2022 media releases

• Have your say on Leichhardt Skate Park - Inner West residents are invited to comment on plans for the long awaited Leichhardt Skate Park, which is now on public exhibition.
• State Government must replace sinking SES building - Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne has written to the NSW Government calling on them to replace the Ashfield-Leichhardt SES Building which is subsiding because of the WestConnex tunnel.
• ‘Pride Square’ for Newtown - Council will seek to rename the public square outside Newtown Town Hall ‘Pride Square’ in time for Sydney WorldPride in early 2023.
• 100 Years of Marrickville Town Hall - Council is celebrating the centenary of Marrickville Town Hall which was officially opened on 11 February 1922.
• 2022 International Women’s Day in the Inner West - Council will mark 2022 International Women’s Day, 8 March, by honouring the contribution of Aboriginal matriarchs, hosting an In Conversation event with renowned feminist Wendy McCarthy and introducing ‘Learning Journeys’ for local women and girls.
• 38 Mayors across Australia declare support for the Uluru Statement - Mayors from across Australia have come together to make a joint statement in support of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the upcoming referendum on the Voice to Parliament.
• Aboriginal flag costs nothing to fly over the bridge - Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne says Premier Perrottet’s claim that flying the Aboriginal Flag permanently over the Harbour Bridge will cost $25 million is absurd.
• Air pollution in White Bay to continue until at least 2024 - Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne is urging the NSW Government to end the decade-long delay and begin work immediately on providing Ship to Shore power for The White Bay Cruise Terminal.
• Annual Grants round now open - Council has opened its annual grants program. The grants assist local organisations and citizens to initiate programs and services at the grassroots level.
• Anti-racism strategy for Inner West - Council will develop an anti-racism strategy which recognises that racism exists in all communities and that local government has a role and responsibility in combatting race discrimination in all its forms.
• Apply for Perfect Match 2022 - Inner West Council’s Perfect Match is back in 2022 and applications are now open
• Auditor General releases scathing indictment of NSW Government council grants rorts - The findings released today by the NSW Auditor General into the NSW Government’s systematic rorting of council grants must be acted on immediately by Premier Perrottet.
• Australian South Sea Islander flag raising - Inner West will raise the Australian South Sea Islander flag at Petersham Town Hall on Wednesday 24 August at 4pm.
• Balmain Town Hall Precinct to be revitalised - Council is developing plans for the revitalisation of the Balmain Town Hall precinct, which takes in the area from Balmain PCYC to the new Balmain Square.
• Balmain Town Hall upgrade planned - Inner West Council will inject up to $3 million over the next two years into a major revitalisation of Balmain Town Hall.
• Budget delivers for the community - Inner West Council is delivering on key commitments made in the recent local government elections in its 2022 - 2023 Budget.
• Council committed to excellent customer service - Council will review its customer service with a view to increasing responsiveness, reducing Development Application times and improving transparency.
• Council congratulates Safdar Ahmed - Director of the Refugee Arts Project at Inner West Council’s Thirning Villa has won Book of the Year at the NSW Premier's Literary Awards.
• Council demands safety upgrade at dangerous pedestrian crossing - Council is demanding urgent and long-overdue safety upgrades to the Frederick Street Ashfield pedestrian crossing.
• Council issues emergency orders for Balmain Leagues Club - Council has issued emergency orders that require the derelict and dangerous Balmain Leagues Club site to be cleaned up and made safe. This is in response to the NSW Government’s refusal to clean up this dangerous fire safety hazard.
• Council launches inaugural Local Matters Forum in Marrickville - Council’s first Local Matters Forum last night was enthusiastically embraced by local Marrickville residents.
• Council ramps up its war on food waste - Council will roll out food organics recycling to all Inner West households within the next four years, becoming the first inner Sydney council to make the commitment.
• Council to address issue of food relief - Council has voted unanimously to urgently investigate ways to address the issue of food relief in the Inner West.
• Council wins at the Master Builders Excellence in Construction Awards - Three of Council’s major infrastructure projects have won prestigious NSW Master Builders Excellence in Construction Awards.
• Council youth initiatives win at Local Government Week Awards - Council’s Youth Week festival won Most Inclusive Youth Week Program at last night’s Local Government Week Awards.
• COVID recovery needed in all Sydney suburbs, not just the CBD - In response to the Committee for Sydney report released this week proposing ideas for the future of the CBD, Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has called for the NSW Government to apply the same thinking to all of Sydney’s suburbs, not just the big end of town.
• Cruise Ship Condemnation - Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne says the people of Balmain will be justifiably upset with the arrival of P&O’s Pacific Adventure cruise ship into White Bay.
