Agenda of Council - Tuesday, 17 March 2026

Council Meeting

17 March 2026

Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting held on 17 February 2026 at Ashfield Service Centre

Meeting commenced at 7:35pm

Present:

Darcy Byrne

Chloe Smith

Izabella Antoniou

Liz Atkins

Olivia Barlow

Andrew Blake

Jo Carlisle

Vicki Clay

Jessica D’Arienzo

Kerrie Fergusson

Mat Howard

Victor Macri

Vittoria Raciti

Philippa Scott

Ismet Tastan
Peter Gainsford

Simone Plummer

Mayor

Deputy Mayor

Councillor

General Manager

Director Planning

Ruth Callaghan

Director Community

Sharon Bowman

Peter Shields

Ryann Midei

Matthew Pearce

Megan Jenkins

Manod Wickramasinghe

Scott Mullen

Director Corporate

Director Engineering

Director Property and Major Projects

General Counsel

Senior Lawyer

Traffic and Transport Planning Manager

Strategic Investments and Property Manager

George Georgakis

Tia Camelin

Administration Manager

Acting Business Paper Coordinator

APOLOGIES AND REQUEST FOR REMOTE PARTICIPATION:

Nil.

DISCLOSURES OF INTEREST:

Councillor Barlow declared a non-significant, non-pecuniary interest in Item 10 - Local Transport Forum Terms of Reference and 2025 Authorisation and Delegation Instrument as she works in the Office of Kobi Shetty MP, who in her capacity as the Member for Balmain, has a representative on the Transport Forum. She will remain in the meeting during discussion and voting on the matter as the vote is exercised through a representative.

Councillor Raciti declared a pecuniary interest on Item 16 – 67-75 Lords Road, Leichhardt – Dedication of Open Space – VPA as her husband is the President of Leichhardt Apia Tigers and her son is on the Committee. She will leave the meeting during discussion and voting on the matter.

Councillor Howard declared a non-significant, non-pecuniary interest in Item 5 – Marrickville Parklands and Golf Course Upgrade as he is a social member of the Marrickville Golf Club. He will remain in the meeting during discussion and voting on the matter.

Councillor Antoniou declared a significant non-pecuniary interest in Item 12 – Supporting Visual Artists and Writers to Find Affordable Spaces to Work in the Inner West as the outgoing collective from Thirning Villa refugee arts project is an organisation that she has collaborated with over the years. In the last two years she has not partaken in compensated activity with them. She is still a supporter and out of an abundance of caution she will leave the meeting during discussion and voting on the matter.

Councillor Scott declared a pecuniary interest on Item 16 – 67-75 Lords Road, Leichhardt – Dedication of Open Space – VPA as her principal place of residence is adjacent to the development site. She will leave the meeting during discussion and voting on the matter.

Motion: (Carlisle/D’Arienzo )

That Council note the disclosure of interest.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES

Motion: (Atkins/Scott )

That the Minutes of the Council held on Tuesday, 9 December 2025 be confirmed as a correct record.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(2) Item 49 Mayoral Minute: Condolences from Inner West Council on the Bondi Massacre

Motion: (Byrne)

1. That Council condemns the devastating loss of life and horrific, senseless violence targeting the Jewish community on 14 December 2025, as they gathered to celebrate Chanukah on Bondi Beach.

2. That Council extends our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and all those affected by the Bondi Beach terrorist attack and wishes those injured in the attack a full and speedy recovery.

3. That Council commends and expresses gratitude for the extraordinary bravery of the police and emergency services personnel, Waverley Council staff, surf lifesavers, and community members who showed tremendous courage and acted quickly to bring people to safety.

4. That Council notes that Rotary has established the Unite for Bondi Appeal as the official fund for donations to help with the recovery of the victims and the community and that this fund has been authorised by the NSW Government.

5. In recognition of the enormous impact on Waverley Council including their staff and their community, that Council make a donation of $20,000 to the Unite for Bondi Appeal for the purpose of supporting the Waverley community in their recovery. Funds for this are to be identified in the next quarterly budget review.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

Procedural Motion (Howard/Atkins)

That Council Suspend Standing Orders to bring forward the following items to be dealt with at this time:

1. Item 1 Public Exhibition - Tempe Lands Masterplan

2. Item 4 Major Capital Projects Committee - Revised Terms of

Reference

3. Item 6 Airspace land adjacent to St Peters Town Hall

4. Item 9 Review of Car Share Parking Fees and Charges

5. Item 11 Flood Management Advisory Committee Meeting – 26

November 2025

6. Item 17 Quarterly Strategic Investment Property Report

7. Item 18 Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre Upgrade - Monthly Project

Update

8. Item 19 Leichhardt Oval Refurbishment - Monthly Project Update

9. Item 23 Update - Crystal Street Petersham Roundtable

10. Item 25 Park Fire Risk Management

11. Item 26 Investment Report for the periods ending 30 November

2025 and 31 December 2025

12. Item 27 Quarter 2 Report on Operational Plan 2025/26 including

Quarterly Budget Review Statement

13. Item 28 Updated Pecuniary Interest Returns

14. Item 30 Notice of Motion: Junior Parkrun

15. Item 32 Notice of Motion: Redundant Optus Cable

16. Item 33 Notice of Motion: Supporting Place-Based Youth Services

17. Item 36 Notice of Motion: Community Recycling Centres Review

18. Item 37 Notice of Motion: Pedestrian safety at Unwins Bridge Road

and Hillcrest Street, Tempe

19. Item 38 Notice of Motion: Vegetation Management and

Rehabilitation – Cooks River Foreshore, Thornley Street Marrickville

20. Item 39 Notice of Motion: Geo-blocking Ovals for Shared E-bikes

21. Item 40 Notice of Motion: Council Run Events on the GreenWay

22. Item 42 Notice of Motion: Cul de sac maintenance - Athol St,

Leichhardt

23. Item 45 Notice of Motion: Seniors Morning Teas to Celebrate the

GreenWay

24. Item 46 Notice of Motion: Maintaining integrity of annual grant program

process

25. Item 47 Notice of Motion: 2026 National General Assembly Proposed

Motion: The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

Procedural Motion (Howard/Atkins)

That the following items be moved in globo and the recommendations contained within the reports be adopted:

1. Item 1 Public Exhibition - Tempe Lands Masterplan

2. Item 4 Major Capital Projects Committee - Revised Terms of

Reference

3. Item 6 Airspace land adjacent to St Peters Town Hall

4. Item 9 Review of Car Share Parking Fees and Charges

5. Item 11 Flood Management Advisory Committee Meeting – 26

November 2025

6. Item 17 Quarterly Strategic Investment Property Report

7. Item 18 Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre Upgrade - Monthly Project

Update

8. Item 19 Leichhardt Oval Refurbishment - Monthly Project Update

9. Item 23 Update - Crystal Street Petersham Roundtable

10. Item 25 Park Fire Risk Management

11. Item 26 Investment Report for the periods ending 30 November

2025 and 31 December 2025

12. Item 27 Quarter 2 Report on Operational Plan 2025/26 including

Quarterly Budget Review Statement

13. Item 28 Updated Pecuniary Interest Returns

14. Item 30 Notice of Motion: Junior Parkrun

15. Item 32 Notice of Motion: Redundant Optus Cable

16. Item 33 Notice of Motion: Supporting Place-Based Youth Services

17. Item 36 Notice of Motion: Community Recycling Centres Review

18. Item 37 Notice of Motion: Pedestrian safety at Unwins Bridge Road

and Hillcrest Street, Tempe

19. Item 38 Notice of Motion: Vegetation Management and

Rehabilitation – Cooks River Foreshore, Thornley Street Marrickville

20. Item 39 Notice of Motion: Geo-blocking Ovals for Shared E-bikes

21. Item 40 Notice of Motion: Council Run Events on the GreenWay

22. Item 42 Notice of Motion: Cul de sac maintenance - Athol St,

Leichhardt

23. Item 45 Notice of Motion: Seniors Morning Teas to Celebrate the

GreenWay

24. Item 46 Notice of Motion: Maintaining integrity of annual grant program

process

25. Item 47 Notice of Motion: 2026 National General Assembly Proposed

Motion: The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 1 Public Exhibition - Tempe Lands Masterplan

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council endorse the exhibition of the draft Tempe Lands Masterplan (former Sydney Gateway Site) for a period of 28 days.

2. That Council receive a report on the outcomes of the community engagement by the May 2026 Council meeting.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 4 Major Capital Projects Committee - Revised Terms of Reference

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

That Council approve the revised Terms of Reference for the Major Capital Projects Committee which includes the appointment of the Director Property and Major Projects as a non-voting member, consistent with the practices of similar committees.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 6 Airspace land adjacent to St Peters Town Hall

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

That Council formally write to Airservices Australia requesting the transfer of the land to Inner West Council, if the land has been deemed surplus to Airservices Australia’s operational requirements.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 9 Review of Car Share Parking Fees and Charges

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

That Council endorse the public exhibition of the proposed Car Share parking fees as detailed in the report, and that they be exhibited within the 2026/27 Fees and Charges.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 11 Flood Management Advisory Committee Meeting - 26 November 2025

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

That Council receive and adopt the recommendations of the Flood Management Advisory Committee meeting held on 26 November 2025.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 17 Quarterly Strategic Investment Property Report

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council receive and note the report.

2. That Council consider the publication of the confidential report attached to this business paper on Council’s website after twelve months, subject to consultation with affected parties.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 18 Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre Upgrade - Monthly Project Update

Motions: (Howard/Atkins)

That Council receive and note the report which details the following progress since the last report:

1. Stage 1 is scheduled for completion by mid-February 2026

2. The continued progress of Stage 2, with the select tender process now closed and a separate confidential report to be tabled at the February 2026 Council meeting.

3. Feasibility reviews were undertaken to assess the viability of modifying the Stage 2 design to meet elite Water polo competition standards which concluded such modifications would present unacceptable financial, operational and scheduling risks for Council and an additional funding of at least $8M for the elite water polo pool, which is not in Council’s Long Term Financial Plan.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 19 Leichhardt Oval Refurbishment - Monthly Project Update

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

That Council receive and note the report which details the following progress since the last report:

1. The State Significant Development Application was submitted to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure in late December 2025 and was publicly exhibited from 16 January 2026 to 12 February 2026.

2. Schematic design has been completed, with the design now progressing into detailed development for the lower bowl seating, western grandstand, and northern grandstand, supported by specialised architectural, structural, services, and cost‑planning consultants.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 23 Update - Crystal Street Petersham Roundtable

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council endorse the Crystal Street Roundtable Action Plan for delivery.

2. That Council provides a report to the June 2026 Council meeting on those actions that require a longer timeframe. This further report will include an update of those actions that have been completed.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 25 Park Fire Risk Management

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

That Council receive and note the report on Park Fire Risk Management, which considers existing arrangements and further measures introduced to enhance fire risk management including additional maintenance and monitoring practices.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 26 Investment Report for the periods ending 30 November 2025 and 31 December 2025

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

That Council receive and note the investment report for the periods ending 30 November and 31 December 2025, demonstrating continued strong investment returns in a non-fossil fuel portfolio.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 27 Quarter 2 Report on Operational Plan 2025/26 including Quarterly Budget Review Statement

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council endorse the Quarterly Progress Report for Quarter 2 2025/26 on the Operational Plan 2025/26, noting that:

a) 93% of the actions were completed or on track, and 80% of measures were on target or within tolerance; and

b) Highlights for the quarter included the Greenway opening, 3 major street festivals, Ashfield Aquatic Centre 5^th Birthday and the 2-year anniversary of FOGO.

2. That Council adopt the Quarterly Budget Review Statement including the recommended changes detailed therein for Quarter 2 2025/26, as follows:

a) Increasing Council’s net operating position excluding capital grants from $104,000 to $160,000;

b) Decreasing the Capital Works Program from $128.0 million to $119.6 million primarily to realign budget to future years to meet expected completion dates; and

c) Increasing projected capital grants by $3.8m.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 28 Updated Pecuniary Interest Returns

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

That Council receive and note the updated Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest Returns lodged by the Mayor, Clr Darcy Byrne; Clr Mat Howard; Clr Philippa Scott; Clr Jo Carlisle; and Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee (ARIC) member Helen Hu.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 30 Notice of Motion: Junior Parkrun

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council notes the success of Parkrun as a free, volunteer-led initiative that promotes physical activity, social connection and inclusive use of public open space, including the ongoing success of the Bay Run Parkrun in Haberfield and other nearby Parkrun events.

2. That Council notes the establishment and growth of Junior Parkrun events in Australia and overseas, which provide free, weekly 2 kilometre events for children aged 4 to 14 years and their families, and the demonstrated physical, mental health and community benefits of these programs.

3. That Council requests staff to investigate the establishment of a Junior Parkrun in the Inner West, including consideration of locations such as Marrickville Oval, the GreenWay corridor, Pratten Park or another suitable site, and consultation with Parkrun Australia and relevant community stakeholders.

4. That Council requests that staff meet with Parkrun representatives and report back to Council within two months on the outcomes of this investigation, including feasibility, recommended locations, resourcing and cost implications, and alignment with Council strategies and priorities.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 32 Notice of Motion: Redundant Optus Cable

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

That Council write to the responsible authorities to seek the removal of the redundant Optus cable network on telegraph poles. If no cooperation is given then write to the State Government asking them to introduce legislation requiring the removal of the redundant cable.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 33 Notice of Motion: Supporting Place-Based Youth Services

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council, as part of the Child and Youth Strategy, included an exploration of place-based youth services and the potential models that council could support through partnerships and existing infrastructure.

2. That Council as part of the Child and Youth strategy develop a communications plan to improve knowledge of and highlight existing youth services in each ward. The strategy should highlight the age demographics being serviced by each program.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 36 Notice of Motion: Community Recycling Centres Review

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council acknowledges the vital role of Council’s Community Recycling Centres (CRCs) at Leichhardt and St Peters in waste management, landfill diversion and supporting the circular economy in the Inner West.

2. That Council notes that funding for CRCs is derived from both the Domestic Waste Reserve and the NSW Government’s Community Recycling Centre program, administered by the Environmental Protection Authority through the Environmental Trust, with the stated purpose of assisting residents to responsibly dispose of household “problem waste”, including electronics, batteries and chemicals.

3. That Council thanks staff for their ongoing work in planning for and operating the CRCs in alignment with Council’s objectives and principles.

4. That Council undertakes a review of Community Recycling Centres with a view to:

a) Ensuring the operation of Inner West Council CRCs reflects best practice, including but not limited to:

i. Undertaking a survey of residents who utilise existing CRC services;

ii. Investigating the operation of CRCs at other councils, with a view to identifying and incorporating innovative approaches; and

iii. Including CRCs as an agenda item at an upcoming Circular Economy Roundtable to seek feedback and ideas

b) Improving accessibility of CRCs for local residents, including but not limited to:

i. Reviewing operating hours;

ii. Considering options to expand the types of waste accepted, including textiles and bulky items;

iii. Reviewing how CRCs interact with other Council waste services, including bulky waste collection and the Sustainability Hub; and

iv. Reviewing the promotion and communication of CRC services.

c) Positioning CRCs at the forefront of the circular economy within the Inner West, including but not limited to:

i. Developing stronger partnerships with local circular economy organisations to increase diversion outcomes;

ii. Providing additional training for CRC staff on circular economy principles and diversion pathways to better inform residents;

iii. Exploring the co-location of Waste Busters staff at CRCs on operational days;

iv. Improving signage and communications to enhance community understanding of circular economy opportunities; and

v. Investigating events such as reverse markets (“reverse shopping”) to facilitate reuse and donation of items to circular economy organisations.

5. That Council requests that a report be brought back to Council by August 2026, including data on existing CRC services, findings from the review, and recommendations for improvement.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 37 Notice of Motion: Pedestrian safety at Unwins Bridge Road and Hillcrest Street, Tempe

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council notes that residents report the pedestrian crossing at Unwins Bridge Road and Hillcrest Street, Tempe, is unsafe and that’s there have been several near-misses at the location.

