5 Minutes with Ryde Mayor Trenton Brown

We recently had the chance to sit down with Trenton Brown, Ryde’s first popularly elected Mayor. Mayor Brown, a Ryde Councillor since 2017, officially took on the mayoral role in March 2024 and was voted back in at the October local election.

Mayor Brown has a deep personal connection to Ryde, where he and his wife, a fourth-generation resident with her own family history of civic service, are raising two teenage sons who attended local public schools. Actively involved in their education, Brown served as Secretary and Vice-President of the P&C for over eight years. With a background in finance and governance, he brings to his role a commitment to driving sustainable growth and building up community infrastructure

In our conversation, Mayor Brown shared his enthusiasm for what lies ahead for Ryde. He talked about his big plans to make the community even stronger and more connected, with a focus on projects that will really make a difference for families. With the new council in place through to 2028, he’s excited to get to work.

Transforming Eastwood

Mayor Trenton Brown shared exciting updates on plans for Eastwood’s transformation, with a key focus on car park restructuring to keep up with growth and improve the community experience. As part of the Eastwood Central Project, the current Glen Street Carpark is set to be relocated, taking an important step towards building a more welcoming and resilient business hub.

The relocation of Glen Street Carpark will play an important role in flood mitigation by creating the opportunity to construct a water retention basin alongside the canal. This approach not only reduces flood risks but also allows for the rezoning of the area to better support local businesses and community events. With the combination of flood protection and urban upgrades, Eastwood will be set to keep growing while staying prepared for extreme weather.

Mayor Brown explained that community consultation and technical studies are underway to ensure that Eastwood’s transformation aligns with the needs of its residents. The project aims to enhance green spaces, improve pedestrian connectivity, and create a more vibrant and sustainable commercial district.

Meadowbank Education Employment Precinct

Another project currently underway is the Meadowbank Education Employment Precinct (MEEP) master plan, which aims to create a dynamic area that connects Meadowbank and West Ryde, bringing both commercial growth and residential development. The precinct will support educational facilities, infrastructure, and employment opportunities, forming a vibrant community hub. With completion expected by 2025, this initiative is in line with Mayor Brown’s working priorities of creating spaces that serve Ryde’s diverse population.

Green Spaces and Recreational Facilities

As a big advocate for open space preservation, Mayor Brown described Ryde’s ambitious capital works program which will focus on enhancing parks, nature reserves, and passive recreational areas. Councillors are being briefed on potential project timelines and funding sources to advance both critical infrastructure and open space projects that will see the rejuvenation of Fields of Mars, Brush Farm, Ryde Park, Christie Park, Putney Park and Shrimpton’s Creek Corridor, with new playgrounds and recreational facilities to make these spaces more inviting for families.

In addition to enhancing existing parks, Brown also discussed the timeline for the future Meadowbank Netball Courts at the Marsden High School site, which will provide a dedicated space for youth and community sports. There have been State government delays but the project should only be a few years from completion. This new Multi-Sports Facility will have 4 indoor multi-sports courts and 29 outdoor courts.

24/7 Library

As part of his vision to enhance community resources, Mayor Trenton Brown has unveiled plans to introduce Ryde’s first 24/7 library, which will offer flexible, round-the-clock access to libraries for residents. This ambitious project, modelled after a similar concept by the Northern Beaches Council, aims to create an easy-to-use system that serves everyone, but that has particular benefit to primary and high school-aged students.

With an estimated three-year timeline, the 24/7 library will offer an accessible study environment for students, giving them the flexibility to use the library at times that suit their schedules. Mayor Brown noted that the library will be designed with kids in mind, as they can grow into the space from primary through high school. The council has already done preliminary modelling and cost analyses to bring this concept to life, with initial reports receiving approval in recent council meetings.

Prioritizing Community Safety and Accessibility

Another big item on the agenda includes The Mayor’s plans to improve pedestrian pathways, especially around schools and in residential areas. His plans include adding raised pedestrian crossings and clearer signage. He’s also prioritising better lighting for visibility at night and creating safer walking routes to schools by adding sidewalks and bike lanes where possible.

Alongside these improvements, Mayor Brown is tackling traffic management with stricter speed limits in school zones and traffic-calming measures like speed humps. He also wants to ease parking congestion near schools by introducing designated drop-off zones and more parking options. These efforts aim to make our community safer and more accessible for pedestrians, especially children while reducing accident risks.

Civic Centre Update

We’re all wondering what’s happening with the Civic Centre. Mayor Brown of course has it on his agenda – with Councillors participating in a workshop in early December 2024 to explore potential options for the site at 1 Devlin Street, Ryde. The long-awaited project will give Ryde a central space for events, gatherings, and all sorts of community activities.