2024 media releases Enmore walk of fame to open with Bangarra as first plaque - Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne, will today unveil the first of 30 bronze plaques to be installed on Enmore Road to celebrate some of the significant performers, musicians, comedians and dancers who have performed at the Enmore Theatre over the years. Leichhardt Oval to be a hub for women’s sport - If Leichhardt Oval is renovated and saved it will become a hub for women’s sport Including soccer, rugby league and rugby union at the professional, grassroots and junior levels Leichhardt Oval to host 120 sporting fixtures in 2024 - Amidst ongoing calls for Leichhardt Oval to be closed, Inner West Council has today announced that an extraordinary 120 individual sporting fixtures will be played at the Eighth Wonder of the World in 2024. 22 Inner West pubs added to heritage protection list - Twenty-two Inner West pubs have now been added to the State Heritage Register which will protect these long-standing institutions and keep our community’s famous pub culture alive. 7 Inner West town halls now open as free arts venues - All 7 of the Inner West’s town halls have now been converted to arts and cultural venues available free of charge as spaces for live performance, rehearsal and exhibition. Artists announced for EDGE Inner West × Biennale 2024 - Inner West Council is very proud to announce the artists commissioned for EDGE Inner West 2024. Ashfield mental health hospital should be repurposed for good by Wesley Mission - Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has today condemned the imminent closure of the Wesley Hospital in Ashfield and called on Wesley Mission to repurpose the facility for the good of the community, not to just sell it off to the highest bidder. Balmain Leagues Club demolition delayed yet again - Council has been informed by Heworth, the owner of the Balmain Leagues Club site, that they will not be commencing their approved 12 storey mixed-use development and will instead apply to the NSW Government for a 30 per cent density bonus on the site. Balmain Town Hall reopens following major renovation - Historic Balmain Town Hall and Library has now reopened following an extensive renovation to improve this historic facility for the community. Biennale at White Bay needs more transport links - Inner West Council is calling on the NSW Government to urgently provide a shuttle bus service to the White Bay Power Station when the Biennale opens there this Friday. Book banning has no place in Inner West libraries - The accusation from a Cumberland City Councillor that the Inner West community is wrong to have books for rainbow families in our libraries is pathetic. Contractors have washed their hands of Rozelle asbestos mess - One month after asbestos contamination was first reported at Rozelle Parklands, the contractors who built the park, John Holland and CPB, are still arrogantly refusing to meet with the local community to discuss the remediation and reopening of the park. Council dedicates $10 million to save Leichhardt Oval - Inner West Council tonight voted to dedicate $10 million of Council funds to save Leichhardt Oval. Council opens new off-leash dog park: the first GreenWay link open to the public - Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said we are getting even closer to bringing the dream of the Cooks River to Iron Cove GreenWay – a continuous active transport, biodiversity and public art corridor – to life. Council opposes absurd Balmain Leagues Club rezoning - Inner West Council has made a comprehensive submission against the greedy and unnecessary proposal from the foreign based owners of the former Balmain Leagues Club site to increase the density of the development there by an additional 30 per cent. Council proposes White Bay Power Station as performance venue - Following the outstanding success of the Biennale of Sydney at White Bay Power Station, Inner West Council has now proposed that the facility made use of as a live performance and concert venue. Inner West Council to deliver two new all-weather sporting fields in Callan Park - Last night Inner West Council committed to delivering two new rectangular all-weather sporting fields in Callan Park. One will be at the Balmain Road field, the second at the Waterfront Drive fields. Council to proceed with six new Special Entertainment Precincts - Council is moving forward with plans to deliver six new Special Entertainment Precincts across the Inner West, following the hugely successful revitalisation of Enmore Road. Council to vote on $10 million to save Leichhardt Oval - Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has today convened an extraordinary meeting of Council to vote on allocating $10 million of Council funds to save Leichhardt Oval. Council welcomes WestConnex whistle-blowers’ evidence - “Today’s revelations from respected former Transport executives that the traffic chaos at the Rozelle Interchange had been identified a decade ago proves that the planning of WestConnex is one of the great infrastructure debacles in the history of NSW." Design for $55 million Leichhardt Pool upgrade released - Inner West Council has today released final designs for the $55 million renovation of the Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre, the biggest upgrade ever undertaken of an Inner West pool. Enmore Road gazetted as first official Special Entertainment Precinct - Enmore Road is now the first permanent Special Entertainment Precinct in NSW following a successful two-year trial. Feel the Love 2024: free pride event this weekend - Experience the love at Feel the Love 2024, a celebration for LGBTQIA+ families this Saturday 10 February at Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. Four new Special Entertainment Precincts for the Inner West - Following the outstanding success of Sydney’s first Special Entertainment Precinct at Enmore Road, Inner West Council is proposing four more precincts in Darling Street Balmain/Rozelle, Marrickville Road Marrickville, Marrickville Road Dulwich Hill, and Norton Street Leichhardt. George Catsi named Inner West Citizen of the Year - Inner West Council has named Petersham Bowling Club President, George Catsi as the 2024 Inner West Citizen of the Year. Hornsby Council-rorted money should come to Inner West - Inner West Council welcomes the decision of the Minns Government to claw back $36 million in funding that was improperly granted to Hornsby Council by the former NSW Government. Inner West announces 8 artists commissioned for the GreenWay - Inner West Council is pleased to announce the eight successful artists commissioned to create public artworks along the GreenWay. Inner West Community Supports Action on Housing Crisis - Inner West Council has received strong support from local residents to proceed with a range of reforms to address the housing supply and affordability crisis. Inner West condemns Greenlife arrogance and offers new Fair Day location - The comments from Greenlife Resource Recovery that the asbestos crisis across Sydney is not their problem is the height of arrogance and should be retracted. Inner West continues strong financial performance - The adoption of Inner West Council’s Budget and Long-Term Financial Plan shows that the Council is in a very strong financial position now and into the future. Inner West Council commits to state-leading roll out of free period products - In 2023, Inner West Council became the first Council in NSW to provide free pads and tampons in public toilets. Inner West Council demands bolder action on housing supply - Inner West Council is offering to work with the NSW Government on their housing reforms while proposing that the Government pull more levers to address the crisis. Inner West Council endorses Quong Tart Plaza as a dual name of Hercules St Ashfield - As part of the Inner West’s commitment to honouring the contribution our immigrant communities have made to creating our diverse and vibrant villages, Inner West Council is endorsing the dual naming of Hercules Street Ashfield as Quong Tart Plaza. Inner West Council invites skateboard medallists to Leichhardt Skate Park - Inner West Council has today invited Olympic gold medal skaters Arisa Trew and Keegan Palmer to celebrate their success at Leichhardt Park Skate Park following their return from Paris. Inner West Council issues asbestos clean-up notices to John Holland and CPB - Inner West Council is taking legal action to force John Holland and CPB, the contractors who built Rozelle Parklands and the Rozelle Interchange, to expedite the clean-up of the asbestos contamination in Rozelle. Inner West Council leading the way in soft plastic pollution reduction - Inner West Council is again taking the lead on waste and resource recovery by working to expand its practices to reduce soft plastic pollution. Inner West Council partners with SXSW Sydney For Fest X Inner West - Inner West Council is excited to announce a partnership between the Inner West and SXSW Sydney, in association with Century Venues to launch the inaugural 'Fest by Inner West' presented by Inner West Council and SXSW Sydney on Sunday 20 October 2024. Inner West Council to help promote local brewers and distillers - Inner West Council has dedicated $200,000 to creating an Inner West Tourism Action Plan designed to promote the 14 micro-breweries and 12 distilleries in the Inner West. Inner West Council to stop the spread of tobacconists - The Inner West Council has now resolved to stop the spread of tobacconist and vape shops in the Inner West. Inner West Council welcomes agreement for planning to stay local - Inner West Council welcomes the decision of the NSW Government to allow planning powers over locations around 4 train stations in the Inner West to remain with the Council. Inner West Creative Town Halls sees massive growth in usage - The conversion of Council’s seven town halls to free arts venues is going gangbusters with over 1,100 bookings in the first three months of the program. Inner West delivering higher housing densities than NSW Government rezonings - Inner West Council is finalising new planning controls that will deliver higher housing densities and residential building heights than the 6-storey development proposed by the NSW Government around transport hubs. Inner West demands compensation for WestInvest rort - Following the release of the Auditor General's scathing investigation into $5 billion WestInvest fund, Inner West Council, the primary victim