2. That Council undertakes a safety review of the intersection with a view to making improvements to make the intersection safer for pedestrians and cyclists, including but not limited to upgrading the crossing to a wombat crossing, renewing line marking, improving signage, advocating for a road crossing supervisor, or other traffic mitigation measures.

3. That Council report the findings of the review to the Local Traffic Forum within three months and in the meantime, undertake any urgent works to improve safety as a matter of priority.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 38 Notice of Motion: Vegetation Management and Rehabilitation – Cooks River Foreshore, Thornley Street Marrickville

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council requests Council staff investigate vegetation, weed infestation, and waste accumulation on Council-managed land adjoining the Cooks River foreshore at and behind 50–54 Thornley Street, Marrickville.

2. That Council requests Council staff liaise with affected residents, the Cooks River Alliance, Sydney Water or other agencies, and local bushcare groups to clarify land ownership, access, and appropriate management responsibilities.

3. That Council requests Council staff report back via briefing note on options to support rehabilitation works, including waste removal, provision of mulch and native plants (where eligible), and future maintenance arrangements consistent with Council’s environmental and safety obligations, within one month.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 39 Notice of Motion: Geo-blocking Ovals for Shared E-bikes

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council convene a meeting with shared e-bike providers operating within the Inner West Local Government Area to request that all shared e-bikes be geofenced to prevent access to the playing surfaces of ovals across the LGA; and

2. That Council receive a report at the April Council meeting outlining the outcomes of these discussions.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 40 Notice of Motion: Council Run Events on the GreenWay

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council congratulate Inner West Council on the successful opening of the GreenWay in December 2025, noting that usage tripled in the first two weeks following its opening;

2. That Council prepare a report for the April Council meeting outlining potential Council run events that could be held along the GreenWay, including but not limited to:

a) A half marathon;

b) Kids Bike Buses, including school commutes and other cycling based events aimed at increasing riding confidence and skills, including bike tune-up activities; and

c) Partnering with local schools to deliver educational and practical bushcare programs

3. That Council create and execute a communication plan that demonstrates how the GreenWay is currently being used by Inner West residents.

4. That Council investigate the need for additional signage from Jack Shanahan Reserve to the Cooks River.

5. That Council ensure the report includes estimated costs, budget implications, and suggested timeframes for delivery.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 42 Notice of Motion: Cul de sac maintenance - Athol St, Leichhardt

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council refer to the Local Transport Forum to consider formalising on-street parking at the cul-de-sac end of Athol Street, Leichhardt with marked lines and installation of clear no-parking signage where parking would impede driveway access.

2. That Council conduct tree trimming on the trees in the Athol Street cul-de-sac.

3. That Council investigate footpath maintenance to address lifted pavers or cracks, and ensure the path through from Darley Road is safe for residents and commuters to and from Marion Light Rail station.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 45 Notice of Motion: Seniors Morning Teas to Celebrate the GreenWay

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council as an introduction to, and a celebration of the Greenway, expand the Seniors Morning Tea program, with ‘Morning Teas for Seniors’ events to take place at Johnson Park and Richard Murden Reserve to include guided tours of the Greenway, paced to suit all levels of mobility.

2. That Council schedule the Seniors Morning Teas at the Greenway to take place in the autumn and spring seasons of 2026.

3. That Council gauge transportation needs of attendees with mobility concerns to/from the events to determine whether the community bus would be required.

4. That Council provide public transport advice/guidance for ease of entry to the Greenway access points.

5. That Council communicate the events in the Inner West Council Newsletter, the Inner West Council website and social media pages, in multiple languages at libraries and community centres.

6. That Council prepare a report for the March 2026 Council meeting outlining the Seniors Morning Tea Program across the Inner West Council’s community centres, detailing the locations and dates schedule for 2026.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 46 Notice of Motion: Maintaining Integrity of Annual Grant Program Process

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

1. That Council Affirms its commitment to the integrity and transparency of the Inner West Council Annual Grant Program as the primary mechanism for distributing community grants.

2. That Council resolves that all requests for grant funding to community organisations, groups, or individuals must be processed through the established Annual Grant Program, subject to the published eligibility criteria, assessment processes, and timeframes outlined in the Annual Grant Program Guidelines.

3. That Council resolves that Council will not consider motions from individual Councillors seeking one-off grants for specific organisations outside the Annual Grant Program process, except in the following circumstances:

a) Emergency situations requiring immediate Council response where there is insufficient time to wait for the next grant round and where the matter poses significant risk to community safety or wellbeing; or

b) Where Council has specifically resolved to establish a new grant stream or program with defined criteria and assessment processes.

4. That Council notes that Councillors who identify community organisations or projects that may benefit from Council grant funding should:

a) Direct those organisations to the appropriate grant stream within the Annual Grant Program;

b) Encourage organisations to contact the relevant Council grant officers for application support as outlined in the Annual Grant Program Guidelines; and

c) If appropriate, advocate through proper processes for the creation of new grant streams to address identified community needs, with such new streams to include clear eligibility criteria and assessment processes.

5. That Council notes that this process is separate to Council event funding which may, from time to time, require one off funding commitments.

6. That Council requests the General Manager to investigate options for increasing funding to the Annual Grant Program through as part of the 2026-2027 budget process.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 47 Notice of Motion:2026 National General Assembly Proposed Motion: The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

That Council endorse the following motion to be submitted to the 2026 National General Assembly:

This National General Assembly calls on the Australian Government to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in this term of government.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 2 Public Exhibition - Camperdown Park Draft Plan of Management

Motion: (Smith/Atkins)

1. That Council endorse the exhibition of the Draft Plan of Management and Masterplan for Camperdown Park for a period of 42 days and hold a customer service stall at Camperdown Park on a Saturday during the exhibition period.

2. That Council staff specifically engage with the Portuguese Ethnographic Museum regarding the exploration of the full renovation of the museum building as a community facility.

3. That Council receive a report on the outcomes of the community engagement by the June 2026 Council meeting.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 3 Post Exhibition - Pocket and Neighbourhood Parks Plan of Management

Motion: (Smith/Clay)

That Council defers and receives a further report to the March Council Meeting which separates the Pocket Parks Plan of Management into a separate report for each of the five wards and includes:

a) An estimated total expenditure per park and per ward;

b) A list of which parks per ward fall into each category of prioritisation;

c) Information as to how the recommendations and costings for each pocket park will be integrated into the capital works program.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 5 Marrickville Parklands and Golf Course Upgrade

Motion: (Howard/Bryne)

1. That Council agree to act as Project Sponsor for the Marrickville Golf Club community infrastructure project for the purposes of the Australian Government’s Major and Local Community Infrastructure Program (MLCIP).

2. That Council authorise the General Manager (or delegate) to submit the MLCIP funding application, and, if successful, enter into a Funding Agreement with the Commonwealth and undertake all compliance, reporting, audit and milestone payment obligations.

3. That Council support the establishment of a back‑to‑back agreement between Council and Marrickville Golf Club, to be finalised prior to execution of any Commonwealth funding agreement, setting out governance, project scope, program and milestones, budget and contingencies, procurement and probity, reporting, risk allocation, and insurance and indemnity arrangements.

4. That Council note that the back-to-back agreement will provide for milestone payments to the Club only after milestones are achieved, evidence is provided, and corresponding Commonwealth payments are received by Council.

5. That Council endorse the provision of in-kind Council officer support as necessary to facilitate the successful delivery of the project.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 8 Post Exhibition - Sydenham Road Strategy

Motion: (Howard/Scott)

1. That Council approve the Sydenham Road Strategy Short Term Grant Funded Works plan and Short Term Council Funded Works plan, subject to the following:

a) The parking plan, to be submitted to TfNSW for approval, be amended so that:

i. two parking spaces along the frontage of 73 Sydenham Road (northern side of road) be retained as unrestricted parking

ii. three spaces along the frontage of 46-50 Sydenham Road (southern side of the road) be retained as unrestricted parking

b) Fairy lights are provisioned at select locations along the route and will remain operable until key elements of the Long Term Vision are complete.

c) A review of pedestrian and cyclist safety be provided to the Local Transport Forum 9 months after commissioning of the Sydenham Road shared path including consideration of whether a shared path is necessary on the southern footpath of Sydenham Road.

2. That the parking arrangements be reviewed 9 months after implementation.

3. That Council approve the Long Term Vision Plan as the basis for advocacy to TfNSW subject to the following amendments:

a) A separated cycleway is proposed for the entire length of the Sydenham Road Strategy

b) The provision of an active transport link through this same land which would connect Sydenham Road to Sydney Steel Road either via the Sydney Water aqueduct or Garden Street.

c) A new signalised intersection where Sydenham Road intersects with both Buckley Street and Fitzroy Street, incorporating pedestrian, cycling and vehicle safety improvements

d) Pedestrian, cycling and vehicle safe access improvements to the existing signalised intersection of Victoria and Sydenham Road.

4. That Council proceed with the process of planning for and designing a separated cycleway for the entire length of the Sydenham Road Strategy so as to be competitive for future grant and funding opportunities, and that the construction of a cycleway be subject to future community consultation.

5. That Council write to the Minister for Transport to seek the provision of an active transport link through the land alongside the station (Lot 1 DP 107211) bound by Garden Street, Sydenham Station and properties No.12-14 Garden Street and 19 Sydenham Road, which would connect Sydenham Road to Sydney Steel Road either via the Sydney Water aqueduct or Garden Street.

6. That Council to make a targeted approach to high-potential businesses in the study area to partner on the creation of parklets in their setbacks.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Cr Macri

Amendment: (Macri/Raciti)

1. All other parking spaces on the northern side of Sydenham Road be converted to 7-hour parking from 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and 2-hour parking from 5pm-10pm Monday to Friday and from 8am-10pm on Saturday and Sunday.

2. That, given the impacts of the Metro on increased demand for commuter parking, Council write to the Minister for Transport to seek the provision of a commuter parking station at Sydenham Station on the land alongside the station (Lot 1 DP 1072112) bound by Garden Street, Sydenham Road, Sydenham Station and properties No.12-14 Garden Street and 19 Sydenham Road.

Motion Lost

For Motion: Crs Macri and Raciti

Against Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Scott, Smith and Tastan

C0226(1) Item 10 Local Transport Forum Meeting - 8 December 2025

Motion: Scott/Macri

That Council receive and adopt the recommendations of the Local Transport Forum meeting held on 08 December 2025, subject to the following amendment:

Add as point oo. the following to the recommendations for Item 1: Annandale LATM Study Final Report:

oo. Install raised pedestrian crossing in Booth Street between Taylor Street and Wigram Road.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

Councillor Antoniou left the meeting at 8.27pm as she had declared a significant non-pecuniary interest in Item 12 as the outgoing collective from Thirning Villa refugee arts project is an organisation that she has collaborated with over the years. In the last two years she has not partaken in compensated activity with them. She is still a supporter and out of an abundance of caution she left the meeting during discussion and voting on the matter.

C0226(1) Item 12 Supporting Visual Artists and Writers to Find Affordable Spaces to Work in the Inner West

Motion: (Smith/Blake)

Notes the importance of artists having access to affordable creative space, the high demand for affordable creative space in the inner city, and the Council’s significant and ongoing efforts to support local creatives while also providing community benefit.

2. That Council receives a report to the March Council Meeting providing additional information on Council’s investment in creative venues and opportunities to support creative arts in the Inner West, including:

a) The programs, residencies, and/or events currently utilising space at Thirning Villa, Whites Creek Cottage, and Stonevilla, their length of tenancy, and the costs to Council to support them;

b) The program and cost of scheduled capital works and maintenance at each of the venues listed above;

c) An update on the Marrickville Town Hall basement space; and

d) An overview of any other subsidised venues available to support creative arts in the Inner West, including Garry Owen House.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

Absent: Cr Antoniou

Councillor Antoniou returned to the meeting at 8.32pm.

C0226(1) Item 13 National General Assembly of Local Government 2026

Motion: (Scott/Byrne)

That Council determine the Councillors attending the National General Assembly of Local Government 2026: Cr Byrne, Cr Atkins, Cr Clay and Cr Tastan.

That Council determine the one (1) Councillor that will be the voting delegate: Cr Byrne.

That Council consider any proposed motions and endorse as appropriate to be submitted to the National General Assembly of Local Government 2026.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 14 Public Exhibition - Complaints Handling Policy Review

Motion: (Scott/Atkins)

1. That Council place the draft Complaints Handling Policy on public exhibition for a period of 28 days to seek community feedback on the proposed Policy.

2. That following the conclusion of the exhibition period, the draft Complaints Handling Policy be brought back to Council for consideration for adoption.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 15 Abolishing Subminimum Wages for People with Disability

Motion: (Atkins/Carlisle)

1. That Council notes the progress outlined in this report, and endorses the ongoing pursuit of fair wage principles across procurement, grants, and sponsorships.

2. That Council accepts the request from the Access LDG to amend the terms of their engagement to review and endorse staff amendments to policies, as opposed to reviewing each policy in detail.

3. That, in response to the resolution to review the Sponsorship Policy to ensure exclusion of sponsorship for any individual or organisation that fails to provide appropriate remuneration to people with disability, Council:

a) Place the attached draft Sponsorship Policy on public exhibition for a period of 28 days to seek community feedback, subject to the addition of the words “including those that pay a sub-minimum wage to such workers” at the end of paragraph 5(f) and at the end of the 5th dot point in the fourth paragraph of section 6.

b) That following the conclusion of the exhibition period, the draft Sponsorship Policy be brought back to Council for consideration for adoption.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

Procedural Motion: (Carlisle/D’Arenzio)

That Council enter into Confidential session.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

Council entered into Closed Session at 8.40pm.

Confidential Session

That in accordance with Section 10A(1) of the Local Government Act 1993, the following matters be considered in Closed Session of Council for the reasons provided:

C0226(1) Item 7 RFT 21-25 – Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre Tender – Stage 2

The reason for dealing with the report confidentially is that it contains information (Section 10A(2)(c) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed, confer a commercial advantage on a person with whom the council is conducting (or proposes to conduct) business; AND commercial information of a confidential nature (Section 10A(2)(d)(i) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed prejudice the commercial position of the person who supplied it; AND commercial information of a confidential nature (Section 10A(2)(d)(ii) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed confer a commercial advantage on a competitor of the council.

C0226(1) Item 16 76-75 Lords Road, Leichhardt – Dedication of Open Space – VPA

The reason for dealing with the report confidentially is that it contains information (Section 10A(2)(c) of the Local Government Act 1993) that would, if disclosed, confer a commercial advantage on a person with whom the council is conducting (or proposes to conduct) business.

Council moved back into Open Session at 9.36pm following the adoption of the procedural motion below:

Procedural Motion: (Howard/Clay)

That Council move back into the Open Session of the Council Meeting.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

resolutions passed during closed session

C0226(2) Item 7 RFT 21-25 – LEICHHARDT PARK AQUATIC CENTRE TENDER – STAGE 2

Motion: (Byrne/Scott)

1. That Council in accordance with Clause 178(1)(b) of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021, decline to accept any of the tender submissions in relation to RFT 21-25 due to the risks outlined in this report.

2. That Council decline to invite fresh tender submissions or applications under Clause 178(3)(b)–(d) of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021, for the following reasons:

a) The tender submissions received for RFT 21‑25 present significant risks as outlined in the tender evaluation report and inviting fresh tenders would not reasonably mitigate or eliminate these risks, nor is it likely to produce a materially different outcome.

b) The tender evaluation process is complete, and key issues affecting the viability and suitability of the submissions have already been identified, such that calling fresh tenders would result in unnecessary delay to the delivery of the Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre Stage 2 project.

c) Retendering would risk further prolonging the upgrade works to critical public aquatic infrastructure, noting that the existing pools have reached the end of their lifespan.

