Agenda of Community and Culture

Georges River Council – Community and Culture - Monday, 8 July 2019 Page 17

Item: COM023-19 Stronger Communities Funding Update

Author: Community Development Officer, Cultural Services

Directorate: Community and Culture

Matter Type: Committee Reports

Recommendation

(a) That Council receive and note the update on the Stronger Communities Fund projects as listed in this report;

(b) That Council continue to receive regular reports on the remaining Stronger Communities Fund projects still in progress;

(c) That Council note that the total interest accrued between 1 July 2018 and 31 May 2019, and remaining funds from completed projects, to a total of $349,640 is allocated to the Community Amenities Building, Peakhurst Park and Gannons Park Stage 3 works in accordance with the Stronger Community Fund Guidelines.

Executive Summary

1. The Stronger Communities Fund was established by the NSW Government to provide merged councils with funding for the delivery of projects that improve community infrastructure and services.

2. The program was divided into two categories:

a) Community Grants Program – allocation of $1 million in grants to community organisations for projects that build vibrant local communities. These funds have already been allocated by Council to community organisations and were the subject of a report presented to Council at its meeting held on Monday 7 November 2016.

b) Major Project Program – allocation of $9 million in Round 1 and $9.5 million in Round 2 to larger scale priority infrastructure and services that deliver long term economic and social benefits to communities.

Background

3. Council’s commitment was to fund projects that delivered new or improved infrastructure or services to the community that met the following criteria:

· a community consultation process undertaken;

· demonstrate a social and/or economic benefit to the community;

· consider sustainability and equity across the broader community;

· demonstrate project feasibility and value for money, including full life cycle costs;

· do not have funds allocated by the former Kogarah or Hurstville Councils;

· consider the processes and procedures outlined in the capital expenditure review guidelines issued by the NSW Office of Local Government.

Community Grants Program

4. Completed projects and progress updates for projects under the Community Grants Program to 28 June 2019 are listed below:

Stronger Community Grants projects – Complete (and withdrawn)

Funded organisation	Project name	Amount	Grant Fund Expenditure as at 28/6/2019	% completion
Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation	Helping Vulnerable Kids Living in Families Affected by Mental Illness project.	$50,000	$50,000	100%
3Bridges, The IDF of St George, Sunnyhaven and Civic	Inclusive Volunteering Program for People with a Disability.	$50,000	$50,000	100%
ProjectYouth	Outreach Project.	$50,000	$50,000	100%
The Kogarah Storehouse	Kitchen Upgrade	$50,000	$50,000	100%
Verge Collaborative Limited	Ignition and Beyond	$31,625	$31,625	100%
Resourceful Australian Indian Network Inc.	RAIN Centre Enhancement with Storage Outfits.	$19,250	$19,250	100%
St George Creative Art & Craft Centre	Interior refurbishment of the St George Creative Art & Craft Centre in Penshurst.	$46,590	$46,590	100%
Shopfront Arts Co. Op. Ltd.	Recording Studio Upgrade.	$44,700	$44,700	100%
Jubilee Community Services Inc	2017 Mental Health Arts Development (MHAD) Program.	$21,800	$21,800	100%
Janaranjani	Website and Technology	$20,800	$20,800	100%
Australian Macedonian Theatre of Sydney Inc	Theatre	$15,000	$15,000	100%

Funded organisation	Project name	Amount	Grant Fund Expenditure as at 28/6/2019	% completion
St George Arts and Entertainment Centre Inc	Timothy reserve Softfall and Shade	$50,000	$50,000	100%
Lugarno Progress Association Inc: APPLICATION WITHDRAWN	Covered pavilion in H.V Evatt Park	$50,000	$NIL APPLICATION WITHDRAWN	0%
Oatley Flora and Fauna Conservation Society Inc (OFFCS)	Myra Wall Garden	$30,000	$30,000	100%
OFFCS Inc with Oatley Heritage and History Society; Lugarno Progress Association; Menai Wildflower Group and Friends of Oatley	Oatley Castle Report	$30,000	$30,000	100%
NSW Cycling	Resurfacing of Hurstville Oval Velodrome	$50,000	$50,000	100%
St George Cycling Club	Resurfacing of Hurstville Oval Velodrome	$50,000	$50,000	100%
Connells Point Rovers Football Club	Poulton Park	$18,151	$18,151	100%
St Joseph's Riverwood Sports Club	Equipment	$10,000	$10,000	100%
Beverley Park Golf Club Limited	Tree removal	$50,000	$50,000	100%
CanRevive Inc	Cancer Awareness Project for the Chinese Community	$50,000	$50,000	100%
3Bridges Community, Penshurst Community Centre (funds reallocated in September 2018 from Lugarno Progress Association project withdrawn in July 2018)	Penshurst Community Infrastructure Project	$50,000	$50,000	100%
Jubilee Community Services Inc with Outreach St George TAFE and Georges River College - Oatley Campus	Gardening/Volunteering Project	$11,460	$11,460	100%