of the rort, is calling for the NSW Treasurer and Premier to acknowledge this inequity and compensate our community. Inner West expanding food recycling to schools and childcare centres - The Inner West is expanding food recycling to childcare centres and schools across the community. Inner West Film Fest Kicks off Friday - The second Inner West Film Festival will commence this Friday after the inaugural event was launched last year. Inner West Kids Fest is back tommorrow with free headline act The Vegetable Plot! - Inner West Council is proud to announce that the inaugural Kids Fest 2024 launches this Saturday at Enmore Park. Join us for an afternoon of free, epic family fun with excellent food, music, performances, workshops, activities and more. Inner West Mardi Gras Parade Screening returns for second year - Following last year’s inaugural event the Inner West Council is again hosting a screening of Mardi Gras parade live on the big screen at Camperdown Memorial Rest Park in Newtown. Inner West ready to deliver housing targets - Inner West Council welcomes today’s release of the NSW Government’s housing targets and is getting on with a new Local Environmental Plan (LEP) that can deliver these dwellings. Inner West secures funding for EV charging stations - Inner West Council has secured funding for 136 public electric vehicle charging stations to be rolled out across the Inner West. This is by far the biggest number of any Local Government Area in NSW. Inner West takes delivery of first truckload of FOGO compost - Inner West Council has taken delivery of the first truckload of compost created by the Inner West FOGO Food Recycling Program to be returned for use in the Inner West. Inner West to add 22 pubs to heritage protection list - Inner West Council has now resolved to add 22 local pubs to the heritage register in order to protect these long-standing institutions and keep our community’s famous pub culture alive. Inner West to engage constructively in housing reforms - The housing supply crisis in Sydney is real and all councils have a responsibility to help solve it. In the Inner West, we are carefully assessing the housing reforms the Government has put forward and will be seeking engagement and negotiation to address concerns we have. Inner West to provide emergency funding for renters' legal representation - Inner West Council is providing an emergency payment of $125,000 to Marrickville Legal Centre to help meet the unprecedented demand for legal advice and representation for renters and people escaping domestic violence in the Inner West. Inner West turns on first of 138 public EV charging stations - The rollout, to be completed by April 2025, will result in the Inner West community having better access to public electric vehicle charging infrastructure than any community in NSW. John Holland and CPB can’t be trusted on asbestos clean up - Following yesterday’s announcement about the clean-up of asbestos contamination in Rozelle Parklands, maximum scrutiny must be applied to contractors John Holland and CPB because they can’t be trusted not to do it on the cheap King George Park Inclusive Playground opening - Inner West Council is proud to officially open the new King George Park Inclusive Playground to the community this Saturday 7 September 2024. Laws to lock up more children must be opposed - Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has today called on the NSW Government to withdraw their proposed legislation to incarcerate more children. Leichhardt Oval must be saved, not closed - Inner West Council is calling on the NSW Government to transfer 10 per cent of the $309 million allocated to the Penrith Stadium upgrade to save Leichhardt Oval. Leichhardt Oval to be trialled as music venue - Leichhardt Oval will be trialled for the first time as a live music venue under a proposal put forward by Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne and endorsed at the recent Council meeting. Mass street closures and removal of 150 parking spaces slated for Rozelle - Transport for NSW have sprung yet another unwelcome surprise on residents in Rozelle by scheduling the long-term closure of 6 major streets and the loss of more than 150 car parking spaces in Rozelle. Mayor calls for Inquiry into Rozelle Interchange and WestConnex - Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne is calling for a Parliamentary Inquiry into WestConnex and the Rozelle Interchange to find out who knew what and when about the design of this infrastructure disaster. Mayor calls for more action on Rozelle Interchange traffic - With schools reopening and peak traffic recommencing, Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne, has today called on Transport for NSW to do more to prevent the return of unacceptable traffic congestion on Victoria Road and the City West Link. Mayor cautiously welcomes concessions on Rozelle Interchange - Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne, has today cautiously welcomed concessions by Transport for NSW on mitigating traffic congestion on Victoria Road and the City West Link. Mayor welcomes first sign of transparency on Rozelle Interchange - Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne has today welcomed the announcement by Roads