3. That Council determine to enter into negotiations with one or more of the tenderers, or any other relevant party, with a view to entering into a contract for the subject matter of the tender, in accordance with Clause 178(3)(e) of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2021, for the following reasons:

a) Negotiations will allow Council to address the risks identified in the current tender submissions through targeted refinement of scope, value, methodology, or risk allocation, which cannot be achieved through a competitive re‑tender process alone.

b) Entering negotiations provides the most expedient pathway to finalising a contract that ensures the successful and timely delivery of the Stage 2 works, including construction of the new 50m and 25m pools and associated infrastructure.

c) This approach maintains Council’s ability to secure a compliant, value for money outcome while ensuring project continuity and minimising disruption to the community.

4. Delegate authority to the General Manager to negotiate and enter into and manage a contract for the Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre – Stage 2 upgrade, as set out in this report.

5. Receive updates on the negotiation process outlined in Resolution 3 through a Council report, with a report to be presented to Council upon the conclusion of negotiations detailing the final outcome.

6. Consider the publication of this business paper on Council’s website after the completion (end of defects liability period) of the Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre Stage 2 Upgrade, subject to consultation with affected parties.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

Councillor Raciti left the meeting as she had declared a pecuniary interest on Item 16 as her husband is the President of Leichhardt Apia Tigers and her son is on the Committee.

Councillor Scott left the meeting as she had declared a pecuniary interest on Item 16 as her principal place of residence is adjacent to the development site.

C0226(1) Item 16 67-75 Lords Road, Leichhardt - Dedication of Open Space - VPA

Motion: (Byrne/Blake)

1. That Council reject the Voluntary Planning Agreement (the VPA) in respect of the dedication of 75 Lords Road, Leichhardt as land zoned RE1 - public open space;

2. That Council write to the Department of Planning, Housing and Industry and the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel advising that Council:

a) Rejects the VPA; and

b) Considers that the planning proposal fails to provide adequate public benefit to the community.

3. That Council resolves to publish this confidential business paper on Council’s website after the determination of any development application submitted by the proponent in respect of 67-73 Lords Road and 75 Lords Road, subject to prior consultation with affected parties, including the proponent and the Department of Planning, Housing and Industry.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

Absent: Clrs Raciti and Scott

OPEN COUNCIL ITEMS

C0226(1) Item 20 Leichhardt Oval Live Music Update

Motion: (Scott/Byrne)

1. That Council receive and note the report on the Leichhardt Oval Live Music highlighting the strategy and timeline for live music and entertainment at the Oval.

2. That Council staff immediately commence discussions with local music promoters and the local music industry to hold a community live music event in September 2026 prior to the planned closure of Leichhardt Oval. This should include: Live Music Venues Alliance, the Office of the 24 Hour Economy Commissioner, Create NSW, Music and Booze Co, and others with experience hosting large scale live music events in the inner west.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 21 Building Our Community Update

Motion: (Scott/D’Arienzo)

1. That Council receive and note the report which provides a program for engagement and development of the Building Our Community Plan.

2. That the engagement outcomes report and draft Inner West Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) be developed and shared with Council at the April 2026 meeting.

3. That Council staff include in the April report the entire program of engagement, and include continued doorknocking in phases two and three.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 22 Bi-Monthly Omnibus Planning Update

Motion: (D’Arienzo/Byrne)

1. That Council continue to advocate for a fast track assessment process from the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure to progress Our Fairer Future Plan Phase 1.

2. That Council prepares Stage 2 of Our Fairer Future to be limited to the following investigation areas:

a) Croydon/Iron Cove precinct

b) Site Specific Investigation Areas as outlined in Attachment 1 of the February 2026 report

c) Remaining areas identified through the low and mid-rise housing reforms as identified by Department of Planning (Annandale town centre (Booth Street), Lilyfield light rail station, Petersham station, St Peters station, Stanmore station)

d) Lewisham station

e) Any land owned by Homes NSW within the LGA for potential rezoning opportunities, with a focus on delivering increased social and affordable housing outcomes.

3. That the draft Stage 2 of Our Fairer Future be reported to the June 2026 Council meeting.

4. That the draft Affordable Housing Policy for community consultation be reported to the April 2026 council meeting.

5. That Council endorse the commencement of early online consultation for the Parramatta Road Corridor State Led rezoning in February 2026 for at least 28 days.

6. That the Inner West Development Control Plan be reported to the April 2026 council meeting.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott and Smith

Against Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake and Tastan

C0226(1) Item 24 Mandatory Reporting to Council of Reports Received from Fire & Rescue NSW for 7 Properties

Motion: (Howard/Atkins)

That Council receive and note the report.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 29 Financially Sustainable Service Delivery Program

Motion: (Scott/Byrne)

1. That Council receive the report and note that the program has successfully identified $3.43m (1.1%) in operating budget savings for 2026/27 and $4.74m (1.5%) for 2027/28 onwards, with additional opportunities still being explored, prior to the budget being placed on exhibition in April.

2. That the Council executive report with the draft Budget at the April meeting further savings at least equivalent to an additional 0.5% of the budget.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 31 Notice of Motion: Whites Creek Valley Park Care and Maintenance

Motion: (Fergusson/Scott)

1. That Council acknowledge that, following a review of reports from the past 5–10 years which identified long-term deterioration, White’s Creek Wetlands are now maintained by Council’s Bush Regeneration Team, with more than 30 hours per week currently invested in rehabilitation works.

2. That Council recognise and thank the Bush Regeneration Team for their work, including sediment removal, pump replacement, dredging and ongoing maintenance, pesticide-free weed management, and regular fauna surveys.

3. That Council acknowledge recent observations confirming healthy populations of Eastern Snake-Necked Turtle, Murray River Turtle, Eastern Dwarf Tree Frog, Striped Marsh Frog, and Peron’s Tree Frog.

4. That Council recognises that a recent unexpected drying event at the Wetlands caused by the unauthorised release of the pond pump valve has caused concern amongst regular users and volunteers of Whites Creek Valley Park.

5. That Council acknowledge and thank the Friends of White’s Creek Valley Park for their ongoing support and work.

6. That Council establish the Wetlands, Food Forest, Community Garden, and adjacent native bushland as environmentally sensitive areas, and promote and enforce a ban on plastics in these areas, alongside a review of the current maintenance plan.

7. That Council investigate the feasibility of appointing a specialist both in bush care and in wetlands management for Whites Creek Valley Park.

8. That Council review and improve waste management across the park, including requiring cottage hirers to remove their own rubbish.

9. That Council appoint a Council officer as a dedicated Wetlands Coordinator responsible for ongoing communication with the Friends of White’s Creek Valley Park.

10. That Council review permissions for Food Forest volunteers to prune and manage trees as required, in accordance with permaculture principles.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 34 Notice of Motion: Robson Park Off Leash Dog Area Feasibility

Motion: (Blake/Barlow)

1. That Council notes:

a) That in September 2025, Council resolved to revert Blackmore Park, Leichhardt to a full time on leash area.

b) That in December 2024, Council resolved as part of the Biodiversity Strategy to investigate a trial rewilding of Robson Park, Haberfield.

c) That a Park Plan of Management for Robson Park is scheduled to be developed in 2028.

2. That Council resolve to bring forward the development of the Park Plan of Management to early 2026/27 and is to include:

a) The rewilding trial as previously adopted by Council; and

b) A feasibility study of establishing a limited time, limited-area off-leash zone in Robson Park.

Motion Lost

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake and Tastan

Against Motion: Crs Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott and Smith

The following Motion was then moved:

Motion: Scott/Clay

1. That Council notes:

a) That in September 2025, Council resolved to revert Blackmore Park, Leichhardt to a full time on leash area.

b) That in December 2024, Council resolved as part of the Biodiversity Strategy to investigate a trial rewilding of Robson Park, Haberfield.

2. That a Park Plan of Management for Robson Park is scheduled to be developed in 2028 and is to include:

a) The rewilding trial as previously adopted by Council

b) A feasibility study of establishing a limited time, limited-area off-leash zone in Robson Park

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 35 Notice of Motion: Funding & Improvements to Christmas Decorations Across the Inner West LGA for Christmas 2026 and Beyond.

Clr Tastan withdrew the Notice of Motion and as such it was not considered at the meeting.

C0226(1) Item 41 Notice of Motion: Christmas in the Inner West

Motion: (Fergusson/Byrne)

1. That Council note that new Christmas decorations have been procured, with delivery expected early 2026, and commit to maximising their impact through complementary, low cost, community led initiatives.

2. That Council investigate ways to support Christmas festivity across the Inner West through a combination of localised and LGA wide initiatives that strengthen community connection and encourage residents to shop locally.

3. That Council prepare a report to the April Council meeting that includes the following;

a) Brief overview of how existing Christmas decorations will be deployed across the LGA in 2026

b) Opportunities to coordinate decorations with community events and local shopping precincts

c) Outline of the costs, feasibility and delivery approach for the following initiatives, and any additional initiatives identified by staff;

i. An Inner West “Light Up” Fest, including a best decorated house and street competition and an online map or webpage enabling residents to list participating homes and create a Christmas lights trail with a voting mechanism.

ii. Shopfront festive enhancements on Main Streets (e.g. bunting or tinsel) to increase street level activation and encourage local shopping.

iii. Working with community organisations to deliver a small-scale Christmas event in each ward, including community choirs and a Santa visit and ensure these events are well promoted in the lead up.

iv. Community Christmas Decoration workshops, i.e recycled Christmas wreath workshops at the Sustainability Hub and Council community centres.

d) Consult with the Inner West Council Small Business Local Democracy Group on proposed decoration locations for 2026 and opportunities to coordinate installations with local events.

4. That Council develop an online Inner West Christmas Portal, including:

a) An Inner West Christmas events calendar

b) A local shopping guide highlighting Inner West businesses

c) Content featuring local shop owners, artists and community organisations.

d) A dedicated webpage promoting the Inner West 'Light Up' Fest with voting mechanism, user upload gallery, prize information, terms and conditions and a map showing decorated houses across the Inner West.

5. That Council continue and expand promotion of the shopfront decoration competition, including encouraging participants to share entries through their own social media channels to amplify reach.

6. That Council create and execute a Christmas communication strategy to maximise community awareness and participation for competitions and events, and that the strategy includes a plan to incorporate acknowledgment of other major cultural and community celebrations into council communications.

7. That Council request that Council officers provide high-level observations (without detailed costings) on opportunities for future enhancement of Christmas decorations (including but not limited to the potential use of light projections on buildings and treescapes) and assets beyond 2026, to inform consideration in future budget processes.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

C0226(1) Item 43 Notice of Motion: Public Tree Planting Awareness and Engagement Program

Motion: (Smith/Howard)

1. That Council notes the ongoing commitment to expand and protect the Inner West’s urban tree canopy, including Council’s target of planting 1,000 new public trees each year and replacement tree planting policy where a tree is removed.

2. That Council notes that community members care deeply about local trees and the benefits they provide and that Council’s tree planting efforts are of significant community interest.

3. That Council develops an online tree planting tracker and map, allowing community members to stay updated on Council’s public tree planting program across the LGA year to year, including locations, species, and timelines for planting.

4. That Council develops appropriate signage to be installed onsite with each new public tree planting to support community awareness and engagement with Council’s planting program, including information on the Urban Forest Strategy and tree planting targets, the benefits of street trees, and how to contact Council for further information about street trees.

5. That Council as part of the existing Adopt-A-Spot and Living Streets Verge Garden program, allows residents to nominate locations for a public tree planting (e.g. verges, parks, curb extensions, traffic islands etc.) for Council investigation, advice, and support.

6. That Council receives a report back on progress of the above initiatives to the April Council Meeting.

7. That following the disappointing incident where a recently planted memorial tree was removed without informing the family:

a) Acknowledge the distress caused to the family.

b) Request that staff urgently review the Memorial Planting and Plaques in Parks and Open Spaces Policy, identifying the issues that arose in this case

c) In the April report, report findings and recommended improvements.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott and Smith

Against Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake and Tastan

C0226(1) Item 44 Notice of Motion: Dive-In Cinema

Motion: (Smith/Byrne)

1. That Council notes the popularity and importance of our local aquatic centres as low-cost venues for leisure, social events and community connection, and cooling centres during extreme heat, in a fun, family-friendly, and inclusive setting.

2. That Council notes Council’s ongoing efforts to activate and diversify public infrastructure for community benefit, including the Creative Town Halls program, Inner West Film Festival, and investigations for live music events at Henson Park and Leichhardt Oval.

3. That Council investigates establishing a ‘Dive-In Cinema’ event program for family-friendly movie screenings held at Inner West aquatic centres in the evening during summer, with the intention to establish a trial event as part of the remaining 2026 swim season.

4. That Council investigates establishing a program of small-scale live music events at Inner West aquatic centres to showcase local artists during summer, in the style of ‘Sunday sessions’.

5. That Council receives a report to the May Council Meeting on feasibility and cost of the above initiatives, including logistics considerations across all five aquatic centres, opportunities for local businesses to sponsor food and entertainment, consideration of similar events hosted by other councils, and a focus on family-friendly entertainment and accessibility.

Motion Carried

For Motion: Crs Antoniou, Atkins, Barlow, Blake, Byrne, Carlisle, Clay, D'Arienzo, Fergusson, Howard, Macri, Raciti, Scott, Smith and Tastan

Against Motion: Nil

Meeting closed at 10:31pm.

Council Meeting

17 March 2026

Item No: C0326(1) Item 1

Subject: Public Exhibition - Draft Great Inner West Walk Study

Prepared By: Peter Shields - Director Engineering

RECOMMENDATION

1. That Council publicly exhibit the draft Great Inner West Walk Study (Attachment 1) for a period of 28 days and seek community feedback on the proposed Study.

2. That following the conclusion of the exhibition period, the draft Great Inner West Walk Study be brought back to Council for consideration for adoption.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE

This report supports the following strategic directions contained within Council’s Community Strategic Plan:

2: Liveable, connected neighbourhoods and transport

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In April 2024, Council resolved to develop the Great Inner West Walk Study. Initial community engagement was undertaken in the preparation of the draft Study including a community survey and two rounds of engagement with selected Local Democracy Groups (LDGs). This consultation informed route selection for the Study.

This report provides a summary of the study including:

· proposed routes for the Great Inner West Walk;

· early engagement findings;

· a proposed works that may enhance the walks; and

· identification of potential funding opportunities.

The Great Inner West Walk Study proposes walking routes and a range of works that may be delivered along these walking routes including pedestrian facilities, signalised intersections, trees, greening, signage, seating, amenities, art, activations and bus stop upgrades. The infrastructure improvements identified in the Study, if done as a single project, have a very high cost. It is envisaged that the proposed works are delivered through two approaches. Firstly, short-term low-cost works required to establish all the walks. This would provide for wayfinding, signage and promotion for the walking routes. All remaining infrastructure would then be progressively delivered within existing programs to a coordinated standard. Grant funding and developer works would also provide opportunities to deliver the identified works.

It is recommended that Council exhibit the Study and seek community feedback, including five community sessions in conjunction with Council’s Mobile Customer Service Stalls. Following the community engagement, it is recommended that a final version of the Great inner West Walk is presented to Council for adoption and implementation with capital funding provisioned for the short-term works.

BACKGROUND

At the Council meeting held on 9 April 2024, Council resolved the following:

1. That Council endorse ‘A Great Inner West Walk’ in principle.

2. That Council convene a stakeholder meeting of external community active transport, pedestrian and environmental groups and Council’s Transport Advisory Committee, Arts and Culture Advisory Committee and Environment Advisory Committee for their input to ‘A Great Inner West Walk’

3. That Council convene an internal Project Control Group combining key staff from the traffic, transport, environment and communities directorates to manage the design and implementation of the walk.

4. That Council allocate the recommended funding in the 2024/25 budgeting planning process to studies and design work for the walk.

Council has already initiated a series of “walks” and “trails” at key locations in the LGA. Additionally, several other strategies/projects are currently underway which would contribute to the development of a Great Inner West Walk. These projects include the Blue-Green Grid, “Perfect Match” heritage walks, survivor memorials, indigenous wayfinding, public domain masterplans and state initiatives such as the Parramatta to CBD Foreshore Walk and Parramatta Road Corridor Urban Transformation Strategy.

These existing and current projects have been used to inform the Great Inner West Walk Study.

DISCUSSION

The draft Great Inner West Walk Study identified potential routes and gaps in the core pedestrian network of Inner West LGA (Figure 1). It documents a range of opportunities to improve infrastructure and encourage people to discover new experiences, enriching the vibrancy of local town centres and streets while contributing to the regional economy.

Rather than being a single Great Inner West Walk, around (or across) the LGA, the Study proposes a series thematic routes/links which are connected in a manner that creates a continuity of walking (and wheeling) for varying amounts of time/distance. This allows people to make informed choices to use the most appropriate links for their journey, based on their reason for walking and/or amount of time they wish to explore the Inner West.

Its design provides people with the opportunity to choose a combination links, to create their own customised “’superwalks’ across or around the Inner West.

Methodology

A specialist team was established to assess and plan the Great Inner West Walk network. They used a series of approaches to identify planned walking routes. This included assessment of the existing pedestrian walking network, desire lines, route gaps, barriers and opportunities (including public transport links). A Multi-Criteria Assessment (MCA) was developed and used to refine options for routes in a series of workshops. The MCA included consideration of:

· Connectivity – links to other walks and other modes of transport including cycling routes and public transport stations/stops;

· Place and activity – areas of interest along the route including shops, parks, sporting facilities;

· Strategic alignment – alignment with other council strategies and policies including Blue-Green Grid Strategy and Pedestrian and Mobility Plan;

· Merits – population and schools served on each route as well as proximity to uplift areas from State Government’s Transit Oriented Program is also considered;

· Safety – number of pedestrian crashes, lack of safe crossing options and road type; and

· Comfort – steepness, length and turns required on each option.

Proposed Walking Routes

The MCA resulted in five routes, with two of these merging into one route (Route 3|4)A. Figure 1 shows the proposed routes in Great Inner West Walk.

Figure 1: Draft Great Inner West Walk

Route 1: The Bays Link – connects the Bay Run and Rozelle Parklands along Lilyfield Road. A consultant for Council is currently working on the design plans for a bidirectional cycle route and concept plans for Lilyfield Road Cycleway will be put on exhibition in the near future. The concept plan for Route 1 takes into account the draft Lilyfield Road Cycleway and then proposes additional improvements to pedestrian infrastructure and amenities along the route.

Route 2: Foods of the World - runs between Lilyfield Road to Marrickville Station along the centre of the Inner West area, connecting several activity centres including all Little Precincts. Norton Street, Leichhardt between Allen Street and Parramatta Road is currently being considered in another study (Leichhardt Place Plan) and has been exempted from this Study’s concept plans.

Route 3/4: Creeks Walk – connects two existing walks (Johnstons Creek Trail and Whites Creek Trail) and local centres to Stanmore Station. Due to the proximity of both walks, a single route has been proposed.

Route 5: City and Reprieve – connects GreenWay to Iron Cove Creek corridor through Ashfield Town Centre and Summer Hill Village. The aim of this route is to provide safe, convenient walking in an area identified for additional uplift under State Government’s TOD program.

Route 6: Brews and Bars – loosely follows the Inner West Ale Trail to provide enhanced pedestrian infrastructure between the breweries and Sydenham Station. Part of this route is in the Sydenham Road Strategy study area.

Concept Design Plans

Concept designs were guided by principles that were developed through early engagement with the Community and the Project Control Group. There are four key principles:

1. Safety

Prioritise pedestrian safety through people-centric design:

· Pedestrian facilities – includes footpath treatments and crossings, including temporary work, road closures, traffic management, etc. as required.

· Footpath Upgrades – primarily upgrading of footpaths in former slip lanes to increase pedestrian safety and comfort.

· Signalised intersections – includes re-programming of signal phasing and wayfinding on Regional and State Roads. This will require approval from Transport for NSW.

· Roundabouts – roundabouts are proposed alongside pedestrian facilities such as crossings and refuge islands.

2. Greening

Increase tree canopy for pedestrian comfort and to promote urban ecology:

· Trees – increased tree canopy for pedestrian comfort and view framing;

· Planters – provide greening in areas where trees are inappropriate.

3. Connected

Integrate art and culture into wayfinding and signage including wayfinding in key intersections to help the community rediscover Inner West.

4. Community

Create connections and spaces people want to spend time in:

· Artist Finders’ Fee – collaborate with local artists to incorporate art and culture onto the routes. Note that this cost only covers the finders’ fee since the scope of artworks have not been finalised at this stage;

· Activation – where possible, laneway and street closures are proposed for pedestrian activation;

· Seating and amenities – such as seats, bins, bike racks and water fountains to improve amenity and place quality; and

· Bus stop upgrades – includes providing seats and shelter at bus stops along proposed routes for comfort.

Concept plans are used to bridge existing and planned projects, with proposed pedestrian infrastructure, to create routes that embody the Study’s design principles. It will also assist in guiding budget allocation and/or applications for grant funding. However, detailed investigations and designs are still required prior to implementation, potentially resulting in changes to the concept plans.

CONSULTATION

Internal Stakeholders

Consultation with internal stakeholders included establishment of a Project Control Group with representation from:

· Parks and Public Domain Planning;

· Technical Services;

· Traffic Engineering;

· Strategic Planning;

· Creative Communities;

· Environment and Sustainability;

· Social and Cultural Planning; and

· Sports and Recreation.

Community Engagement Results

From April to August 2025, Council undertook initial community engagement activities that included:

· Blank page engagement – the Environment, Transport and Arts and Culture LDGs were engaged at the beginning of the project to help guide the Study.

· Community survey – on Council’s Your Say Inner West website received 128 responses. Key findings include community support for improved safety and comfort, increased physical access and signage, strong connections with nature, culture and Country, and links between activity centres such as cafes and restaurants.

· Early engagement – draft routes were tested on the LDGs, mentioned above, as well as Access and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LDG. Feedback has been incorporated into the proposed routes.

A detailed report on engagement findings can be found in Appendix A of Attachment 1.

Additionally, active transport and environmental advocacy groups referred to in Council’s original resolution will be specifically invited to provide feedback on the draft Study.

Proposed Public Exhibition

It is proposed that the draft Great Inner West Walk Study be placed on public exhibition for a minimum of four weeks. This will include a Your Say Inner West webpage and five community pop-up sessions carried out by Reactivate Consulting. Following public exhibition, an Engagement Outcomes Report will be prepared and incorporated into the final Great Inner West Walk Study and a report will be put to Council for final endorsement.

PROJECT STAGING 

The Great Inner West Walk study has proposed works that are proposed as short-term, medium-term and long-term actions.

It is envisaged that works identified through The Great Inner West Walk study would be delivered progressively under separate programs with initial works limited to the installation of wayfinding and signage on all proposed routes, as well as promoting the existing walking network through branding, marketing and a communications program.

The short term works are expected to be delivered by June 2027.

Medium and long term actions will be delivered through existing ongoing programs including the traffic facilities program, Pedestrian Access and Mobility (PAMP) program, tree planting program and footpath program.

It is recommended that, where possible, Council staff use this study as a starting point to apply for funding opportunities from State Government grants including Get Active NSW, Get Kids Active, NSW Active Transport Infrastructure, High Pedestrian Activity Area Sub Program, Metropolitan Greenspace Program and Active Transport Fund.

Other funding opportunities identified include funding programs from Multicultural NSW, Tourism NSW and Developer Contributions.

Short term

· Establishment of all routes.

· Promote the walking network through branding, marketing and communications program; 

· Install wayfinding and signage at locations identified in the draft concept plans;

Medium term 

· Continue working through council’s footpath renewal program to ensure quality of footpaths are maintained; 

· Investigate and implement street tree planting and street furniture on the routes

· Investigate identified lighting improvements and implement high-priority lighting improvement works with Ausgrid lighting;

· Investigate and implement relevant projects identified in the PAMP, InnerWest@40, LATM plans, and other strategies that complement the proposed Great Inner West Walk;

· Prioritise design, approvals and delivery for works associated with:

o Route 1 – Bays Link; and

o Route 2 – Foods of the World Walk; and 

· Seek and apply for grant funding to create detailed designs and for implementation and construction. 

· Investigate high-level concept design and preliminary cost estimation for the identified “minor links” identified in Figure 1.

Medium to Long term

· Prioritise design, approvals and delivery for works associated with:

o Route 3|4 – Creeks Walk;

o Route 5 – City and Reprieve; and

o Route 6 – Brews and Bars; and

· Implement the remaining proposed routes;

· Implement lower-priority lighting improvement works; and

· Carry out detailed design of the investigated “minor links”.

Long term

· Implement the investigated smaller links

· Continuously monitor emerging trends and needs of the community to ensure that the pedestrian network of the Inner West remain supportive of its wellbeing.

LEGAL AND RISK IMPLICATIONS

Comment By General Counsel:

There are no legal and risk implications associated with this report.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

As part of this study, high-level cost estimates have been provided to assist with prioritising the work.

It is proposed that a dedicated project be established and funded to complete the short-term works (signage, website, promotion). The value of these works is estimated to be $200,000 and may be delivered by June 2027.

If the Great Inner West Walk Study was to be completed as a single project, the estimate within the study suggests the works would cost up to $47 million. Many actions identified in the study fall within existing programs including the traffic facilities program, Pedestrian Access and Mobility (PAMP) program, tree planting program and footpath program. Grant funding opportunities and developer works would also provide opportunities to deliver the identified works over a period of time. There is no intention to commit dedicated funds for these works.

ATTACHMENTS

1.⇩

Draft Great Inner West Walk Study

Location

Pickleball Courts

Bookable

Availability

Gladstone Park, Balmain

2 Outdoor

Non-Bookable

- Before 10am & after 4pm school days

- All Park hours on non-school days

Mort Bay Park, Birchgrove

1 Outdoor

Non-Bookable

- All Park hours

Rozelle Parklands, Rozelle

2 Outdoor

Non-Bookable

- All Park hours

Sydney Secondary College, Balmain

4 Outdoor

Bookable

Privately operated

Robyn Webster Sports Centre, Tempe

6 Indoor

Bookable

Council operated

Debbie & Abbey Borgia Community Recreation Centre, Marrickville

4 Indoor

Bookable

Privately operated

Haberfield Tennis Courts (The Ark), Haberfield

4 Outdoor

Bookable

Privately operated

Council Meeting

17 March 2026

Item No: C0326(1) Item 3

Subject: Balmain Road and Callan Park Cycleway

Prepared By: Peter Shields - Director Engineering

RECOMMENDATION

That the priority of the Balmain Road and Callan Park Cycleway is reconsidered as part of the forthcoming review of the Inner West Cycling Strategy and Action Plan, including route options and recent consultation with key stakeholders.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE

This report supports the following strategic directions contained within Council’s Community Strategic Plan:

2: Liveable, connected neighbourhoods and transport

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Balmain Road cycling route is included in Council’s existing Cycling Strategy, as a ‘Place-based access’ route with cyclist riding in a mixed traffic environment. In November 2025 Council resolved to receive a report by March 2026 providing an update on consultation with key stakeholders relating to a future upgrade to the cycleway.

Meetings relating to the cycle route have been held with Greater Sydney Parklands, Bike Leichhardt, Leichhardt Saints. Key takeaways from these meetings are:

· Consultation was recently held on the Callan Park Plan of Management and associated Access, Movement and Parking Strategy. Submissions received are being considered.

· Concerns remain for cycleway options that may impact heritage items of Callan Park.

· GSP are willing to collaborate on route options for a path running parallel to Balmain Road.

· Bike Leichhardt supports a separated route running parallel to Balmain Road.

· While Leichhardt Saints support active transport improvements, they express concern about the route within Callan park due to conflicts with other park users.

The cycleway route is presently a lower priority than many other planned works identified in the Inner West Cycling Strategy and Action Plan. Work to review this strategy is proceeding this year and this presents an opportunity to review the priority of this project.

This report recommends that Council note the recent stakeholder discussions and support a review of cycleway priorities when the Cycleway Strategy and Action Plan is reviewed this year.

BACKGROUND

At the Council meeting held on 18 November 2025, Council resolved the following, in part:

2. That Council convene a meeting with Greater Sydney Parklands (GSP), Bike Leichhardt, and the Leichhardt Saints Football Club to discuss the inclusion of the Balmain Road Cycleway in the GSP Draft Access, Movement and Parking Strategy, or for consideration in future Active Transport links within Callan Park

3. That Council provide a report back to Council at the March 2026 meeting.

This report provides a progress update on actions associated with this resolution.

DISCUSSION

The Balmain Road cycling route offers a direct link between Leichhardt, Lilyfield and Rozelle as well as access to Callan Park, Orange Grove Public School and Markets. It also provides indirect links to Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre, Leichhardt Park and Leichhardt North Light Rail stop. The route also has potential to connect to the Lilyfield Road cycleway, which is currently undergoing a detailed concept design for community consultation.

The road is under the care and control of Transport for NSW and provides a link from Lilyfield to Rozelle. Currently cyclists must ride in a mixed traffic environment.

Strategic Context

Balmain Road, between Orange Grove and Rozelle is identified in Council’s existing Cycling Strategy as a ‘Place-based Cycling Access’ route. ’Place-based‘ routes are generally on main streets, and integrate cycling with frontage activity such as shopping, dining and strolling. The preference for ’Place-based‘ routes is to have cyclists in a controlled, minimum conflict environment, whereas ’prioritised cycling access’ routes are more likely to include routes in a shared environment.

Figure 1 shows the local context of the proposed on-site cycle route, including Callan Park and the former NSW Ambulance Site. Figure 2 shows the type of existing cycling route environments near Callan Park.

The Balmain Road/Callan Park cycleway is not a priority action item identified on Council’s current Cycleway Action Plan. A full update of both the existing cycling strategy and action plan is currently programmed as part of the future strategic transport review, due to commence late in 2026. Consequently, the opportunity exists for detailed consideration of the Balmain Road cycling route to be included in this future update.

Figure 1 – Local context of the proposed on-site cycling route

Figure 2 – Existing cycling route types

Cycle Route Options

Council has examined opportunities to use the Balmain Road frontage of Callan Park on several occasions over the past decade. The community’s desire to retain on-street parking along the Callan Park side of Balmain Road, as well as the presence of established street trees and heritage wall, limit active transport route choices within this section. These examinations have included discussions with key stakeholders, and identification of key constraints.

The table below describes the route options. Route locations are also shown in Figure 3, with Options 1,2 and 3 indicated as the ‘Direct Route’ and Option 4 as the ‘Mixed traffic route through Callan Park’.

Route Option		Comments	Approx Cost *	Funding Contributors
1	Separated cycleway in existing carriageway on Balmain Road	· Separation achieved via median islands · Cyclists remain on road level · Cyclists separated from vehicle traffic · Narrow footpath retained · All parking removed from the northern side of Balmain Road · TfNSW approvals required	$1.2M	TfNSW, Council, Grants
2	Widened footpath for separated cycleway or shared path on Balmain Road	· Cyclists separated from vehicle traffic · Narrow footpath widened to improve pedestrian conditions · All parking removed from the northern side of Balmain Road · Possible conflict with pedestrians, particularly on weekends when sporting events and Orange Grove Markets are operating · TfNSW approvals required	$2M to $2.5M	TfNSW, Council, Grants
3	Shared path and/or separated cycleway within Callan Park alongside Balmain Road	· Boardwalk required to elevate path over tree roots within Callan Park · Cyclists separated from vehicle traffic · Opportunity to remove pedestrians from narrow footpath on Balmain Road · All parking retained · GSP approvals required	$3M to $4M	GSP, Council, Grants
4	Existing internal paths with mixed traffic within Callan Park	· Cyclists remain mixed with traffic but at lower volumes · Some traffic calming required · Route is indirect · No pedestrian benefits · All parking retained · GSP approvals required	$200k	GSP, Council, Grants

*costings are approximate and subject to detailed design

Figure 3 – Route options

Key constraints/challenges

The key constraints identified to date have included:

· Potential loss of parking on Balmain Road, should a separated cycleway be introduced.

· Conflict with significant pedestrian numbers, should a shared user path be created.

· Impact on Callan Park’s historic brick fence, if gateways were required.

· Impact on the roots of significant historic trees, should the cycleway be provided inside Callan Park.

· Impacts on the playing fields, including, conflict with spectators, should the cycleway be provided within Callan Park.

· The circuitous nature and undesirable gradients if the cycleway used existing roads in Callan Park.

Callan Park Plan of Management and draft Access, Movement and Parking Strategy

Council’s submission on the Callan Park Plan of Management and the associated draft Access, Movement and Parking Strategy included a request to:

Examine the opportunity for a separated cycleway running parallel to Darling Street, between the existing heritage stone fence and the line of trees. The path may need to be elevated at some locations (or for its full length) to avoid damaging tree roots. This cycleway would fill in a critical gap in the network without jeopardising kerbside parking, which has been a key consideration along Darling Street.

Additionally, the future redevelopment of the former ambulance headquarters site (immediately to the South-West of Callan Park) could also provide an opportunity for an off-road link to continue as far as Wharf Road, providing connectivity to the Perry Street and Balmain Road (south) cycle routes.

CONSULTATION

Following is a summary of meeting discussions held with each of the key stakeholders, as referred to in the Council’s resolution.

Greater Sydney Parklands

Discussions with the GSP indicate that:

· the Callan Park Plan of Management and its associated draft Access, Movement and Parking Strategy are currently being refined, based on submissions received.

· the GSP is willing to collaborate with Council on examining future designs for a possible path along its Balmain Road frontage but that such designs must recognise the significance of both the brick wall and the adjacent lines of trees.

· development of a path design should include consideration of the overall movement network needs, for the larger Precinct (including Leichhardt Park, Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre and The Bay Run) as well as considering options on Balmain Road.

· the GSP would welcome involvement in council’s planned strategic transport review.

Bike Leichhardt

Discussions with Bike Leichhardt indicated their strong support for a cycle route within or parallel to Balmain Road. For the past 10 years, Bike Leichhardt have advocated for a cycle link from Perry Street to Manning Street, either through Callan Park or along Balmain Road, as part of an overall link between Leichhardt and Rozelle.

While they have proposed options that include removal of parking to create a separated cycleway, or a widened footpath to provide a shared path have been considered as possible options, they recognise the constraints that may limit the viability of these options.

Consequently, Bike Leichhardt’s preference is for a cycleway, or cycling and walking ‘boulevard’, running parallel to Balmain Road within Callan Park.

Bike Leichhardt and Council representatives have ongoing meetings planned to continue to engage on the various route options.

Leichhardt Saints

While Leichhardt Saints support active transport improvements, concern is expressed relating to Route 4 which utilises existing paths within Callan Park. These concerns relate to increased conflict on the path between path users, spectators and soccer balls that have left the field of play. In considering this conflict it is important to note that many spectators currently sit under the adjacent trees during matches.

This preliminary discussion was based on high level information, and the project has not been considered by the Club’s committee. The Club would be prepared to discuss the matter further, when more detail is available.

It is also considered essential that any new path does not impact the proposed all-weather playing field.

Further consultation

Should the project proceed, consultation would be required with additional stakeholders including local residents, users of Callan Park, GSP and Transport for NSW.

PROGRESSING THE CYCLE ROUTE UPGRADE

Cycleway Prioritisation

There are many cycleways planned and prioritised based on strategic need and viability. As this section of cycleway is prioritised behind many other cycleway projects, it presently is not progressed beyond network planning discussions.

As the Cycle Strategy is presently under review, this does represent an ideal opportunity to consider its priority, alongside all other cycleway projects across the local government area. If this review does elevate the priority of this cycleway section, then this would warrant more detailed discussions with GSP and Transport for NSW, particularly in relation to finalising the committed route option and securing funds.

Cycleway Delivery

Following the determination of a route option, approval of the cycleway would be dependent on Greater Sydney Parklands (GSP) who manage Callan Park, or Transport for NSW who manage Balmain Road, being a State Road.

Subject to the route being identified as a priority and Approval in Principle obtained, this section of the cycleway would take typically 3 years to complete, comprising of:

· Year 1 – Concept design and engagement

· Year 2 – Funding applications and detailed design

· Year 3 – Delivery

CONCLUSION

In response to discussions held and Council’s on-going desire to encourage increased active transport use, it is proposed that Council staff include consideration of various typologies for the Balmain Road cycling route in their future update of the cycling strategy and action plan, as part of the overall strategic transport review.

This consideration should include opportunities to work with Greater Sydney Parklands, and other stakeholders, with a view to determining the practicality of developing a cycle route, running parallel to Balmain Road, and within Callan Park.

LEGAL AND RISK IMPLICATIONS

Comment By General Counsel:

The proposed cycleway will involve a consideration by the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust in accordance with provisions of the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Act 2022 and the Callan Park (Special Provisions) Act 2002 (and subject to any adopted amendments proposed in the Greater Sydney Parklands Trust Amendment Review Bill).

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no funding implications resulting from the recommendations in this report.

Should the priority of this section of cycleway be elevated in the forthcoming review of the Cycle Strategy, this will require further consideration of all funding for all cycleway routes. The various options for this section of cycleway have significantly different capital costs, and this will need to be carefully considered as part of further deliberations relating to the preferred route option.

ATTACHMENTS

Nil.

Ward

Item

Baludarri

(Balmain)

InnerWest@40 - Area 4 Leichhardt and Annandale; Area 9 Dulwich Hill North and Lewisham; Area 10 South Ashfield and Summer Hill West - Proposed speed limit reduction from 50km/h to 40km/h

College Street, Balmain - Proposed Bicycles Excepted Signage

Gulgadya

(Leichhardt)

InnerWest@40 - Area 4 Leichhardt and Annandale; Area 9 Dulwich Hill North and Lewisham; Area 10 South Ashfield and Summer Hill West - Proposed speed limit reduction from 50km/h to 40km/h

Thornley Street, Leichhardt - Proposed Kerb Extension

Kingston Street, Haberfield - Proposed Traffic Calming Works

Midjuburi

(Marrickville)

Arthur Street, Marrickville - Proposed Raised Continuous Footpath Treatment - Design Plan No.10361

Bunnings Tempe Local Area Traffic Management - Design Plan No. HD202

Wardell Road, Marrickville - Proposed Raised Pedestrian Crossing

Tempe Station Parking Study

Mackey Park Resident Parking Scheme

Unnamed Laneway, Marrickville rear of Church Street and Warren Road - Adjustment to No Parking Restriction

Djarrawunang

(Ashfield)

InnerWest@40 - Area 4 Leichhardt and Annandale; Area 9 Dulwich Hill North and Lewisham; Area 10 South Ashfield and Summer Hill West - Proposed speed limit reduction from 50km/h to 40km/h

Hardie Avenue (at Smith Street), Summer Hill-Proposed upgrade of an existing at level road crossing to a new raised pedestrian crossing.

Robert Street at Queen Street, Ashfield- Proposed short-term road safety improvements

Wardell Road, Marrickville - Proposed Raised Pedestrian Crossing

Damun (Stanmore)

InnerWest@40 - Area 4 Leichhardt and Annandale; Area 9 Dulwich Hill North and Lewisham; Area 10 South Ashfield and Summer Hill West - Proposed speed limit reduction from 50km/h to 40km/h

Wells Street, Newtown - Proposed Raised Continuous Footpath Treatment

Terminus Street, Petersham - Proposed Raised Pedestrian Crossing - Design Plan No.10368

Dickson Street at King Street, Newtown – Redesign of existing refuge island - Design Plan 10365

Fishers Reserve, Petersham - Proposed Raised Continuous Footpath Treatment

All Wards

Inner West LGA - Proposal for GoGet car share parking spaces

Council Meeting

17 March 2026

Item No: C0326(1) Item 7

Subject: Illawarra Road Business Roundtable

Prepared By: Simone Plummer - Director Planning

RECOMMENDATION

1. That Council endorse the Illawarra Road Roundtable Action Plan for delivery.

2. That Council receive a report in June 2026 that provides an update on medium- and long-term actions from all business roundtable action plans, being Haberfield, Crystal street and Illawarra Rd. This report will also include an update of those actions that have been completed.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE

This report supports the following strategic directions contained within Council’s Community Strategic Plan:

3: Creative communities and a strong economy

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A Business Roundtable was held on 1 December 2025 to identify strategies to better support local businesses on Illawarra Road, Marrickville. The Roundtable was attended by local business owners, representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, the NSW Member for Summer Hill, Inner West Councillors, representatives from State Government agencies including Sydny Metro, Service NSW and Transport for NSW, as well as Council staff.

The Roundtable provided an opportunity for local businesses to share their ideas for improving the precinct. Feedback from the session identified six key priorities: beautification, festivals and events, lighting, cleanliness and maintenance, traffic calming, and parking. An Illawarra Road Action Plan has been prepared, outlining proposed responses to identified issues, the responsible Council teams, and indicative timeframes for delivery.

BACKGROUND

At the Council meeting held on 19 August 2025, Council resolved the following:

1. That Council host a roundtable of businesses located on Illawarra Road, Marrickville, to determine ways Inner West Council can support them and promote local businesses in Marrickville, and that the Member for Summer Hill and three Marrickville-Midjuburi Ward councillors be invited to participate.

2. That Council investigate opportunities to upgrade footpaths, lighting, street furniture and other public amenities as part of the Public Domain Strategy and seek grant funding to progress this work as a matter of priority.

3. That Council commit to hosting a festival and events to celebrate the opening of the Metro in Illawarra Road, Marrickville, and around Dulwich Hill station, funded through the quarterly budget review process.

4. That Council investigate including Illawarra Road in the Marrickville Music Festival from 2026.

5. That Council consider ways to work with Illawarra Road businesses directly to activate the Calvert Street carpark for events as part of the Plug and Play program.

6. That Council report back to Council on the outcome of the Roundtable and other initiatives on or before November 2026.

This report addresses the components of the resolution that relate to the roundtable.

DISCUSSION

The Illawarra Road Roundtable was held on 1 December 2025 at Marrickville Pavilion. Sixteen local businesses attended, representing a range of sectors including cafés and restaurants, small bars, retail, food, construction, and health services. The NSW Member for Summer Hill, attended along with Councillors and the Deputy Mayor. Representatives from Service NSW, Sydney Metro, and Transport for NSW also attended and presented at the event.

The Roundtable was focused on how the State Government and Council can better support businesses in the precinct.

Sydney Metro advised that the opening date for the Metro has not been finalised, as comprehensive testing of all systems is still underway. Sydney Metro also advised that they do not expect that the unions will delay opening as most issues have been resolved and mitigations are in place.

Transport for NSW acknowledged the disruptions caused by Metro construction and advised that the temporary fare-free pink bus services have had their frequency increased, and additional regular bus services have also been introduced. TfNSW confirmed their commitment to continuing to gather feedback and adjust services as required.

Service NSW provided an overview of their Business Concierge Service, which supports businesses affected by disruption with their continuity planning, regulatory support, and health and safety coaching. This service is available to Illawarra Road businesses in response to disruption associated with the Metro project.

Attendees were invited to provide feedback in response to the following question:

How can Council improve the Illawarra Road precinct and better support local businesses?

The feedback from businesses has been categorised into six key themes and issues outlined below.

1. Beautification: Calls for footpath and public domain improvements, including public art, enhanced lighting, additional planting, street furniture, and removal or aesthetic treatment of the brick wall on the bridge near Marrickville Train Station and 359 Illawarra Road, along with the installation of Chinese‑style lanterns and improved cleanliness to create a more welcoming precinct.

2. Events and Festivals: Requests for Council to fund and deliver more events and festivals, including in Calvert Street carpark. Businesses expressed interest in a Vietnamese festival, noting that they lack the time and resources to organise events themselves. There was also a request to include Illawarra Road in the annual Marrickville Music Festival.

3. Lighting: Address lighting along Illawarra Road using a range of options, including fairy lights, globe lighting and Chinese lanterns, to make the area more welcoming, vibrant and safe at night and support the nighttime economy.

4. Cleanliness and Maintenance: Requests for more frequent footpath cleaning and street sweeping, implementation of anti-dumping initiatives, including in laneways, and weeding and trimming of street trees on Illawarra Road to address its untidy appearance.

5. Traffic Calming: Request for Illawarra Road to become one-way and for traffic calming initiatives to be implemented to reduce speeding.

6. Parking: Concerns were raised about parking, with requests for Council to increase parking supply through options such as acquiring additional land, requiring new private developments to provide public parking, introducing angled parking on Schwebel Street, and installing a Kiss and Ride zone.

Businesses also requested that the NSW Government provide clearer communication on the timing of the Metro opening and engage with local businesses on opportunities to promote the precinct in connection with the opening. In addition, businesses sought support in arranging a meeting with the Federal Member to discuss the relative costs of operating a small business compared with larger businesses, including those with gambling‑related revenue. These matters have been referred to the NSW Government through the meeting notes.

The Illawarra Road Action Plan below outlines current and planned Council actions to address the issues raised.

Illawarra Road Roundtable Action Plan

Theme / Issue

Summary of Feedback

Suggested Actions

Lead

Timeframe

Beautification

Upgrade footpaths, enhance lighting, install public art, increase greening, provide additional street furniture, and deliver general public domain improvements

a. Investigate opportunities to widen footpaths as part of a substantial street upgrade, including assessing the feasibility of introducing a shared zone or converting Illawarra Road to one-way between Petersham Road and Marrickville Road. The investigation will consider traffic impacts, pavement renewal or expansion, street furniture, tree planting and lighting options.

b. Improve the visual presentation of the brick wall adjacent to Marrickville Station.

c. Investigate installation of a parklet to enhance public amenity.

Public Domain Planning; Traffic and Transport; and Infrastructure Planning

Capital Works (Main Streets revitalisation program)

Capital Works

(Main Streets revitalisation program)

Long term

Short term

Events and festivals

Council to deliver additional events and festivals, including utilising Calvert Street carpark, responding to business interest in a Vietnamese festival, and incorporating Illawarra Road into the annual Marrickville Music Festival.

a. Opportunities for activations and events to be explored.

b. Host an information session on how the community and businesses can utilise the Plug and Play initiative, including at the Calvert Street carpark.

Events

Public Domain

Medium Term

Short term

Lighting

Address lighting issues through a range of options, including fairy lights, globe lighting and Chinese lanterns, to improve safety at night to support the night-time economy.

a. Determine if feasible to install fairy lights on the three trees near 359 Illawarra Road

b. In support of the main street beautification investigation, undertake a lighting audit to assess and determine lighting options to enhance amenity and public safety on Illawarra Road.

Capital Works (Main Streets revitalisation program)

Public Domain Planning; and Infrastructure Planning

Medium term

Cleanliness and Maintenance

Increase footpath cleaning, street sweeping, removal of dump rubbish, including in laneways, and weeding and trimming of trees.

In late 2025, a maintenance blitz was completed on Illawarra Road which addressed these issues. Minor asphalt patching, pavement sealing, weeding and tree trimming works were also carried out.

Quarterly audits are undertaken to address ongoing maintenance.

Civic Works

Parks and Streetscapes Operations

Ongoing

Traffic Calming

Review the current traffic calming initiatives to reduce the impact of speeding and examine if Illawarra Road can become one-way.

Consider options to introduce a one-way traffic arrangement in response to a series of Council resolutions seeking improvements to Illawarra Road.

Traffic and Transport; Public Domain Planning; and Infrastructure Planning

Long term

Parking

Consider options to increase parking through acquisition of land, requiring private developments to include public parking, introducing angled parking on Schwebel Street, and installing a Kiss and Ride zone.

Council’s transport strategies focus on managing parking demand and encouraging a mode-shift from private vehicles to active and public transport, rather than increasing parking supply.

An angle parking investigation in Schwebel Street is currently in progress.

Drop‑off and pick‑up areas are provided on Station Street and Illawarra Road through a combination of No Parking zones and locations with both No Parking and Kiss and Ride signage.

Investigate opportunities to increase parking availability in the area by expanding angle parking and introducing additional time‑limited on‑street parking.

Traffic & Transport

Long term

Short term

Medium term

*Short Term – for delivery by mid-year – June 2026

*Medium and Long Term – timeframe for delivery will be specified on a project basis in the June update report.

Conclusion

Overall, businesses welcomed the opportunity to meet with Council to discuss the precinct. Council officers will prioritise short-term actions to enhance public amenity, including planning for the installation of fairy lights, and additional planting, which could be funded through the Main Streets Revitalisation Program. Medium- and long-term actions will be reported to Council in June 2026 to allow time to determine resourcing requirements and implementation timelines.

LEGAL AND RISK IMPLICATIONS

Comment By General Counsel:

There are no legal and risk implications associated with this report.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

All short term actions are accommodated within current operational budgets. While medium and long term actions require specific investigation / project planning it is anticipated that they can be delivered within the financial year budget allocation for 2026/27.

ATTACHMENTS

Nil.

Council Meeting

17 March 2026

Item No: C0326(1) Item 9

Subject: Parklets and On Road Dining

Prepared By: Simone Plummer - Director Planning

RECOMMENDATION

1. That Council officers partner with students from the University of NSW School of Built Environment, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture on design options for future parklets.

2. That design options for parklets are incorporated into Council’s Draft Public Domain Guidelines for future Council consideration.

3. That as part of its Public Domain Master Plans, Council include design considerations for transforming successful parklet areas into permanent extended outdoor dining spaces, through dedicated master planning design works.

4. That Council continue to assess and determine applications for on-road dining – and the Schedule of Fees and Charges be amended so that where a business applies for on-road dining, all installation costs are borne by the business.

5. That Council, upon finalisation of the parklet design options, will form a condition of approval for on-road dining applications.

6. That the Interim Outdoor Dining Guidelines by reviewed, updated and communicated to local business.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE

This report supports the following strategic directions contained within Council’s Community Strategic Plan:

2: Liveable, connected neighbourhoods and transport

3: Creative communities and a strong economy

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report provides Council with an update on the provision and distribution of on road dining approvals across the Inner West LGA. Often referred to as parklets, they are a public domain intervention that have successfully supported the economic vitality of hospitality businesses as well as providing community benefits through enhanced public domain experiences.

Detailed public domain master planning and the development of technical public domain guidelines can support an improved outcome for both business and the community. The Mainstreet Renewal Program can also include opportunities for kerb extensions to support the permanency of parklet areas.

To support future parklet design opportunities and street life activation Council officers have approached the NSW School of Built Environment, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture to partner with their students on future design options for parklets. In the meantime a revised application process and amendment to the Schedule of Fees and Charges is proposed to facilitate those businesses that initiate a request for on- road dining in those locations where it can be accommodated. Currently on-road dining is supported from a small budget allocation and this is a restriction on the numbers approved annually. It is also recommended that the Interim Outdoor Dining Guidelines originally developed as an economic development response to Covid be reviewed and updated.

BACKGROUND

At the Council meeting held on 18 November 2025, the following was resolved:

1. That Council notes that parklets improve streetscape amenity, community safety, and are a cost-effective method of providing more public space in dense urban environments.

2.That Council notes positive feedback from businesses and residents on Australia Street, Newtown towards the parklet installed outside Tokyo Lamington, and preliminary interest in establishing more parklets in the southern precinct of the street.

3. That Council investigates opportunities for a trial installation of additional parklets on the southern end of Australia Street and engages with businesses and residents on timing and locations, including through door knocking and letterboxing.

4. That Council receives a report to the February 2026 Meeting on opportunities to expand the installation of parklets across the LGA, including:

a) Cost of installation and maintenance;

b) Proposals to work with businesses to expedite installation; and

c) a public competition for design of parklets.

DISCUSSION

In the Inner West parklets repurpose parking spaces into vibrant on-road dining areas that extend out-door dining opportunities for adjacent businesses through an approval under the Local Government Act.

Currently there are two forms of outdoor dining available through Inner West Council – one type installed by Council for broad community use, either as a trial on the road or permanently through a kerb extension, the other is by application from a business to Council for the sole use of the business.

Above shows a permanent kerb extension installed by Council on Marrickville Road for use by the general community.

Photos above of on road dining parklet at Tokyo Lamington – Australia St Newtown 2042 for the sole use of the business.

Parklets installed by Council

Throughout 2023 Councils Public Domain Team have installed a number of both permanent and temporary trial parklets. Some have been via kerb extensions, such as the photo above on Marrickville Road. Others are a trial such as the partial closure of Simmons Street in Newtown. Where a trial is concluded a decision is made to make the parklet permanent the cost to Council of installation is in the realm of $200,000 dependent on the extent of works.

On-Road Dining Parklets – Application made by a business

Interim Outdoor Dining Guidelines were initially developed to support hospitality businesses during the Covid 19 pandemic. Where an application could be supported Jersey-kerb barriers were installed by Council from a small operational budget. This small budget enabled the installation of around 8 to 10 on-road dining parklets annually, as it costs around $10,00-$15,000 for installation dependent on shape and length of each parklet. This budget restricts the number of parklets installed annually as the demand for parklets exceeds Council’s capability to provide them.

The below table highlights the installation costs associated with on-road dining provision.

Estimation of a costs for a common parklet installation

Description	Costs
Purchase of Barriers and Installation (2 x 6m barriers & 2 x 2m barriers)	$9,000
Traffic Management for installation and placement and decorative wrapping	$1,500
Decorative Wraps installed (using existing artwork designs)	$3,500
Total	$14,000

Costing the installation of the parklet back to the business making the application is one way of facilitating on-road dining and removing a critical bottle neck in the determination of on-road dining applications. Further, as approval is location dependant, not all applications can be approved. The most significant matters for assessment include

· Road width

· Distance to nearest intersection

· Speed of travel of vehicles

· Slope and drainage

· General availability of parking

· Location and width of the business frontage making the request

· Impact on nearby residents

· The amount of existing courtyard or indoor space already available to the business

There are currently 21 on-road dining parklets located across the Inner West Local Government Area. Table 1.0 below provides an overview of the parklets that have been installed to date.

Table 1.0 Operational Parklets within the Inner West Local Government Area

Location	Suburb	Business Name
453 Darling Street	Balmain	Cat and Fiddle Hotel
632 Darling Street	Balmain	Corner bar
234 Darling Street	Balmain	The London Hotel
342 Darling Street	Balmain	The Cottage Balmain
411 Darling Street	Balmain	Hungry Bull
413 Darling Street	Balmain	Tipo
148 Enmore Road	Enmore	The Duke Hotel
53-55 Waratah Street	Haberfield	Little West
156 Norton Street	Leichhardt	The Royal Hotel
311 Balmain Road	Lilyfield	Orange Grove Hotel
Shop/550 Marrickville Road	Marrickville	The Stable
6-12 Sydney Street	Marrickville	Bob Hawke Beer and Leisure Centre
38 Victoria Road	Rozelle	The Merton Hotel
296 Marrickville Road	Marrickville	The Marrickville Taven
92 Sydenham Road	Marrickville	Philter
277 Australia Street	Newtown	Tokyo Lamington
108 Audley Street	Petersham	Noi Restaurant
778 Darling Street	Rozelle	The Garry Owen
15 Mansfield Street	Rozelle	The Bald Rock Hotel
586 Darling Street	Rozelle	Zeus
29 Lackey Street	Summer Hill	Andiamo Trattoria

Currently businesses interested in applying for on-road dining are required to submit a temporary road closure application. Relevant Council departments review the application, and it is subsequently presented to the Council’s Local Transport Forum for further consideration.

Development of Parklet Design Criteria

Council officers have approached the University of NSW School of Bulit Environment, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture on student interest in designing future options for parklets, taking into account sustainable environmental design principles, street appeal, accessibility and functionality needs. The University of NSW has positively responded to this approach and indicated interest in undertaking a design study.

By working with architect and design students at UNSW Council proposes to develop criteria for both council and business installed parklets.

Parklet with approximate decking and design costs

Description	Costs
Timber Decking Note: extends over 2 parking spaces	$10,000
Planter Boxes and Planting/ Watering System/ Plant establishment (Local Traffic Roads)	$12,000 (Planters) + $1,500 (Plants) + $1,000 (Watering System)
Total	$28,500

Many businesses have enhanced their parklets without the aid of design criteria and some have spent far in excess of this amount.

Example of a basic parklet with concrete Jersey-kerb barriers prior to any embellishment

Parklets-Evolving Temporary Spaces to Permanent

Parklets by their design are temporary solutions which support the adaptive reuse of car parking areas for community use and importantly support local business by providing additional spaces for outdoor dining. It is recommended that where parklets have proved to be successful, that such spaces are investigated for permanent conversion into extended outdoor dining spaces. Permanency can be achieved through future kerb extensions which are considered through the public domain and main street renewal program and form part of the annual budget planning process.

Australia Street Parklet Investigation

Council officers have commenced tailored engagement with each of the business owners in the southern portion of Australia Street on the possible installation of new parklets to support outdoor dining. The below illustration shows the current investigation area for the proposed parklet areas.

In this regard, door-to-door engagement has yielded positive results so far, with businesses located at 241–247 Australia Street and 239–243 Australia Street expressing strong support for the introduction of parklets.

The proposed area for new parklets in Australia Street would result in the net loss of 4 car parking spaces. Local residents, Fire and Rescue NSW and the NSW Police are currently engaged with Council on the proposals. Once engagement is completed Councillors will be updated with a briefing note on the next steps.

LEGAL AND RISK IMPLICATIONS

Comment By General Counsel:

Council currently enters into an agreement with the business operator for the use of the dinning parklets. This will be reviewed in the event that Council endorses a change in the on-road dining process including changes to installation costs and decorative design requirements. The changed agreement will have specific regard to terms dealing with matters of liability, indemnity and prospects of business insolvency that adequately protect Council from potential risks.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Council has an annual budget of $50,000 for Parklets which limits approval to no more than five new sites per year. An amendment to the Schedule of Fees and Charges is recommended to enable the costs associated with parklet installation when requested by a business to be paid for by the business.

ATTACHMENTS

Nil.

Council Meeting

17 March 2026

Item No: C0326(1) Item 13

Subject: LEWISHAM PLACEMAKING IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT

Prepared By: Ryann Midei - Director Property and Major Projects

RECOMMENDATION

1. That Council proceed with the development of a draft placemaking plan for the Lewisham Town Centre.

2. That Council write to the Minister of Transport to inform them of the outcomes of the community engagement and call for a partnership to deliver works to improve Lewisham which complements Transport for NSW’s station upgrade works.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE

This report supports the following strategic directions contained within Council’s Community Strategic Plan:

2: Liveable, connected neighbourhoods and transport

4: Healthy, resilient and caring communities

5: Progressive, responsive and effective civic leadership

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The purpose of this report is to provide an update on Lewisham placemaking improvements following community engagement. For the purpose of this planning, the area is generally bounded by Lewisham Station/Railway Terrace, Victoria Street, Henry Street and Old Canterbury Road.

Transport for NSW is advancing the detailed planning and design for Lewisham Station upgrades, including accessible lifts, improved drainage, public toilets, placemaking enhancements, and expanded CCTV coverage. Construction is scheduled to start in June 2026 with completion expected by late 2027.

Council undertook community engagement on how to improve the streets of Lewisham in November and December 2025. Key themes emerged regarding traffic calming and parking management, increased greening and amenity, enhanced cycling and pedestrian connections, station improvements, public art, economic vibrancy, and maintenance.

Next steps include further traffic and site investigations, developing a high-level conceptual plan with costings, and advocating to TfNSW for improvements on state roads.

A draft Placemaking concept plan will be reported to Council for community exhibition, targeted for September 2026.

Comprehensive cost estimates will be developed during the upcoming phase of planning and reported to Council. At this stage, it is anticipated that Council's financial contribution to the project may be approximately $530,000. This will be considered as a part of the 2026/27 budget planning process.

BACKGROUND

There are two relevant Council resolutions pertaining to this report.

At the Council meeting held on 3 September 2024, Council resolved the following:

1. That Council note the long-awaited commitment by the NSW Government and Transport Minister Jo Haylen to upgrade Lewisham Station to improve accessibility, safety, and prevent flooding in the underpass, and that this commitment is fully budgeted for delivery in this term of government.

2. That Council note that, as part of the planned upgrade, Transport for NSW is undertaking community engagement on design and placemaking enhancements for surrounding streets.

3. That Council investigate opportunities with Transport for NSW to align or coordinate these works with Council works to upgrade Lewisham Town Centre (on Victoria Street and Railway Terrace) as part of Council's Main Streets Revitalisation Project, including but not limited to:

a) footpath upgrades, traffic calming measures, and opportunities for increased pedestrianisation of the station precinct;

b) installation of planter boxes and kerbside gardens;

c) a public art program including engagement with local artists on placemaking and a mural for the station wall along Railway Terrace;

d) street furniture;

e) active transport upgrades to regional route 7 in Lewisham to enhance safety and encourage cycling,

f) other beautification, public amenity, and placemaking works.

4. That Council develop a master plan to achieve a coordinated approach to improving community amenity and economic development for Lewisham Town Centre, and in line with Council’s Community Engagement Strategy.

5. That Council receive a report on the opportunity to undertake these upgrades in coordination with those planned by Transport for NSW as part of the station upgrade, the timeline for this, and associated costs.

At the Council meeting held on 12 November 2024, Council resolved the following:

That Council endorse preparation of a masterplan that outlines streetscape improvement works, traffic calming measures, and active transport upgrades, and prioritises those works that complement the Transport for NSW Lewisham Station Upgrade project, including undertaking community engagement, with a public meeting to form part of this.

DISCUSSION

Over the past decade, Lewisham has undergone considerable transformation, driven by the introduction of the Dulwich Hill Light Rail service in 2014 and major residential developments. These changes have contributed to substantial population growth, particularly in the area west of Canterbury Road.

Long-term population projections suggest that Lewisham will see an additional 380 new dwellings constructed by 2041. To accommodate this growth and evolving community needs, ongoing placemaking and infrastructure enhancements are essential to ensure the area continues to thrive within the Inner West. Partnerships and collaboration with the NSW Government is needed to ensure that strategic planning outcomes are reflective of demonstrated community needs and that the delivery of public domain improvements are coordinated and support improved connectivity and enhanced public safety.

For the purpose of this planning, the area is generally bounded by Lewisham Station/Railway Terrace, Victoria Street, Henry Street and Old Canterbury Road.

Transport for NSW Works

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is currently progressing with detailed planning and design for a range of upgrades at Lewisham Station. These works will include the installation of new accessible lift facilities, enhancing access to train platforms, as well as underpass drainage improvements, the provision of public toilets, and various design and placemaking enhancements. Safety upgrades, including improvements to CCTV coverage, are also planned. TfNSW has advised that tenders for the Lewisham Station upgrade will be issued in the near future, after which final design work will be completed. Construction is expected to begin in June 2026, with the full suite of works scheduled for completion by late 2027.

Community Engagement - Placemaking Improvements

Between 20 November and 18 December 2025, residents were invited to share their thoughts on ways to improve local streets within Lewisham. The outcomes from this initial engagement are detailed in the Community Engagement Report (Attachment 1).

During the engagement period 1,613 people visited the Your Say project page. A total of 131 participants contributed 308 comments on a digital map, 17 email submissions were received and 30 people attended an in-person public meeting which was held on 4th December 2025 in the Yanada Room in Lewisham. In addition, 35 people shared feedback at their property through tailored door knocking of the area.

The principal themes and outcomes from Council’s initial engagement activities are outlined in the table below. These themes encapsulate the range of concerns and topics brought forward by the community, providing a clear reflection of local priorities and perspectives.

Table 1.0 Key Themes Lewisham Town Centre Public Domain Improvements

Priority	Key Theme	Council Officer Summary
1	Traffic calming  and Parking Management	Support for Council to investigate a one-way/shared zone on Railway Terrace. High demand for signalised traffic lights on Old Canterbury Road at Hudson / Henry intersection to address safety issues and connect the two sides of Lewisham. Review parking arrangements to respond to population changes, including a focus on increased parking restrictions to ensure turnaround of parking and tighter parking controls on Jubilee. Lower speed to 40 km/h, fix merge points and congestion. Concerns over turn restrictions pushing traffic into local streets.
2	Greening & amenity	High demand for master planning to include tree planting works, verge gardens, planter boxes and green walls on fences and station retaining walls. Requests for renewal of Jubilee Park. Requests to regenerate planting along the station corridor and cover fencing/walls. Greening linked to village character and alfresco spaces. Provision of an additional book library in the Lewisham West area.
3	Cycling connections (east–west)	Concerns with the missing cycle connection at Railway Terrace between Longport Street and Hunter St. Submissions highlighting that the east bound uphill section of Railway Terrace and the intersection at Hunter Street are both considered unsafe. Current cycle diversion through back streets of Lewisham is seen as complex. Proposals for Victoria St shared zone. Requests for additional bike parking particularly at the station in Victoria Street.
4	Pedestrian safety/Footpath/accessibility and lighting Improvements	Submissions that footpath widening is needed on Railway Terrace. High demand for signalised traffic lights on Old Canterbury Road at Hudson / Henry intersection to address safety issues and connect the two sides of Lewisham Improved lighting at night along key pedestrian routes.
5	Lewisham Station Improvements	Requests for expanded pedestrian areas in Victoria St, particularly around the station and existing cafes.  Narrow/uneven paths, poor station entry visibility, need for continuous footpaths. Bicycle Parking was also advocated and better management of E Bike Parking. The provision of equal access facilities including a lift facility was advocated.  Lighting upgrades requested on Jubilee and high-use routes.
6	Public art & graffiti	Mixed community views but a key need was highlighted to address tagging through public art or greening intervention.  Requests for a mural on the railway wall facing Railway Terrace
7	Economic Development	Opportunities for increasing vibrancy is needed along Victoria Street. Improvements in public domain initiatives may assist in creating greater investment in shopping opportunities.
8	Maintenance	Improved Ausgrid pruning of trees. Submissions flagged a need to prioritise management of stormwater along the bike lane to reduce flooding impacts. Dumped rubbish management is seen as an issue. Additional street cleaning and maintenance of verges is also required.

As highlighted, several key themes have emerged from the community during the initial engagement process. This feedback will guide Council in developing a draft Placemaking Plan to address both challenges and opportunities within the area. Future public domain improvements will be designed to complement the Transport for NSW works around Lewisham Station, ensuring a cohesive approach to enhancing the area. It has also become apparent that several items are situated along state roads which fall under the jurisdiction of Transport for NSW. These items require advocacy to Transport for NSW as well as long-term funding and delivery support from them,

The following figure illustrates the proposed actions to be explored with the draft placemaking plan.

LEGEND
Following actions to be explored in consultation with TfNSW :
	A new signalised crossing across Old Canterbury Rd at Hudson St
	Old Canterbury Rd improvements, including measures to slow vehicle movement, more greenery and improved cycle links
	Railway Tce Improvements between Old Canterbury Rd and Hunter St, including: widening the footpath, calming and slowing vehicular movement and improving pedestrian safety. More greenery. Better cycle connectivity. Public art or greenery on the Station wall
	Improve Railway Terrace and Hunter St intersection by introducing a raised crossing of Railway Terrace and narrowing the vehicle space at the Hunter Street crossing
Following actions to be explored by Council:
	Improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, connections, and pedestrian amenity in the local streets between Light Rail Station and the Train Station. Review parking management.
	Upgrade existing park at the end of Jubilee St with new landscaping, furnishings and possibly introducing art works
	Upgrades to existing Victoria St village centre by providing better landscaping, furniture and lighting supporting outdoor dining, and consider creating a town plaza at the end of Victoria St

Council officers met with representatives from Transport for NSW (TfNSW) in February 2026 to present the outcomes of the community engagement process undertaken so far and to initiate a preliminary discussion regarding the forthcoming steps.

It is recommended that Council formally write to the Minister for Transport to inform TfNSW of Council’s ongoing placemaking initiatives and seek support.

Next steps

It is proposed to move forward with master planning of the Lewisham area with the following actions:

· Further traffic and site investigations

· Development of a high-level conceptual plan that identifies and costs potential works to be undertaken by TfNSW and Council

· Advocate and consult with TfNSW for safety and public domain improvements to State Roads to improve local amenity and connections across Old Canterbury Road and Railway Terrace.

Following these actions, it is proposed to report back to Council with a draft Placemaking concept plan for future community engagement and exhibition. It is envisaged that this will be presented to the September 2026 Council meeting.

It is anticipated that the project will be progress to detailed design following the completion of the conceptual planning phase and community consultation, with construction scheduled in 2027/2028.

LEGAL AND RISK IMPLICATIONS

Comment By General Counsel:

There are no legal and risk implications associated with this report.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

ATTACHMENTS

1.⇩

Lewisham Placemaking Engagement Outcomes Report

Council Meeting

17 March 2026

Item No: C0326(1) Item 22

Subject: Major Residential Development Panel and Housing Delivery - Quarterly Update

Prepared By: Peter Gainsford - General Manager

RECOMMENDATION

That Council receive and note the report.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE

This report supports the following strategic directions contained within Council’s Community Strategic Plan:

5: Progressive, responsive and effective civic leadership

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Since the commencement of the Major Residential Development Panel in July 2025 a total of 32 applications have been considered. Of these 14 applications have been determined with an average determination time of 145 days.

There are 2325 new dwellings proposed in the Inner West as part of the current State Significant Development Applications and of these 1171 are affordable or key worker housing. The Housing Delivery Authority have a number of applications under consideration that propose to deliver 1742 dwellings should they progress successfully through the HDA process.

There have been a further 77 post development applications survey since December which indicates similar survey results from the last report and highlights the need to improve Plain‑English communication, consistency in requests for further information, better transition between officers and transparency about progress and delays.

Council’s overall Development Assessment times are averaging at 92 days year to date which is less than the Minister expectations of 97 days.

BACKGROUND

At the Council meeting held on 20 May 2025, Council resolved the following:

1. That Council endorse the criteria describing significant residential development for items to be considered by the new Inner West Residential Panel as development applications or modifications that have:

a) 5 or more residential dwellings;

b) boarding houses;

c) co living; or

d) subdivision for residential development that would result in new housing

2. That the new Panel report to Council on the outcomes of panel reviews and progress of housing delivery on a quarterly basis.

3. That Council creates a dashboard reporting tool to track new housing supply in the Inner West and progress against our housing targets. That data is collected from the commencement of the new ‘Fairer Future in the Inner West’ plan and progress is reported in the quarterly reports to Council.

4. That Council undertake a review of the Terms of Reference in 12 months’ time to evaluate its effectiveness, with a report back to Council.

At the Council meeting held on 23 September 2025, Council resolved the following:

1. That Council receive and note the report.

2. That future reports to Council on the Major Residential Development Panel to:

a) be authored by the General Manager;

b) address identified bottlenecks to improve process efficiency; and

c) include post-DA survey results.

DISCUSSION

Major Residential Development Panel

Since the commencement of the panel in July There have been between 8 and 16 applications on each agenda. In total 32 applications have been considered and 14 applications have been determined with an average determination time of 145 days.

Number applications considered	32
Applications determined	14
Average Determination	145 days
Average Outstanding days (undetermined matters)	141 days

A number of changes to the development assessment process have been implemented since early December 2025. These changes have arisen from issues raised by the Major Residential Development Panel and include:

· An increase number of Design Review Panel meetings to remove previous delays as a result panel members availability;

· Early identification of hurdles or gaps in relevant information when referrals are made to internal specialists in order to avoid delays.

· Greater emphasis on ensuring the Request for Information letter (if applicable) is sent with minimal delays.

Following the commencement of the City Architect position he has taken responsibility for the Design Review Panel and as a member Major Residential Development Panel he is able to see first-hand the importance of regular Design review Panel Meetings in ensuring the timely managing of Development Applications. Since the end of 2025 there have been three meetings and consideration of 11 matters.

Council has a service standard of an 80% response rate for internal referrals and from 1 July 2025 to 30 December there were 2549 competed referrals across all applications with an average time taken of 21 days and approximately 50% of these were completed in 14 days. As stated in the previous report customer service workshops being carried out throughout 2026 with each referral team and will include all officers.

These workshops are focusing on customer experience, providing informative advice in plain English, understanding who the key stakeholders are, collaborating on solutions as well as conditions. The outcome will be delivering housing without delays and planning for these workshops has commenced with input from both the Development Assessment Senior Manager and the Manger of Service Transformation working together as a customer service piece. The workshop is being delivered in May for reporting to the next quarterly report.

In addition to this the Panel has requested that the responsible Senior Managers for each referral prioritises the referrals that are part of any application that is reported to the Major Residential Development Panel.

Requests for further Information remain a focus for the Panel as they are critical to the timely assessment and also a source of frustration for applicants given the technical nature of some responses. This is a key priority and a plain - English review of this template is underway and Council’s new Development Control Plan will assist in this regard.

Post Development Application Survey Results

Council received 77 survey responses between 1 August 2025 and 4 February 2026, a 19% increase since December. This continues to provide a clear picture of how applicants experience communication, engagement, lodgement, and timeframes throughout the Development Assessment process.

This report offers a brief summary of the key changes and their implications for the service.

Survey findings - Communication and engagement

Feedback on communication remains mixed but is improving. Applicants consistently valued:

· Clear, polite communication.

· Staff helpfulness and responsiveness.

· Being able to speak with their assessing planner.

However, recurring issues include:

· Slow or inconsistent responses.

· Difficulty understanding technical language.

· Occasional lack of transparency during neighbour notification.

· Frustration when RFI wording feels unclear or overly formal.

These themes align with previous findings and highlight the continued importance of clear, plain-English communication and more proactive updates.

The lodgement experience continues to receive a mix of both positive and negative feedback, mainly influenced by the NSW Planning Portal.

Positive comments frequently mentioned:

· Faster turnaround compared with previous years.

· Helpful staff guidance, especially for first‑time applicants.

Neutral and negative comments focused on:

· Portal complexity.

· Difficulty understanding required documents and fees.

· Extra steps for simple applications (particularly tree matters).

While many applicants appreciate improvements, lodgement remains one of the more challenging parts of the journey for infrequent or non-industry users.

Timeframes remain an area where applicants report generally positive experiences, with many noting faster approvals than in previous years. However, slightly more negative feedback indicates the impact of:

· Delays caused by internal handovers.

· Waiting for RFIs.

· Specialist referrals.

· Portal issues that applicants believe could be resolved more quickly.

Applicants appreciate timely decisions but would like clearer explanations when delays occur.

Survey findings – Sentiment trends

Across all open‑text questions, sentiment shows a familiar distribution:

· Strong positive feedback about individual staff.

· Neutral or mixed feedback about systems and processes.

· Negative feedback is mainly tied to time delays, unclear communication, and portal complexity.

These patterns reinforce the need to continue shifting effort toward:

· Plain‑English communication.

· Consistency in RFIs.

· Better transition between officers.

· Transparency about progress and delays.

Progress on Housing Delivery

The following matters are reported to the Major Residential Development Panel on a monthly basis and have been adapted for reporting to Council.

State Significant Developments Applications (SSDA)

These are the current and determined State Significant Development Applications (SSDAs), within Inner West Council LGA since May 2025. All applications can be found on the Department’s Major Project Website - Major Projects search | Planning Portal - Department of Planning and Environment.

Updates to the below applications are highlighted in blue in the below table:

Address & Link to project page	Summary of Proposal	Number of Dwellings (inc)	Housing SEPP Bonus / Years for Affordable Housing	Number of Affordable Housing / Key worker	Status	HDA
Rozelle Village	Mixed use development with affordable housing	227	15	59	Approved (14/5/2025)
194-Wardell Road and 46 Pine Street, Marrickville Maronite Sisters	Demolish and redevelop Village 1 to provide a four-storey, 99-bedroom facility with basement car parking (currently 54 beds)	N/A	N/A	N/A	Submission made in response to amended documentation. Application under assessment
Lots bound by Victoria Road, Sydenham Road, Farr Street and Mitchell Street, Marrickville The Timberyards by RTL Co	Redevelopment of the site for a rental housing precinct	1181	25	590	Reported to Independent Planning Commission Public Meeting held on 8 December – Application approved
Newington College 200 Stanmore Road, Stanmore Newington College	Redevelopment of Newington college	N/A	N/A	N/A	Prepare EIS
Leichhardt Oval (IWC Application) Leichhardt Oval	Refurbishment and upgrade works	N/A	N/A	N/A	SSDA Lodged and on exhibition from 12 Jan to 12 Feb 2026
Parramatta Road, Pyrmont Bridge Road, Camperdown Westconnex-Dive-Site	WestConnex Dive Site Build-to-Rent Subdivision, construction of mixed build to rent. Stage 1A (Stage 1B – Build to Sell, Stage 02 – Build to Sell) SSDA & Concurrent re-zoning	220	15	220 dedicated for key worker	Application approved 23 Dec 2025	√
67,73-83 Mary Street, 50-52 Edith Street & 43 Robert Street, St Peters Precinct 75	Amending DA to DA/2021/0800 increasing the floor area by 4842m2 & additional 265 dwellings (16 affordable)	265	15	Nil additional affordable housing 16 units included in existing approval	Additional information provided by applicant. Further submission from Council made in response. Application under assessment	√
Rozelle Village	Modification 1 S4.55 (1A) Modification for Condition Amendments relating to site contamination and hours of construction				Submission made. Approved
Mixed-use development, 307-315 Parramatta Road	16 storey mixed used with 154 dwellings, retail, basement & public domain works.	154	15	21	On exhibition from 3 Dec to 20 Jan 2026. Submission made by Council officers	√
122-128, 130 Pyrmont Bridge Road & 206 Parramatta Rd, Annandale	22-storey mixed-use and concurrent rezoning for 281 build-to-rent units, 15% affordable housing, ground floor retail	281	15 (10)	281 (252 dedicated for key worker and 29 for general affordable)	On exhibition 22 Jan to 18 Feb 2026	√
Rozelle Village	Rozelle Village Mod 2 - Layout and wind mitigation measures + additional parking & reduction of apartments	-3			Submission made by Council officers
Total	-	2325		1171

*SSDA = State Significant Development Application

SARP = State Assessed Rezoning Proposal

Housing Delivery Authority (HDA)

The HDA was a State Government announcement in 2025, to boost housing supply and improve affordability in order to address the housing crisis and meeting Housing Accord targets. The State of NSW has an ambitious target to deliver 377,000 new homes over five years by July 2029 under the National Housing Accord.

To accelerate the delivery of housing the HDA leads a streamlined State Significant Development Application (SSDA) pathway and SSDA with a concurrent rezoning process.

The HDA commenced meeting in February 2025 and generally meets every fortnight to considers Expressions of Interests for proposals. The outcome of the HDA meetings is published to determine the pathway of the proposal. All information on the HDA is contained on their website - Housing Delivery Authority | Planning

The table below provides the declared proposals and their status:

Date	Address	Suburb	Summary of Proposal	Concurrent rezoning	Number of Dwellings -indicative	Status
19-Feb-25	40-76 William Street	Leichhardt	The adaptive reuse to residential of the existing industrial warehouses	Not mentioned	200	Prepare EIS
7-Mar-25	67 Mary Street (Precinct 75)	St Peters	Shop top housing of 200 dwellings	Yes	-	SSDA & SARP lodged (see above table)
24-Mar-25	307-315 Parramatta Road	Leichhardt	Shop top housing	Yes	154	Response to submissions
24-Mar-25	245 Marion Street	Leichhardt	Shop top housing	Yes	125	SEARS issued 17/11/2025 Prepare EIS
4-Apr-25	122-130 Pyrmont Bridge Road, 206 Parramatta Road	Annandale	Shop top housing	Yes	162	On exhibition
2-May-25	99-101 Pyrmont Bridge Road, 190-196 Parramatta	Annandale	Shop top housing	Yes	191	Not yet requested SEARs
16-May-25	63-77 Pyrmont Bridge Road	Annandale	Shop top housing	Yes	180	Not yet requested SEARs
15-July-25	104 – 108 Victoria Road	Rozelle	Shop top housing	Yes	130	SEARS Requested
29 Aug 25	52-54 Pyrmont Bridge Road	Annandale	Mixed use with health services, retail, commercial & RFB	Yes	600	Not yet requested SEARS
TOTAL					1742

Source: Housing Delivery Authority https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/policy-and-legislation/housing/housing-delivery-authority

Regional Planning Panel Applications

As part of the Planning Reforms announced in late 2025, the Regional Planning Panels will have their responsibilities assumed by Council and the Local Planning Panels. As such, matters will no longer be referred to the Regional Planning Panel.

Development Assessment Performance against Ministers Expectations

The Environmental Planning & Assessment (Statement of Expectations) Order 2024 set the expectations for Council’s for both lodgement and assessment timeframes for development applications.

The league tables can be viewed online via the following link Council League Tables

Lodgement Performance for FY 25/26 - January

For the months of July to the end of January the lodgement of applications took on average 6 days which meets the new expectation for 2025 to 2026 of 7 days.

Assessment Performance for FY 25/26 – January

Timeframes for assessments from 1 July to 31 January took an average of 92 days which meets the Minister’s expectations of 97 days.

Development Assessment performance against KPI’s

The table below provides an update on the performance of key process steps, that were previously reported to Council via a Bi-Monthly report and now reported on a quarterly basis. Some of these are also now reported via the DPOP.

Council officers continue to work on the Development Assessment Customer Service Action Plan which sets out the progress on the initiatives identified though Industry Professional workshops, external review prepared by Centium and various Council resolutions relating to customer service as well as recommendations from the outcomes of the DA survey.

Key Process Steps	Customer Experience KPI	FY 23/24	FY 24/25	Q1	Q2
Pre DA Minutes	Letter sent in 10 days of meeting - Median	Data not available	10	12	7
Submit DA on Planning Portal to Lodgement in T1	100% in 10 days (Maintain current average of 7.5 calendar days)	76% in 10 days Average 7 days	58%	68%	98%
Call Applicant and/or Property Owner to advise responsible officer for the DA	100% in 10 days of allocation. Introduction, explain process, answer questions and case manage the process	Data not available	46%	85.9%	98%
Neighbour Notification posted	100% in 7 days following payment of all fees	30% in 7 days 77% in 14 days	74%	86%	52% in 7 91% in 14 days*
Internal referrals obtained	80% response in 14 days	51%	46%	52%	49%
Site inspection	100% inspections are recorded on the council record.	84%	66%	93%	98%
Acknowledgment of receipt of submissions	100% of submissions received are acknowledged in writing	100%	100%	100%	100%
Automation of progress update of significant milestones	Change in assessment officer (within 5 days)	Data not available		Tech solution being deployed	Tech solution deployed no current data
Determination	Median within 85 days	81.5 days	69 days	56 days	68 days

*Notification delays due to downtime of mapping system

Faster Assessments Incentives Program

In September 2025 the Faster Assessment Incentive Program was announced by the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces. The program’s purpose is to fund local infrastructure for those councils expected to deliver a higher proportion of housing under the five year housing targets and who are also reducing their development assessment timeframes or keeping their assessment timeframes down.

Only top performing councils have received funding as per the program guidelines. Council has recently received written acknowledgement from the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure noting ‘Council’s strong performance in delivering low development assessment time frames’ and inviting Council to nominate an infrastructure project for the grant up to $2,000,000.

LEGAL AND RISK IMPLICATIONS

Comment By General Counsel:

The General Counsel is a member of the Panel. Legal advice is provided to the Panel to ensure that when developments are discussed any such considerations are lawful and within power.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no financial implications associated with the implementation of the proposed recommendations outlined in the report.

ATTACHMENTS

Nil.

Task	Estimated Completion Date
Report concept and cost estimate to March Council Meeting	17 March 2026
Prepare 50% detailed design package	End June 2026
Planning Applications and Approvals	August 2026
Prepare 95% detailed design	September 2026
Prepare construction tender documentation	October 2026
Tender for construction	December 2026
Construction	Completed by mid-2027

1.⇩	Concept Design - Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Community Hub
2.⇩	LDG Meeting Minutes 10 Feb 2026 Item 2

Activity	Target Completion	Status
Project Planning Scope Confirmation	May 2025	Completed
Consultant Engagements	August 2025	Completed
Lodgement of SSD Application	December 2025	Completed
Complete 80% design for tender	April 2026	In progress
Planning Approval	August 2026	In progress
Procurement	August 2026	In progress
Contract award and execution	September 2026	Future
Construction commences on-site	October 2026	Future
Construction complete	Early 2028	Future

1.⇩	FRNSW Inspection Report - 10 Edward Street Lilyfield
2.⇩	FRNSW Inspection Report - 67 Alt Street Ashfield
3.⇩	FRNSW Inspection Report - 44 Princes Hwy St Peters

Creative	Percentage for 2025 calendar year
Theatre	34%
Music	28%
Film	12%
Dance	11%
Art	6%
Comedy	2%
Multi-arts	1%
Writer	1%
Cabaret	1%
Photography	1%
Circus/Clown	1%
Drag	1%
Puppetry	1%

Ward	Item
Baludarri (Balmain)	InnerWest@40 - Area 4 Leichhardt and Annandale; Area 9 Dulwich Hill North and Lewisham; Area 10 South Ashfield and Summer Hill West - Proposed speed limit reduction from 50km/h to 40km/h
Baludarri (Balmain)	College Street, Balmain - Proposed Bicycles Excepted Signage
Gulgadya (Leichhardt)	InnerWest@40 - Area 4 Leichhardt and Annandale; Area 9 Dulwich Hill North and Lewisham; Area 10 South Ashfield and Summer Hill West - Proposed speed limit reduction from 50km/h to 40km/h
	Thornley Street, Leichhardt - Proposed Kerb Extension
	Kingston Street, Haberfield - Proposed Traffic Calming Works
Midjuburi (Marrickville)	Arthur Street, Marrickville - Proposed Raised Continuous Footpath Treatment - Design Plan No.10361
	Bunnings Tempe Local Area Traffic Management - Design Plan No. HD202
	Wardell Road, Marrickville - Proposed Raised Pedestrian Crossing
	Tempe Station Parking Study
	Mackey Park Resident Parking Scheme
	Unnamed Laneway, Marrickville rear of Church Street and Warren Road - Adjustment to No Parking Restriction
Djarrawunang (Ashfield)	InnerWest@40 - Area 4 Leichhardt and Annandale; Area 9 Dulwich Hill North and Lewisham; Area 10 South Ashfield and Summer Hill West - Proposed speed limit reduction from 50km/h to 40km/h
	Hardie Avenue (at Smith Street), Summer Hill-Proposed upgrade of an existing at level road crossing to a new raised pedestrian crossing.
	Robert Street at Queen Street, Ashfield- Proposed short-term road safety improvements
	Wardell Road, Marrickville - Proposed Raised Pedestrian Crossing
Damun (Stanmore)	InnerWest@40 - Area 4 Leichhardt and Annandale; Area 9 Dulwich Hill North and Lewisham; Area 10 South Ashfield and Summer Hill West - Proposed speed limit reduction from 50km/h to 40km/h
	Wells Street, Newtown - Proposed Raised Continuous Footpath Treatment
	Terminus Street, Petersham - Proposed Raised Pedestrian Crossing - Design Plan No.10368
	Dickson Street at King Street, Newtown – Redesign of existing refuge island - Design Plan 10365
	Fishers Reserve, Petersham - Proposed Raised Continuous Footpath Treatment
All Wards	Inner West LGA - Proposal for GoGet car share parking spaces

Venue	Percentage of all bookings (n=2074)	Creative genre booked
Balmain Town Hall	22%	Music - 33% Theatre - 26%
Annandale Upstairs Hall	15%	Theatre - 35% Dance - 24%
Leichhardt Town Hall	14%	Film - 41% Theatre - 30%
St Peters Town Hall	13%	Theatre - 24% Music - 20%
Marrickville Town Hall Meeting Rooms	9%	Theatre - 65% Music - 12%
Ashfield Town Hall	7%	Music - 39%
Petersham Town Hall	5%	Dance - 30% Film - 30%
Annandale Back Hall	4%	Theatre - 100%
Marrickville Town Hall	4%	Music - 43%
St Peters Town Hall Meeting Rooms	3%	Puppetry - 100%
Petersham Town Hall Meeting Room	2%	Music - 50%
Annandale Meeting Room	1%	Theatre - 50% Music - 50%
Ashfield Town Hall Meeting Room	1%	Film - 100%

Property	Current Tenant Status	Current Status and use	Arrangement	Cost to Council
Thirning Villa	Refugee Art Project (RAP) 2018-March 2026. (cap works scheduled 2026) RAP is a small arts organization, working with refugees in detention and in community settings. RAP engage in projects with major organizations (Biennale, AGNSW, etc) using site as their headquarters, exhibition, workshop and community gathering space. Ashfield Historical Society occupy one further room on the ground floor.	3 x studios each 20.25msq Gallery/workshop space 34.2msq + shared facilities: bathroom, kitchen, courtyard w kitchenette, outdoor wet room/laundry.	RAP had rolling 6-month leases until capital works in 2026, paying peppercorn rent and utilities. A new EOI presents opportunities for a more active use of the various spaces in the Villa, enhancing collaborative practice and community engagement.	Utilities covered by Council. Planned capital works in mid-2026 will improve facilities and access and costs are 2025/2026 - $402,000 and 2026/2027 - $150,000.
Whites Creek Cottage	Currently vacant Last use for artists 2023-2024 - Two 12-month solo artist residencies per year (no artform specified). Free to use, but no stipend provided by Council. For development of creative practice, with ecological themes. Outcomes linked to Footprints Festival and other eco initiatives in White’s Creek Valley Green Park.	2 x 13m²rooms with access to shared toilets and kitchen. Currently other spaces within the cottage for general hire.	Under Plan of Management for Whites Creek Park	Utilities covered by Council. No capital works are currently planned for this site.
19 Railway Road, Sydenham	Artist collective “Stone Villa Studios Inc.” have occupied this property since 2005.	2005 – ongoing, 7 studio spaces + shared facilities including gallery and outdoor areas for pottery/construction/making	Single organization/artist collective, managing rotating residencies. Utilities are managed and paid for by tenants.	Peppercorn rent is charged ($1).

Venue	Update
Petersham Town Hall art organisation office spaces	Currently houses a number of arts organisation offices such as Queer Screen, Future Proof and Boxes of Birds, which was the result of a previous EOI process
Garry Owen House	Is a NSW Government property within Callan Park, which currently houses the Writers NSW organisation.
Chrissie Cotter Gallery	Exhibition space for emerging/mid-career artists and collectives, allocated short exhibition periods via annual EOI. The 2026 program includes 15 exhibitions involving 78 individual artists across solo and group shows.
Mervyn Fletcher Hall	Currently represents 10% of all creative bookings in 2025 at Council properties. Highest bookings are Theatre - 44% Dance - 20%.
Yanada Room Lewisham	Currently represents 9% of all creative bookings in 2025 at Council properties. Highest bookings are Theatre - 55% Art - 9%.
Herb Greedy Hall, Marrickville	Currently represents 6% of all creative bookings in 2025 at Council properties. Highest bookings are Theatre - 36% Music 36%.
Jimmy Little Community Centre, Rozelle	Currently represents 3% of all creative bookings in 2025 at Council properties. Highest bookings are Theatre - 38%
Haberfield Centre - Graham Yarroll Room	Currently represents 2% of all creative bookings in 2025 at Council properties. Highest bookings are Theatre - 100%
Seaview Street Hall, Dulwich Hill	Currently represents 2% of all creative bookings in 2025 at Council properties. Highest bookings are Theatre - 50%
Clontarf Cottage	Currently represents 1% of all creative bookings in 2025 at Council properties. Highest bookings are Film - 100%

Category	Budget	Comment
Media and print (billboard, print, radio, online outlets)	$15,000	Reduced and focused on high visibility print like posters and bus stops.
Digital Influencers	$35,000	Increased to reflect influencer interest and rates. Work with influencers on general inner west content and some tied to specific events.
Paid Social Media + Boosted Posts	$25,000	Ads and original content on platforms including Meta, YouTube, TikTok, Google.
Discretionary	$10,000	Held to be directed towards high performing content as needed.
Total	$85,000

Ref	Initiative	Scheduling
a	Hackathon event	October 2026
b	Local talent linking	Ongoing as opportunities arise
c	Pop-Up tech Hub	Open March 2026
d	STEM cadetship (women & non-binary)	Recruit in October 2026
e	Tech Advisory Council	June 2026 (Bi-annual)
f	Open Data Portal	August 2026

1.⇩	Inner West Council Economic and Investment Portfolio Commentary - January 2026
2.⇩	Inner West Council Investment Report - January 2026

Councillor	Professional development, conferences & seminars	Interstate/ intrastate travel	Carer expenses	Greeting cards	ICT expenses	Home office expenses	General travel
Mayor Byrne	$5,053.97	$219.07	–	–	$1,782.42	–	$661.82
Clr Antoniou	$1,446.82	–	–	60	$109.06	–	–
Clr Atkins	$5,655.55	$76.82	–	–	$78.47	–	–
Clr Barlow	$1,923.18	–	–	–	$102.05	–	–
Clr Blake	$1,534.09	–	–	–	$109.07	–	–
Clr Carlisle	$1,835.44	–	–	50	$125.42	–	$52.12
Clr Clay	$3,415.44	–	–	–	$109.44	–	–
Clr D’Arienzo	$1,499.53	–	–	–	$99.98	–	$397.51
Clr Fergusson	$1,534.09	–	–	–	$72.71	–	–
Clr Howard	$115.09	$419.53	–	–	$136.31	–	–
Clr Macri	$301.35	–	–	–	$54.53	–	–
Clr Raciti	$826.35	–	–	100	$109.06	–	–
Clr Scott	$1,835.44	–	–	100	$114.16	–	$321.54
Deputy Mayor Smith	–	–	–	–	$81.80	–	–
Clr Tastan	$1,563.62	–	–	75	$109.08	–	–
Total combined Clr actual expenses	$28,539.96	$715.42	Nil	385 cards	$3,293.56	Nil	$1,432.99
Adopted budget per year	$6,765 per Councillor	$15,375 Total for all Clrs	$9,000 per Councillor	100 (Clrs) 500 (Mayor)	$3,690 per Councillor $6,150 (Mayor)	$615 per Councillor	$3,383 per Councillor