Stronger Community Grants projects – in progress

5. There are five (5) remaining Community Grants projects still in progress at the time of writing this report, prior to the end of June 2019.

6. Council officers are working closely with each of the community organisations to ensure that any grant funded projects completed in this period will be fully acquitted by the due date of 31 December 2019.

Funded organisation	Project name	Amount	Grant Fund Expenditure as at 28/6/2019	% completion
Kogarah Community Services	The Year of Yes (YOY)	$49,625	$16,258	26-50%
Fiestaville Multicultural Arts Inc	Fiestaville Multicultural Community Choir	$21,000	$18,000	76-99%
Renown United Sports Club Inc	Renown Park Amenities Block	$50,000	$NIL	26-50% (See Renown Park Major Project below - Overall project at 50% completion)
Oatley Football Club (formerly Oatley RSL Soccer)	The redevelopment of existing amenities block at Renown Park, Mortdale	$50,000	$NIL	26-50% (See Renown Park Major Project below - Overall project at 50% completion)
Olds Park Netball Association Inc	Olds Park Penshurst	$30,000	$27,600	76-99%

Major Project Program - Complete

7. Projects under the Major Project Program adopted by Council to be built and funded by the Stronger Communities Fund meet the State Government’s criteria. The completed projects and expenditure as at 28 June 2019 are listed below:

Major projects

Project name	SCF Grant funding	Other funding	Expenditure as at 28/6/2019	Status
Gannons Park Stormwater Harvesting & Irrigation Project, Peakhurst Heights	$1,000,000	$1,326,659	$2,326,659	Completed
New Public Toilet Facilities - Carss Bush Park, Carss Park	$350,000	$90,909	$440,909	Completed
Georges River Aquatic Facilities Refurbishment Program	$1,000,000	$679,090 (includes $550,322 allocated from 2017/18 SCF interest)	$1,679,090	Completed
New or upgraded Public Toilet facilities Oatley Memorial Gardens including disabled toilet	$250,000	$40,475	$290,475	Completed
Shade Structure Carss Cottage Museum Carss Bush Park	$40,000	$ -	$19,595	Completed
Sports Amenities Building – Claydon Reserve	$600,000	$450,678	$1,050,678	Completed
Customer Service Hubs (Stage One: Kogarah Library - roof replacement, customer service one-stop-shop and technology upgrade; Stage Two: public Wi-Fi in Kogarah, Beverley Hills and Riverwood Town Centres; Stage Three: Investigate the roll-out of Wi-Fi in other town centres)	$1,160,000	$491,093	$1,579,093	Completed

Major Project Program – In Progress

8. Projects under the Major Project Programs Round 1 and Round 2 adopted by Council to be built and funded by the Stronger Communities Fund meet the State Government’s criteria. The completed projects and expenditure as at 28 June 2019 are listed below:

Round 1

Project name	SCF Grant funding	Other funding	Expenditure as at 28/6/2019	Status
Community Amenities Building - Peakhurst Park (Eastern End), Peakhurst	$800,000	$300,000	$253,309	The new sports amenities building is 50% complete with an anticipated completion date of October 2019. Interest accrued from 1 July 2018 – 31 May 2018 will be allocated to this project.
Community Amenities Building - Riverwood Park, Riverwood	$800,000	$400,000	$400,098	Stage 1 of the works has been completed with designs on Stage 2 currently being finalised. Tender for Stage 2 went to June 2019 Council meeting and is due for completion November 2019.
Community Amenities Building - Renown Park, Penshurst	$800,000	$1,261,427	$1,477,715	Works are 50% complete on the football/sports amenities building with a completion date of December 2019 for both buildings.
Community Pavilion and Amenities Building - Harold Fraser Oval, Kogarah Bay	$1,100,000	$1,400,000	$440,909	Works are 40% complete with the project due for completion in September 2019.
Town Centres' Place-Making and Economic Development Program (Public domain works, job expo, business attraction and investment, activation of centres, retail strategy, footway dining projects, shop-front makeovers and easy-to-do-business program)	$1,100,000	$ -	$763,665	The Economic Development Strategy has been completed. Stage 1 of the Masterplan for Beverly Hills was considered by Council at its Environment and Planning Committee Meeting in April 2019. Stage 2 has commenced. Consultants have been engaged and inception meeting was held in June 2019. The Place Making Works Program including ‘The Big Wash’, Kogarah ‘noons and tunes’ and ‘Hurstville Makeover Month’ have been completed.