Minister, John Graham, that travel time data for roads surrounding the Rozelle Interchange will now be made publicly available. New friable asbestos in Rozelle shows clean-up is off track - Today’s discovery of new friable asbestos at a location on Victoria Road in Rozelle shows that John Holland and CPB are not on track to meet the Environment Protection Authority’s orders to complete all remediation of Rozelle Parklands and surrounding areas by February 28. New Inner West Council sworn in and Mayor Darcy Byrne re-elected - The newly elected Inner West councillors were sworn in at a ceremony last night with Councillor Darcy Byrne re-elected as Mayor and Councillor Mat Howard elected as Deputy Mayor for the first time. Newtown Town Hall reopens as Inner West Pride Centre - The new Inner West LGBTQI+ Pride Centre at Newtown Town Hall will officially open on Saturday 10 August. NSW moving too slowly on rental reforms - With the housing affordability and rental crisis deepening by the day, the NSW Government is not acting urgently enough to enact new renter's rights and provide support to tenants. Opt-in weekly red bin service now available for Inner West food recycling - Inner West Council has this week further strengthened our food recycling service by providing a free, opt-in weekly red bin collection for residents who need more support. Opt-in weekly red bin service proposed for Inner West food recycling - Labor Councillors have today proposed to further strengthen Inner West food recycling by providing a free, opt-in weekly red bin collection for residents who need more support. Passage of laws to lock kids up a dark day for NSW - The passage through Parliament of the NSW Government’s laws to increase the number of children in jail marks a dark day for justice in this State. Proposal to rezone the whole of the Inner West to 6 storeys is absurd - Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne: "Today's revelations that the Department of Planning is proposing to rezone the entirety of the Inner West for 6 storey development are greatly concerning." Renters' Rights and Affordable Housing Stakeholder Forum - Inner West Council is proud to hold the first Renters' Rights and Affordable Housing Stakeholder Forum at the Marrickville Pavilion at Marrickville Library. Renters' rights must be legislated immediately - Today’s revelations that almost 30,000 tenants have been subjected to no-grounds evictions in the past year shows that legislating new protections for renters should be the single highest priority of the NSW Parliament. Response to discovery of asbestos at Rozelle Parklands - Council has been notified by the NSW Government about the discovery of asbestos contamination in the newly opened Rozelle Parklands. Rozelle Parklands asbestos clean-up delayed 1 month - The Environment Protection Authority has now abandoned today's legal deadline for the clean-up of asbestos at the Rozelle Parklands and surrounding areas. Six new Special Entertainment Precincts for the Inner West - Following the outstanding success of Sydney's first Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) at Enmore Road, Inner West Council is expanding its live music and performance footprint with six new areas to be covered by SEPs. Statement on Comedor take-away servery window in Camperdown Memorial Rest Park - The short-term hirers agreement with Comedor endorsed by Council last night for 12 months follows an extensive and thorough community engagement process. Statement on ICAC Operation Hector - Inner West Council welcomes the findings by NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Operation Hector Public Inquiry regarding officers from Transport for NSW, employees of Downer EDI Works Pty Ltd and former employee of Inner West Council, Tony Nguyen. Tougher penalties needed for asbestos contamination - Inner West Council is calling on the NSW Parliament to legislate tougher penalties for businesses and individuals who cause asbestos contamination. Transurban acting too slowly on blue-green algae bloom - Multi-billion-dollar tollway company Transurban are moving too slowly to treat the outbreak of blue-green algae in their water filtration system at Rozelle Parklands. Transurban and Inner West Council meeting on blue-green algae bloom - A meeting was held today at the Rozelle Parklands Wetlands site between officers of Inner West Council and Transurban to discuss the remediation of the blue-green algal bloom in the park. Transurban profiteering not helping to fix Rozelle Interchange - Following today’s revelations from Professor Allan Fels, that the public will pay the cost of constructing WestConnex three times over in toll revenue to Transurban, Inner West Council is calling on this corporate monolith to stop profiteering and start helping to fix the Rozelle Interchange. Wests Tigers to continue to play at Leichhardt Oval - Council welcomes today’s announcement from Wests Tigers that the club will play three NRL matches per season at Leichhardt Oval, as well as a pre-season game for 2025 and 2026. White Bay Power Station to continue as arts venue for a further 12 months - White Bay Power Station will continue to operate as a ground-breaking arts and cultural venue, following advocacy from Inner West Council.