Sandy Point Tug-of-War: Sutherland Shire vs Liverpool in Boundary Battle

Finn Seabrook | Local Correspondent | Sutherland Shire Gazette

29 December 2025

A fierce territorial dispute has erupted between Sutherland Shire Mayor Jack Boyd and Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun over the future of Sandy Point, the quiet riverside suburb caught in a bureaucratic tug-of-war.

The upcoming “Boundary Realignment Poll” will determine whether Sandy Point officially belongs to the sprawling Sutherland Shire or the ever-expanding Liverpool City Council. Both mayors have launched aggressive campaigns claiming the suburb as their own, with slogans ranging from “Sandy Point: Forever Shire” to “Liverpool: Where Sandy Belongs.”

“We’ve nurtured Sandy Point’s identity with decades of Shire culture — from weekend river barbecues to utes with fishing rod holders,” declared Mayor Boyd at a press conference outside a strategically placed Sutherland Shire welcome sign. “You don’t just redraw history.”

Mayor Mannoun fired back, arguing, “Sandy Point is a natural extension of Liverpool. We offer modern infrastructure, better service access, and no confusing beach-vs-river identity crisis.” He added that Liverpool already lists Sandy Point on several council brochures, “so it’s basically ours.”

Locals are divided. Margaret Thorne, 67, lifelong Shire resident, insisted: “We raised Sandy Point with Shire values — community sports, car park diplomacy, and an undying love for Bunnings snags.”

Meanwhile, Darren Holt, a Liverpool-based small business owner, countered: “Sandy Point shops at our Costco. They belong with us.”

Tensions escalated after Shire officials installed a temporary “Welcome to Sutherland Shire” banner near the Sandy Point boat ramp, only for Liverpool workers to replace it overnight with “Liverpool: Future Home of Sandy Point.”

Voting begins next month, with election officials promising a “fair, transparent process” — unless Sandy Point residents vote to become “independent” and declare themselves “Australia’s first river-based micro-nation.”