Decision details

Moved by Councillor Kok, seconded by Councillor Scully -

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)          Lunar New Year is the most significant festival for our multicultural communities to celebrate, recognise, and to be proud of their cultures;

(ii)         the Sydney Lunar Festival has become the largest outside of Asia, with vibrant and colourful programs to celebrate multiculturalism and to bring opportunities to local businesses;

(iii)        small businesses, especially those in Thai Town, Korean Town, and China Town, benefited from the Sydney Lunar Festival 2020, due to the City’s lunar lantern instalments and street activations in the area;

(iv)       during the pandemic, our multicultural communities and businesses in the area have shown exceptional courage and resilience to counter the difficulties experienced. The communities have banded together, and their support reached many, especially the vulnerable in the community;

(v)         post pandemic the Sydney Lunar Festival 2021 will be an important occasion to provide cultural and moral support and recognition to our multicultural communities;

(vi)       in alignment with the Al Fresco Summer, the Sydney Lunar Festival 2021 will bring significant and much needed opportunities to businesses in CBD South as well as on George Street; and

(vii)      that planning for the Sydney Lunar Festival 2021 is underway, with a focus on City recovery;

(B)        Council acknowledge multicultural communities for their contributions during the pandemic; and

(C)       the Chief Executive Officer be requested to investigate the following and report back to Councillors via the CEO Update:

(i)          plans to focus on the CBD South to help to leverage small businesses in Korea Town, Thai Town, and China Town; and

(ii)         installing lunar lanterns in City of Sydney spaces including in the CBD South as part of the Sydney Lunar Festival 2021.

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

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