Bayside Council Backs Bexley Station, ‘Our Backyard River’ Plan and Jet Ski Crackdown in Big 1 December Agenda

Sydney, Australia – 1 December 2025 — Bayside Council has released a suite of significant decisions from its 26 November meeting, outlining a push for a new Bexley train station on the proposed Kogarah–Parramatta rail line, formally adopting the Our Backyard River campaign for the Cooks River, tightening its stance on dangerous jet ski use in Botany Bay, and exploring a dedicated shorebird protection zone along the foreshore. ^[1]

Together, the moves underscore a joined‑up agenda: better public transport, healthier waterways and safer, more environmentally sensitive use of Bayside’s prized coastline.

A New Bexley Train Station on the Kogarah–Parramatta Line

At the heart of Bayside Council’s transport announcement is a decision to advocate for a new train station at Bexley on the proposed Kogarah–Parramatta rail link, sometimes referred to as a new east–west “River Rail” corridor across Sydney. ^[2]

Why Bexley?

In a notice published on 1 December, Bayside Council confirmed it will formally push for Bexley to be included as a station on the future Kogarah–Parramatta line. ^[3] The resolution, passed at the 26 November council meeting, argues that:

Bexley sits at a strategic crossroads of key commuter and freight routes in southern Sydney, and currently suffers from heavy congestion, including toll‑avoidance traffic and a high volume of heavy vehicles. ^[4]
Public transport options are limited, leaving many residents reliant on private cars and buses. ^[5]
A station could support the revitalisation of Bexley Town Centre, driving new investment and jobs while improving everyday access for local residents and businesses. ^[6]

The Council’s report also emphasises Bexley’s potential as a connector between the Illawarra, Western Sydney and Sydney Airport, given its position between established rail corridors and motorway links. ^[7]

Early Advocacy in a Competitive Rail Landscape

The Kogarah–Parramatta link is one of several new rail corridors being explored to improve cross‑city connectivity and relieve pressure on existing lines. ^[8]

Bayside Council has framed its move as “early stage advocacy”, seeking to ensure that Bexley is on the table as detailed route planning and business case work proceeds. The resolution commits the Council to:

Write to the NSW Minister for Transport;
Brief local State and Federal MPs; and
Highlight strong local support, including from the Bexley Chamber of Commerce. ^[9]

If successful, the station campaign could become a focal point for wider debates over how Sydney’s future transport map balances growth, equity and congestion relief across different parts of the city.

‘Our Backyard River’: Bayside Formally Adopts Cooks River Campaign

On the environmental front, Bayside Council has “cemented its environmental credentials” by formally adopting the objectives of the Our Backyard River campaign, a catchment‑wide initiative led by the Cooks River Alliance. ^[10]

From “polluted drain” to “backyard river”

The Cooks River has long been known as one of Australia’s most heavily urbanised and historically polluted waterways, with industrial land use, stormwater and combined sewer overflows leaving a legacy of degraded water quality. ^[11]

The Our Backyard River campaign aims to change both the physical state of the river and the way people talk about it, reframing the waterway as a shared “backyard” to be cared for and enjoyed rather than ignored. The campaign, launched in May 2025, is designed to create a shared language and vision across the entire catchment. ^[12]

Bayside Council staff were closely involved in developing and launching the campaign earlier this year. The 26 November resolution makes that commitment official by adopting the campaign objectives as Council policy. ^[13]

What adoption actually means

According to the Cooks River Alliance and its Our Plan for the River framework, the campaign is built around three broad pillars: ^[14]

Healthy Waterway – directing investment towards projects that improve water quality, restore habitat and support “iconic” local species identified by the community.
Recreation Destination – turning the river into a place for paddle trails, walking, cycling and nature‑based recreation, rather than a corridor people simply drive past.
Country and Culture – celebrating the cultural significance of the catchment, especially for First Nations communities, while building a sense of shared custodianship among residents.

In adopting the campaign objectives, Bayside Council has signalled that:

Future projects in the Cooks River catchment – including Wolli Creek and Muddy Creek, both flowing into Botany Bay – will be assessed against the Our Backyard River vision. ^[15]
The Council will actively pursue grant funding and partnerships for river restoration, green infrastructure and public space upgrades along the waterway. ^[16]

The move also means that all four member councils in the Cooks River Alliance have now formally adopted the campaign, strengthening the prospects for a coordinated, catchment‑wide master plan. ^[17]

Jet Ski Crackdown: Operation Summer Foreshore and Community Safety

Another headline decision from the 26 November meeting relates to dangerous jet ski use and anti‑social behaviour along the Botany Bay foreshore.