Major Project Program – In Progress

Round 2

Project name	SCF Grant funding	Other funding	Expenditure as at 28/6/2019	Status
Gannons Park Stage 3 - Irrigation, resurfacing of 8 fields, hold tanks, treatment plant and drainage works	$1,000,000	$2,400,000	$1,529,790	Renworx were appointed as Contractor for the project in November 2018. Works have been divided into 3 stages to ensure there are sufficient playing fields during the winter sports season. Stage 1 (which includes 3 playing fields) has been completed. Stage 2 is underway and will be completed in August 2019. Construction will begin on Stage 3 in October 2019 and SCF component will be complete by 30 June 2020. Interest accrued from 1 July 2018 - 31 May 2019 will be allocated to this project.

Project name	SCF Grant funding	Other funding	Expenditure as at 28/6/2019	Status
Gannons Park Sports Amenities Building	$800,000	$500,000	$52,752	Designs for the new sports amenities building are currently being finalised. Project tender at July 2019 Council meeting with completion March 2020.
Hurstville Oval - Expansion of Booth Saunders Pavilion Building	$2,200,000	$ -	$ -	Designs are currently being developed for the new building. Due for completion June 2020.
Poulton Park Sports Amenities Buildings (Football and Netball) Poulton Park new synthetic field Poulton Park new netball court	$1,455,000 $1,455,000 $90,000	$ 100,000 $1,000,000 $ -	$73,310 $732,729 $90,000	Design for amenities building is complete, and tender opening soon, with completion date of March 2020. Polytan Asia have been appointed to undertake the design and construction of the new synthetic football and training fields with works to commence in April 2019 and completion due December 2019. Netball court works to commence July 2019 and SCF component will be complete by October 2019.
Hurstville Golf Course - new clubhouse	$2,000,000	$ -	$ -	Designs are being developed for the new clubhouse with completion date of June 2020.
Hurstville Golf Course - reconstruction of 6 greens and new pathways	$500,000	$ -	$ -	Course designer has been engaged: final designs due to be completed September 2019. Works due to commence early 2020.

Acquittal to the Office of Local Government

9. Funding from Stronger Communities Fund - Round 1 projects is to be spent or committed by 30 June 2019, and all funding acquitted before 31 December 2019.

10. Funding from Stronger Communities Fund - Round 2 projects is to be spent or committed by 31 December 2019, and all funding acquitted before 30 June 2020.

Financial Implications

11. Interest accrued in the Stronger Communities Fund during the 2018/19 year as of 31 May 2019 and remaining funds are as follows:

SCF Round 1	SCF Round 2	Lugarno Progress Association Project (withdrawn)	Total
$137,242	$191,048	$945	$329,235

In accordance with the Stronger Communities Fund Guidelines and advice received from the Office of Local Government:

1) Accrued interest is allocated to the following projects: Community Amenities Building – Peakhurst Park (SCF Round 1) and Gannons Park Stage 3 works (SCF Round 2)

2) Remaining funds to the value of $20,405 from the Shade Structure at Carss Cottage Museum at Carss Bush Park will be allocated to the Community Amenities Building – Peakhurst Park project.

12. The listed Major Projects are funded by the $9m Round 1 and $9.5m Round 2 Stronger Communities Grant Funding – Major Projects Program. Any additional funding will be funded from Council’s Asset Reserve.

Risk Implications

13. Operational risk/s identified and management process applied.

Community Engagement

14. Community engagement was conducted to select the projects during the initial stages, which included the following: letters to community groups, Stronger Communities Fund Panel and the Implementation Advisory Committee; weekly advertisements in the local newspaper; Council’s website and social media platforms. The community consultation period was from 14 December 2016 to 17 February 2017.

