What the council is working on
Recent deliveries, what's underway now, and what's planned next — drawn from the council's own plans, budgets and project pages. We report what the council has publicly said it's doing; every item links to its source.
The council's stated direction
Willoughby City Council's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan ('Our Future Willoughby 2036') and a Delivery Program 2025–2029 with an annual Operational Plan and budget, with the Chatswood commercial centre and major community facilities among its focus.
The council manages local roads, waste, libraries, parks, bushland and planning across a compact Lower North Shore LGA anchored by the Chatswood commercial and retail centre and cultural venues such as The Concourse. Its Delivery Program is the elected council's statement of commitment for its term.
The Delivery Program funds the council's annual capital works program. In 2024–25 IPART approved a permanent 15% special rate variation (a 10% special variation plus that year's 5% rate peg) that lifted the council's rates base; the annual rate peg still applies on top of that base in later years.
Underway now
Willoughby Leisure Centre upgrade
Under construction; opening expected 2026A major upgrade of the Willoughby Leisure Centre, including a new pool hall with additional pools, a children's splash zone, upgraded multi-sport courts and accessibility and sustainability improvements. The council increased the project budget to $65 million (from $38.9 million), citing changes in scope and site conditions; as of February 2026 construction was nearing completion, with opening expected later in 2026.
Source: Willoughby City Council — Willoughby Leisure Centre upgrade
Chatswood CBD growth & major development
Ongoing; state-significant proposals under assessment 2026Chatswood is the LGA's main commercial and retail centre and continues to see major development. A State Significant Development Application for a ~$1.3 billion mixed-use project at 8 Wilson Street (two residential towers) was on public exhibition through the NSW Government's planning process in 2026, with a proposed voluntary planning agreement providing community infrastructure. Such state-significant proposals are assessed by the NSW Government, not decided by the council.
Source: Willoughby City Council — Public notices (development applications)
Planned / committed
Our Future Willoughby 2036 Community Strategic Plan & Delivery Program 2025–29
CSP to 2036; Delivery Program 2025–2029The council's top-level Community Strategic Plan sets long-term goals for the community, environment and local economy, translated into four-year actions through the Delivery Program 2025–2029 and annual Operational Plan and budget.
Source: Have Your Say Willoughby — Delivery Program 2025–29 and Operational Plan 2025/26