Decision details

Moved by Councillor Ellsmore, seconded by Councillor Thompson –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         food insecurity is a growing issue in our communities, with estimates suggesting that between one in 3 and one in 8 Australian households are unable to regularly or reliably afford or access the food they need

(ii)        food insecurity impacts all parts of the city, and particularly those areas which have a higher proportion of supported and public housing, including Glebe/ Camperdown, Redfern, Waterloo and Woolloomooloo. Local organisations report that demand for access to food support continues to grow, with the cost of living, especially high housing costs, driving more people into financial stress and unable to afford the basics

(iii)      the City of Sydney has committed to supporting the community to address food insecurity. As part of the social and community grant programs, following a Lord Mayoral Minute in 2023, Council launched a specific food support grant program for community-based organisations to deliver sustainable food support projects and programs that increase access to affordable and healthy food, and established a food operations network and working group to help coordinate food relief across the city

(iv)      the City of Sydney’s food support grant programs aim to provide support across the city, focusing particularly on those communities where the need is highest (priority communities)

(B)      Council note:

(i)         2 food support programs that Council had funded or part funded are the Glebe Youth Service Food Circle program (Glebe Youth Service Incorporated) and the Addison Road Community Organisation Camperdown Food Pantry (Addison Road Centre for Arts, Culture, Community and Environment Ltd or Addi Road)

(ii)        according to their website, the Glebe Youth Service Food Circle program began during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Food Circle program provides access to fresh fruit, vegetables, bread, eggs and meat when available for local families, primarily from the Glebe Estate. The program operated for 4 years without financial support from the City of Sydney. In June 2024, Glebe Youth Service were awarded $73,600 per year over 2 years (2024/25 and 2025/26) from the City’s Food support grant program. The Glebe Youth Service reports that in 2025/26:

(a)       an average of 86.4 local families accessed Food Circle each week

(a)       families accessed the program 3,965 times in total

(b)       a minimum of 35 households receive weekly home deliveries due to age, disability, mobility, or other complex circumstances

(c)       approximately 500 kilograms of food is rescued each week, reducing food waste while supporting local families

(d)       the program operates with a paid coordinator, an average of 14 volunteers, and donated food, including food donated from local businesses

(iii)      Addi Road Food Pantry and Kitchen is located in Common Ground Sydney, Camperdown (i.e. supported housing by Mission Australia offering wraparound services). The pantry operates as a low-cost and free grocery store, making use of rescued food, purchased stock and donations. The Cook Up program provides free cooking lessons, food literacy, nutritious meals and social connection. Addi Road reports:

(a)       through their 2 kitchens in Marrickville and Camperdown over 30,000 free, ready-to-eat meals were provided annually to food-insecure residents in 2025/26, in part through Council’s support

(b)       over 15% of Johanna O’Dea Court public housing residents and 80% of Common Ground residents rely on a daily ready-to-eat meal through the Camperdown Pantry and programs

(c)       50 meals and hampers are distributed fortnightly to Waterloo public housing residents

(d)       the Camperdown free monthly cookups support 300 people

(e)       weekly free meals are delivered for 150 people at Newtown Station, delivered in partnership with a local agency

(f)        another key group which accesses the Camperdown pantry are international students

(C)      Council note:

(i)         at its 29 June 2026 Council meeting Council allocated funding for food programs in 2026/27 and beyond. Council received 25 applications from organisations seeking support from the $1,550,000 food support grant funding pool

(ii)        Council received more applications for programs than it could fund

(iii)      the recommended grant recipients totalling $927,816 in cash and $12,402 in kind included organisations based in or operating out of Redfern, Waterloo, Newtown, Woolloomooloo, Surry Hills, Erskineville and Marrickville

(iv)      for the Glebe and Camperdown area the funding granted was to Pocket City Farms for $9,000. Also, First Nations Response Limited who received a three year grant provides some homes deliveries in Glebe and 12 to 15 boxes of fresh food per week, which are distributed through the Glebe Youth Service Food Circle program

(v)       the recommendation adopted by Council at its 29 June 2026 meeting did not include further funding for the Glebe Youth Service or the Addison Road Camperdown food programs. These programs had been funded to 30 June 2026, however the Glebe Assistance Program and Glebe Treehouse continue to offer food support in Glebe

(vi)      Glebe Youth Service and Addison Road have reported that the programs in Glebe and Camperdown will now be scaled back or closed, with cuts already being implemented since Council’s decision

(vii)     the City’s Food Operations Working Group plays a vital role in strengthening collaboration across the local food support sector to ensure a more coordinated, demand-driven approach to food relief:

(a)       the group works to ensure everyone who needs food support can access it through collective impact, improved coordination, and stronger referral pathways between food support organisations in the local area

(b)       the Food Operations Working Group is in a unique position to provide the support needed to ensure that Council’s grant decision does not create a gap in support for individuals and families who have been relying on the food programs provided by the Glebe Youth Service and Addison Road Community Centre

(D)      Council reaffirms its commitment to:

(i)         operate a food security program which works with local organisations who are providing food programs to support sustainable, long-term support for food security

(ii)        ensure funding is provided across the city, where there is highest need, and that gaps are not created through Council funding decisions

(E)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to work with the Glebe Youth Service, Addi Road and other local organisations, to ensure the individuals and families who have been relying on the existing Glebe and Camperdown food programs continue to be able to access support in the short term 

(F)      authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer to award ad hoc grants totalling up to $50,000 from the 2026/27 General Contingency Fund to fund measures to address any identified food provision gaps in Glebe and Camperdown. If grants are awarded they will be reported retrospectively in the Quarterly Update to Council

(G)      Council note:

(i)         that the approved funding of up to $50,000 may alternatively be directly spent by the Chief Executive Officer on measures identified as necessary to address any food provision gaps in Glebe and Camperdown

(ii)        that if any grants are made, they will be made to entities which do not operate for private gain in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1993

(H)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         work with Glebe Youth Service, Addi Road and local organisations to develop a plan for ensure continued food security support in the Glebe and Camperdown area in the medium to long term

(ii)        provide regular updates and advice to the elected Council about this work, including advice as to whether Council should consider changes or an expansion to the food grants program in the future, in light of the growing level of need.

Carried unanimously.

X113765