In a statement published on 1 December, Bayside Council acknowledged and welcomed the NSW Government’s Operation Summer Foreshore, a joint‑command policing effort targeting unsafe driving, traffic offences and jet ski misuse on and around the Bay through to 1 February 2026. ^[18]

Operation Summer Foreshore: what’s planned

According to NSW Police, Operation Summer Foreshore involves officers from multiple local commands patrolling: ^[19]

The Grand Parade and Cook Park
Popular beaches and public spaces along the Botany Bay shoreline
Waters used by jet skis and other powered craft

The operation is aimed squarely at:

Reckless and high‑speed jet ski riding near swimmers;
Anti‑social behaviour, including dangerous driving and public disorder; and
Traffic offences around Brighton‑Le‑Sands and nearby suburbs. ^[20]

Bayside Council notes that officers from four police commands will work together over summer, intensifying enforcement just as visitor numbers peak. ^[21]

Council’s role: rules, signage and consultation

The Council’s resolution goes beyond policing. It records that:

NSW Maritime has committed to clearer signage that sets out exactly where jet skis are permitted, and to installing extra buoys marking “no‑go” zones. ^[22]
Bayside Council is hearing rising concern from local residents about some jet ski users’ behaviour, including near‑misses and noise impacts. ^[23]

In response, the Council will launch extensive community consultation on longer‑term options to “permanently limit the danger” jet skis pose to swimmers and other bay users. ^[24]

These options have not yet been set out in detail but could range from tightened access rules and expanded exclusion zones to time‑of‑day restrictions or designated launch corridors. Any local settings would need to sit alongside existing NSW maritime regulations.

New Shorebird Protection Zone Proposed for Botany Bay

Rounding out its coastal agenda, Bayside Council has also resolved to investigate a permanent Shorebird Protection Zone along parts of the Botany Bay foreshore. ^[25]

Protecting critically endangered visitors

Council notes that its existing shorebird education programs have improved community understanding of local bird species and their habitats – but concludes that education alone is “not enough”. ^[26]

A key concern is the Far Eastern Curlew, described in the Council’s release as the world’s largest migratory shorebird. The species is formally listed as Critically Endangered under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, having suffered steep global population declines due to loss of coastal habitat along its migratory flyway. ^[27]

Local monitoring suggests their numbers on the Bayside foreshore have declined, raising the risk that the area could lose the species entirely if habitat degradation continues. ^[28]

What a Shorebird Protection Zone could do

The proposed Shorebird Protection Zone would aim to:

Protect key roosting and feeding habitat used by migratory species on their long journeys between northern Asia and Australia;
Support recovery of threatened species, including the Far Eastern Curlew; and
Align Bayside Council’s management of Botany Bay with Australia’s international obligations to protect migratory birds under treaties such as the Ramsar Convention and bilateral migratory bird agreements. ^[29]

Feasibility work is expected to consider how a protection zone could interact with existing recreational uses, including boating and jet skiing, and what on‑ground measures – such as seasonal access controls, dog‑management rules or habitat restoration – would be most effective.

A Joined‑Up Vision: Transport, Waterways and Coastal Protection

Viewed together, Bayside Council’s 1 December updates paint a picture of a local government trying to balance growth, mobility and environmental protection:

The Bexley station push is about connecting residents to jobs and services across Sydney while easing road congestion. ^[30]
The Our Backyard River adoption locks Bayside into a cross‑council commitment to restore the Cooks River and treat it as a valued urban waterway, not an industrial drain. ^[31]
The jet ski crackdown and foreshores policing respond to community safety concerns on crowded summer beaches. ^[32]
The shorebird protection work signals a willingness to make harder choices to safeguard threatened species and sensitive habitat on the same foreshore. ^[33]

Over coming months, much will hinge on how these decisions are implemented: whether Bexley can secure a place on a highly contested rail map, how quickly tangible upgrades appear along the Cooks River, what specific restrictions (if any) emerge for jet skis, and how a shorebird zone might reshape foreshore access.

What is clear is that, as of 1 December 2025, Bayside Council is positioning itself as an active player in debates over Sydney’s future transport network, urban waterways and coastal ecology—and is inviting both residents and higher levels of government to come along for the ride.

References

Bayside Council Backs Bexley Station, ‘Our Backyard River’ Plan and Jet Ski Crackdown in Big 1 December Agenda