March 2nd 2026 - Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig has requested at least 2000 more signatures from eligible Pittwater voters before he will refer the proposal to reinstate Pittwater Council to the NSW Boundaries Commission.

Minister Hoenig conceded in a parliamentary speech on 8 May 2024 that the legislation only required 250 signatures for a community-lead s215 proposal to be valid. Back then, he added that it would take a lot more than that to convince him to refer such a proposal to the boundaries commission – but never gave a precise number.

In the months that followed that speech, Protect Pittwater’s hardworking volunteers set about gathering those signatures from Pittwater Electors and well over 4000 signatures were presented to the Minister at Parliament House on 19 March 2025.

In a letter to Protect Pittwater President Simon Dunn earlier this month, Minister Hoenig recognised the significant effort Protect Pittwater had put into its s215 proposal and apologised for his delayed response. In his letter copied to all Northern Beaches Local Members and to Northern Beaches Council he went on to say:
“For a proposal to proceed to the Boundaries Commission, I need to be assured that it has a substantial degree of support.”

“Accordingly, I request that you seek at least a further 2,000 signatures.”

After so long waiting for a response, Protect Pittwater is now regrouping to achieve the new target set by the Minister Hoenig and is spurred on in its mission not only by the growing discontent with Northern Beaches Council but also by Minister Hoenig and the NSW Boundaries Commission furthering two other proposals for de-amalgamation.

The Pittwater community will see our volunteers back on the streets in the coming weeks as we gather additional signatures from those residents who desperately want to bring back a lean and local council that listens to its community and safeguards Pittwater’s precious natural environment.  We are confident that Pittwater’s proposal will be next to be referred to the Boundaries Commission and that Local Government will be restored to this area.