Decision details

By Councillor Ellsmore

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         the Newtown Festival was a much-loved community fair, organised by local not for profit organisation the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre;

(ii)        earlier this year, the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre announced that it will no longer hold a Newtown Festival. Originally established as a way both to bring the community together and to fundraise to support the important work of the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, the festival had grown very large and began running at a loss; 

(iii)       the loss of the Newtown Festival leaves the suburb of Newtown without an annual community festival or major community event to celebrate the neighbourhood of Newtown;

(iv)       the City of Sydney has a Sydney Streets program where major streets, including high streets, are closed once or twice a year to traffic, to celebrate neighbourhoods. Streets included in the annual program are selected following consultation; and

(v)        to date, a Sydney Streets event has not been scheduled for Newtown;

(B)       Council further note:

(i)         the suburb of Newtown is partly in the Inner West Council area, and partly in the City of Sydney Council area. King Street is the border between the two Councils; and

(ii)        like the City of Sydney, the Inner West Council has a strong program of community festivals and events to celebrate and promote local neighbourhoods and businesses, some of which include main street closures;

(C)       the Lord Mayor be requested to write to the Mayor of the Inner West Council, to discuss the possibility that the two Councils could coordinate to organise a Sydney Streets closure or similar event in Newtown; and

(D)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to

(i)         assess options for a Sydney Streets, or similar event, to be held in Newtown in the future; and

(ii)        provide advice to Council.

Note – at the meeting of Council, the content of the original Notice of Motion was varied by Councillor Ellsmore. Subsequently, it was –

Moved by Councillor Ellsmore, seconded by Councillor Jarrett –

It is resolved that:

(A)       Council note:

(i)         the Newtown Festival was a much-loved community fair, organised by local not for profit organisation the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre;

(ii)        earlier this year, the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre announced that it will no longer hold a Newtown Festival. Originally established as a way both to bring the community together and to fundraise to support the important work of the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, the festival had grown very large, meaning more and more resources and staff time is needed to manage bookings, logistics, security, fencing and insurance, stretching the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre’s team and finances, and the festival began running at a loss; 

(iii)       the loss of the Newtown Festival leaves the suburb of Newtown without an annual community festival or major community event to celebrate the neighbourhood of Newtown;

(iv)       the City of Sydney has a Sydney Streets program where major streets, including high streets, are closed once or twice a year to traffic, to celebrate neighbourhoods and support local businesses. Streets included in the annual program are selected following consultation; and

(v)        to date, a Sydney Streets event has not been scheduled for Newtown;

(B)       Council further note:

(i)         the suburb of Newtown is partly in the Inner West Council area, and partly in the City of Sydney Council area. King Street is the border between the two Councils; and

(ii)        like the City of Sydney, the Inner West Council has a strong program of community festivals and events to celebrate and promote local neighbourhoods and businesses, some of which include main street closures; and

(C)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         assess options for a Sydney Streets, or similar event, in consultation with local communities, businesses and other stakeholders including Inner West Council, as required, to be held in Newtown in the future; and

(ii)        provide advice to Council via CEO Update.

The motion, as varied by consent, was carried unanimously.

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