• Culture X Ashfield - Culture X Ashfield, Friday 9 – Sunday 11 September, is a jam-packed weekend of cross-cultural world music concerts and events.
• Draft De-amalgamation Business Case – have your say - Council is preparing a business case for the NSW Minister for Local Government to make a final decision on the de-amalgamation. Here's how to have your say
• EDGE Sydenham 2022 – Fuelling Creativity - EDGE Sydenham features two wintry weekends of art and performance, Friday 12 – Sunday 21 August.
• Entries now invited for the 2022 Built Environment Awards - Submissions are now open for the 2022 Built Environment Awards, comprising the Marrickville Medal for Conservation and the Inner West Urban Photography Competition.
• Five aquatic centres, three gyms, one Pass - The new Inner West Fitness Pass gives residents access to five magnificent aquatic centres and gyms on one universal card.
• Fix Sydney's worst pedestrian crossing now, says Council - Council will pressure the NSW Government to finally approve the long-awaited safety upgrade to the Dulwich Hill railway station pedestrian crossing.
• Food security and community support - Times can be very difficult for residents. There are local services providing assistance with food, bill help, and other material aid.
• Footprints Ecofestival - Footprints Ecofestival annual event at Annandale’s Whites Creek Valley Park is back in 2022, Saturday 3 September, 11am - 3pm.
• Free period products now available in the Inner West - Inner West Council is installing 10 vending machines with free period products for women using the Council’s facilities such as aquatic centres and libraries.
• Free puppy training will encourage responsible dog ownership - Council will trial free puppy classes for dog owners to encourage responsible dog ownership and activation of local dog parks.
• Fuel Creativity at EDGE Art Camp on the GreenWay - Over 12 days, EDGE Art Camp on the GreenWay will see nature and creativity converge in a dynamic, immersive arts hub on the banks of Iron Cove Bay at Lilyfield.
• Greenway In-Corridor design and construction update - This October, Inner West Council awarded contractor Gartner Rose the contract for the design and construction of the next phase of the GreenWay project, the Greenway In-Corridor.
• Have your say on Council's most important urban planning documents - Council has commenced its community consultation on urban planning documents that control how, where and to what extent development should take place in the Inner West.
• Help Council improve its Customer Service - Expressions of Interest are invited from Inner West citizens for Council’s new sub-committee focused on Customer Service.
• Helping the children of asylum seekers - Council will assist some of the 400 children of asylum seekers who are currently denied access to affordable childcare.
• Henson Park to star in AFLW 2022 season - Henson Park features significantly in the official 2022 NAB AFLW Season, which has just been announced by the AFL.
• Henson Park upgrade now fully funded and ready to proceed - After years of campaigning for an upgrade to Henson Park, the Newtown Jets, the NSW/ ACT AFL and the Inner West Council are celebrating a victory, with the NSW Government finally agreeing to match the funding from the Council and the Albanese Government for a much needed upgrade to one of the jewels in Sydney’s crown.
• Heritage restoration of Dawn Fraser Baths wins - The heritage restoration of Dawn Fraser Baths has won the prestigious President’s Prize at the 28th annual National Trust (NSW) Heritage Awards.
• Inner West 2022 Citizens of the Year awarded - Indigenous activist Cheree Toka and the long-standing leader of Newtown Neighbourhood Centre, Liz Yeo, are Inner West Council’s 2022 Citizens of the Year.
• Inner West Arts and Music Summit a success - Yesterday, at Marrickville Town Hall, musicians, performers, promoters, creative businesses and elected representatives came together to work on a blueprint for the Inner West arts sector.
• Inner West Arts Recovery Summit - The Inner West creative community coming together for the Inner West Arts Recovery Summit.
• Inner West calls for facial recognition to be withdrawn from local stores - Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has today written to companies who have been caught making use of facial recognition technology for surveillance to stop this invasive monitoring of customers in Inner West retail stores.
• Inner West celebrations for Mardi Gras - Council will host a series of events to mark the 2022 Sydney Mardi Gras.
• Inner West Council condemns campaign of intimidation and harassment - Inner West Council condemns the ongoing campaign of intimidation and harassment that Council staff, elected representatives and the Inner West community has been subjected to by advocates of flying the Russian Flag.
• Inner West Council’s GreenWay vision gets funding boost - The 5.8km corridor linking the Cooks River at Earlwood with the Parramatta River at Iron Cove called the GreenWay is one step closer to fruition.
• Inner West de-amalgamation business case submitted to NSW Government - The Inner West Council has today submitted its de-amalgamation business case to the NSW Government.
