Decision Maker: Council
Decision status: Recommendations Determined
Moved by Councillor Weldon, seconded by
Councillor Jarrett –
It is resolved that:
(A)
Council
note:
(i)
the City’s
draft Cultural Strategy 2025-2035 identifies that unaffordable housing is
displacing creative workers. It notes, “While there are efforts at a federal
and state level to increase housing supply, our consultation suggests that it
will be too late for Sydney’s artists if we do not act urgently with cost of
living and rent relief”;
(ii)
the
City’s analysis shows that the number of creative artists, musicians, writers
and performers living in the City has plunged more than 11 per cent over the
last decade. It’s been reported that we’re the only capital city that has lost
creative workers over this time;
(iii)
if we
are to maintain a vibrant, diverse and accessible City, we must urgently
address the lack of affordable housing for creative workers;
(iv)
the
City has a small number of residential properties which it rents to artists and
creative practitioners to live and work in the city at below market rental.
Properties include six one-bedroom apartments on William Street in Darlinghurst
and a three-bedroom apartment above Waterloo Library;
(v)
the
first tenancies commenced in 2013. Since then, the Creative Live/Work Spaces
program has supported 64 mostly early-stage artists and creative workers to
hone their practice within the City of Sydney, contributing to the City’s
cultural life;
(vi)
at the
last Expression of Interest, the City received 105 applications for the seven
available residences; and
(vii)
the
City’s draft Cultural Strategy 2025-2035 recommends extending creative/live
work tenancies from 18 month to two-year leases and researching affordable
housing models to support the creative sector including purpose-built artist
housing with live/work or co-located workspace;
(B)
Council
commit to expanding the City’s Creative Live/Work Spaces Program; and
(C)
the
Chief Executive Officer be requested to allocate funding within the 2024/25
budget and Long Term Financial Plan for the acquisition and fit-out of
additional properties or the conversion of suitable commercial property within
our existing portfolio.
The motion was lost on the following show of hands –
Ayes (4) Councillors Ellsmore, Jarrett, Scott and Weldon
Noes (6) The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Chan, Davis, Gannon, Kok and Worling.
Motion
lost.
X086653
Report author: Erin Cashman
Publication date: 24/06/2024
Date of decision: 24/06/2024
Decided at meeting: 24/06/2024 - Council
Accompanying Documents: