Supporting City Communities

Recognising our Indigenous Heritage

The City has signed a Principles of Cooperation agreement with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council and we coordinate cultural events during NAIDOC week.

We are creating an Eora walking path from the Harbour to Redfern, and an Indigenous Cultural Centre will tell the story of Indigenous Australia. An Advisory Panel will guide the City on events, employment and cultural recognition.

Image: Sorry Day celebrations

For Childcare and Youth Needs

Extensive playground upgrades across the City include Redfern Park and Sydney Park, Franklyn Street, Surrey Street and Sarah Pennington Parks, with a planned upgrade of Victoria Park playground.

Our Childcare Centre Plan, which encourages new facilities within the City, has helped add 500 childcare places, with a further 870 places planned. We run childcare centres in Glebe, Alexandria and Redfern, and will soon open a 26-place centre in Surry Hills.

The City runs youth centres in Erskineville, Pyrmont, Redfern, Woolloomooloo and Millers Point. Through our grants program we support youth programs, the Glebe Youth Service, Waterloo’s South Sydney Youth Services and the PACT Youth Theatre. Our Youth newsletter “Wazzup!” keeps young people informed.

City events for Youth Week include skate festivals and art programs. The new Waterloo Skate Park was designed in consultation with young skaters and we sponsor the popular Midnight Basketball, inviting players from Redfern, Woolloomooloo and Glebe. The midnight basketball includes workshops for 12-18s to promote life skills.

Encouraging Responsible Pet Ownership

The City encourages and supports responsible pet ownership through education and information, using enforcement when necessary. We provide free dog training and reduced cost desexing for pets of residents on low incomes.

In response to significant dog ownership and balancing rights of access, the City has made 33 of the City’s 350 parks off-leash at all times.

Image: Free dog obedience training course

 

Supporting the GLBT Community

We support Sydney’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community through sponsorship of Mardi Gras and via our GLBT Project Coordinator and GLBT forums.

We are developing Oxford Street as a cultural quarter and work with Police, ACON and the Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Project to address homophobic violence. We have established a Relationships Declaration Register and oppose laws which discriminate against same-sex couples.

Image: Mardi Gras

Serving Seniors

Our network of Activity Centres provides services, support and recreational activities for seniors. Meals on Wheels recently celebrated 50 years of service, with volunteers delivering over 1,700 meals to local residents each week.

There are special City discounts and rebates on services such as pet registration and desexing, parking permits, annual rates, waste charges and entry to aquatic facilities. Each year the City supports NSW Seniors Week and holds special activities.

Image: Meals on Wheels volunteers