• Inner West determined to build skate plaza - At last night’s meeting, it was resolved to press ahead with the construction of a promised new Skate Plaza in Lilyfield. Council voted 14 to 1 in favour of the Skate Plaza.
• Inner West Fest will blow away the pandemic cobwebs - Everyone’s invited to celebrate the very best of the Inner West at Inner West Fest from 25 February to 10 April.
• Inner West is now 100% renewable and 100% divested from fossil fuels - Inner West has today become the first local government in Australia to be 100 percent divested from fossil fuels and 100 percent powered by renewable energy.
• Inner West pubs set to be heritage listed - The Inner West's pubs with heritage significance may soon be permanently protected following a successful vote at this week’s Council meeting.
• Inner West snubbed on EV charging station rollout - The inner West has missed out on getting even one of the 500 electric vehicle charging stations being rolled out across Sydney and regional New South Wales by the State Government over the next two years.
• Inner West students now missing classes due to light rail debacle - Following reports of massive delays for school students travelling along the light rail corridor, Inner West Council is calling on the NSW Government to commence a school special bus service to make sure local students can get to school on time.
• Inner West to host IGLFA World Championships at Sydney World Pride, February 2023 - Council, the Flying Bats FC, Sydney Rangers FC and Pride Football Australia are uniting to host an LGBTIQA+ 11-a-side soccer tournament coinciding with Sydney World Pride.
• Inner West to recruit 1000 citizens for Voice to Parliament Referendum - Inner West Council will train 1000 local citizens in a civic education program to build awareness about the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the upcoming Referendum on the Voice to Parliament.
• Inner West to trial ‘micro forests’ - Council will trial planting ‘micro forests’ across the Inner West.
• Inner West to trial public EV charging stations - As Australia continues its slow transition from petrol to electric powered vehicles, the Inner West faces some unique challenges. Not the least of which is the recharging issue with less than 40% of residents having suitable garages or carports on their properties.
• Inner West votes to issue demolition order on Balmain Leagues Club - Council will issue a demolition order on the derelict and unsafe Balmain Leagues Club if the NSW Government fails to act to ensure the site is safe.
• Jamie finds supportive culture at Inner West Council - Inner West Council staff member and former Citizen of the Year Jamie De Paulo stars in a new campaign to raise awareness of the successful contribution people living with disability are making to workplaces.
• Leichhardt Oval amenities and sport field upgrade to commence - Inner West Council is investing $960,000 in the much-loved Leichhardt Oval, by upgrading the playing field surface and male and female amenities from October.
• Leichhardt Oval to host first ever NRLW Semi-Finals this Sunday - Leichhardt Oval has once again been chosen to host a major sporting event in the first ever NRLW semi-finals series on Sunday 3 April.
• Linda Burney to address Uluru Statement forum in Marrickville - Watch the live stream of this event on Facebook or YouTube on Thursday 16 June at 6.30pm. Details here.
• Little Greece community celebration - Council will launch the Little Greece precinct in Marrickville at a community celebration on Saturday 18 June.
• Local sport wins with upgraded Tempe Reserve - Today Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne along with local sporting club officials opened the first stage of the upgraded Tempe Reserve sporting grounds.
• Locals with a passion for public policy wanted for new Local Democracy Groups - The Inner West is seeking recruits with local knowledge and a passion for social policy to join its Local Democracy Groups.
• Marrickville Golf Course Saved – once and for all - Inner West Council has secured the future of Marrickville Golf, Sporting and Community Club by entering into a 21-year lease. The lease was signed yesterday and marked a historic moment for the club in its almost 80-year history.
• Mayors across Australia endorse Uluru Statement From the Heart - Mayors from across Australia have today voted to endorse the Uluru Statement From the Heart. The motion from Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne, committing councils to a grass roots campaign to build awareness of the upcoming referendum, was passed by the National General Assembly of Local Government.
• Memorial service for trailblazing Balmain Tigers player, Olsen Filipaina - Leichhardt Oval will host a memorial service for trailblazing Balmain Tigers player and New Zealand international Olsen Filipaina.
• More inclusive playgrounds for Inner West - Inclusive playgrounds will be established in all five wards of Inner West Council local government area.
• More outdoor community events to revitalise arts sector - Council will invest in new outdoor COVID-safe community events in a bid to provide more support to the arts and culture sector and foster community connections.
• Mother of Invention at Chrissie Cotter Gallery - Petersham assemblage artist Gillian Wright will exhibit her sculptures at Inner West Council’s Chrissie Cotter Gallery.
• Music Festival honouring Richard Gill returns this Saturday - This Saturday the streets of Stanmore will come alive with the sound of music as the St Anmoré festival returns for the first time since 2019.
• New $7.5 million main streets revitalisation fund - Inner West Council will inject $7.5 million into five of the area's main streets in a bid to revitalise them in the wake of the COVID pandemic and shut-downs.
• Norton Street Italian Festa returns to Leichhardt for its 35th year - Norton Street Italian Festa returns to Leichhardt for its 35th year
• NSW Government must fix deplorable boarding house situation - Council is calling on the NSW Government to urgently review the management and regulation of boarding houses, in the wake of the Newtown boarding house fire tragedy.
• On the road to recovery with the Inner West Council Arts and Music Recovery Plan - Inner West Council will take immediate action on the feedback from the recent Arts and Music Summit by turning all eight Inner West Council Town Halls into arts and culture venues and exploring more Special Entertainment Precinct locations in the Inner West.  
• Perfect Match applications more than doubled - Inner West Council’s Perfect Match street art program is going gangbusters with more than double the number of applications from property owners and artists received in this year’s round. In response to the overwhelming demand, Council will increase funding for the program by 20 per cent.
• Perrottet neglects Leichhardt Oval for twelve straight budgets - Despite proclaiming himself a Wests Tigers fan, Dominic Perrottet has delivered yet another budget in which Leichhardt Oval does not get a red cent in funding.
• Perrottet reneges on funding suburban grounds to roll out the pork barrel for Stuart Ayres - Despite numerous commitments to fund suburban sports grounds, Dominic Perrottet has opted instead to spend upward of $300 million to build Penrith Stadium in an attempt to try and save the marginal seat of embattled former Minister Stuart Ayres.
• Premier’s decade-long refusal to fund suburban grounds could cost NSW a Grand Final - Dominic Perrottet’s refusal to honour an agreement with the NRL to adequately fund upgrades to suburban grounds has opened the door for Queensland and Victoria to swoop in and steal future NRL Grand Finals from the people of NSW.
• Resident safety endangered by Tempe Bunnings traffic plan - The battle over a new Bunnings super store in Tempe, which poses a threat to the safety of local pedestrians, will come to a head tomorrow when the matter is heard by the State Government’s Eastern Sydney Regional Planning Panel.
• Response to Balmain Leagues Club fire - The large fire at Balmain Leagues Club yesterday was no surprise. We have repeatedly and publicly called on the NSW Government to allow this building to be demolished because of the fire and safety threat there.
• Response to Boarding House Fire - Statement from Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne
• Rozelle parkland stripped of key sporting amenities - It has been revealed that large parts of the sporting and community facilities promised for the Rozelle Parklands were secretly cut from the plans the Government announced last week.
• Rozelle parkland underfunded by $15 million - Premier Perrottet's announcement today about the design of the long-promised Rozelle Parklands failed to provide the additional $15 million needed to build the park.
• Special Entertainment Precinct Pilot kicks off on Enmore Road - Inner West Council’s iconic Enmore Road is set to thrive for the next three months with the launch of the Special Entertainment Precinct Pilot from 1 September – 30 November 2022, in partnership with the NSW Government.
• Steve 'Blocker' Roach and Darcy Byrne release Leichhardt Oval plans - In anticipation of a NSW Government funding commitment to upgrade Leichhardt Oval, Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne, Councillor Philippa Scott and Balmain Tigers legend Steve Roach have today put forward a positive plan for what the upgrade to the Eighth Wonder of the World should include.
• Tackling illegal dumping - Council will renew its efforts to tackle illegal dumping on residential streets.
• The Inner West on track for record amount of tree planting - Inner West Council is on track to exceed its previous record of tree planting in parks and streets across the area. Since a new programme of tree plantings began in 2020, more than 3200 mature trees have so far been planted.
• Traffic signals will save lives at Tempe Bunnings - Traffic signals will save lives at Tempe Bunnings
• Transgender Flags flying proudly in the Inner West - Today is Transgender Day of Visibility, a day to celebrate, but also to call for the changes still necessary to improve the lives of transgender people.
• Vision for Henson Park ready and waiting for NSW Government funding - The NSW Government’s Multi-Sport Community Facility Fund 2021-22 grants will be announced in May. Council is supporting AFL NSW/ACT and Newtown Jets grant application to upgrade Henson Park to a multi-sport venue capable of hosting all levels of female competition.
• What’s on at the Libraries in July - There’s something for all ages at Inner West libraries in July.
• Winter swimming to continue at Dawn Fraser Baths - Council will continue the winter swimming program at Dawn Fraser Baths after making some safety improvements.