby Road between Mowbray and Naremburn it is 60km/h – straight through our local shopping strip!
Please contact us, or come to the next meeting on Tuesday 18th November, 7pm at the Naremburn Community centre. All interested parties welcome.
Nov. 2025: The Service Station on the corner of Penkivil Street and Willoughby Road is currently undergoing alterations, and operating hours are believed to be changing from the current 11pm close to a 24/7 operation.
The change of hours will require a change to the DA, and concerned parties are encouraged to contact Willoughby Council for more information.
WSPA will investigate this further and residents are encouraged to come to the next meeting to raise concerns or express agreement or support.
The next meeting will be the AGM on Tuesday 18th November 2025, to be held at the Naremburn Community Centre. 7pm. ALL WELCOME.