15. In accordance with the Stronger Communities Fund Guidelines, the Georges River Stronger Communities Fund Assessment Panel prioritised the suite of major projects.

File Reference

D19/79919

Georges River Council – Community and Culture - Monday, 8 July 2019 Page 27

Item: COM025-19 Outgoing Sponsorship and Donations

Author: Coordinator, Events and Sponsorship and Acting Personal Assistant to the Manager, Customer Experience and Events

Directorate: Community and Culture

Matter Type: Committee Reports

Recommendation:

(a) That consistent with the Georges River Council Events Strategy and determinations in previous years, Council approve event sponsorship of $20,000 ($6,570 financial value, $13,430 in-kind value) to support the Lugarno Lions Spring Festival to be held at Peakhurst Park on Sunday 15 September 2019.

(b) That Council approve event sponsorship of $10,000 ($7,464 financial value, $2,536 in-kind value) to support the Love Local Artisan Market event to be held at Claydon Reserve Sans Souci on Saturday 12 October 2019.

(c) That consistent with the Georges River Council Events Strategy and determinations in previous years, Council approve the event sponsorship request of $20,000 ($15,890 financial value, $4,110 in-kind value) to support the Oatley Village Festival to be held at Oatley Memorial Gardens on Saturday 19 October 2019.

Executive Summary

1. Each month Council receives requests from the community to support community events and initiatives. In accordance with the Grants, Donations and Sponsorship Policy, each application is then assessed using the Policy’s Funding Determination Model and recommendations are made to Council.

2. Event organisers requesting sponsorship for events being held prior to Council approval have been made aware that their funding request may not be approved and to consider alternate funding sources.

Background

3. On Tuesday 28 May 2019, Council received correspondence from Robert Walker, from Lions Club of Lugarno Incorporated. The Lugarno Lions Club have organised Lugarno Lions Spring Festival since 1979. The annual event is reported to attract up to 40,000 people from the Georges River and surrounding areas. The Lugarno Lions Spring Festival is proposed to be held at Peakhurst Park on Sunday 15 September 2019. The total sponsorship amount requested from Council for this event was $35,133 ($21,700 financial value, $13,430 in-kind value). The recommendation to Council for the sponsorship of this event is a total $20,000 ($6,570 financial value, $13,430 in-kind value). Sponsorship support will contribute to the cost of some festival expenses and the in-kind support of site fees, additional cleansing services, power, signage, bins, Council cleansing staff, witches hats, barriers, traffic management support and environment health services of temporary food premises.

4. On Tuesday 20 May 2019, Council received correspondence from Sarah Kalidis from Studio Onethirty. Sarah Kalidis received a community grant of $5,000 in the first round of 2018-2019 Vibrant Georges River Grants. This grant is to be implemented within 2 years and is for the development of the inaugural Love Local Artisan Market. The Love Local Artisan Market is a new community event providing opportunities to the Georges River and surrounding areas. The total sponsorship amount requested from Council for this event is $30,000 ($27,464 financial sponsorship, $2,536 in-kind support). The recommendation to Council for this event is $10,000 ($7,464 financial value, $2,536 in kind value). Sponsorship support will contribute to event equipment, site fees, additional cleansing services, power, event bins and environment health services of temporary food premises.

5. On Tuesday 9 April 2019, Council received correspondence from Bryan Pirie from Lions Club of Oatley Inc. The Lions Club of Oatley have organised Oatley Village Festival since 1977. The annual event is reported to attract up to 15,000 people from the Georges River and surrounding areas. The Lions Club of Oatley is proposed to be held at Oatley Memorial Gardens on Saturday 19 October 2019. The total sponsorship amount requested from Council for this event is $20,000 ($15,890 financial value, $4,110 in-kind value). The recommendation to Council for this event is $20,000 ($15,890 financial support, in-kind support $4,110). Sponsorship support will contribute to the cost of festival expenses and the in-kind support of site fees, cleansing services, power, bins and environment health services of temporary food premises.

Organisation	Event Date	Event	Requested Amount	Recommended Financial	Recommended In-kind	Recommended amount
Lions Club of Lugarno Inc.	15/09/19	Lugarno Lions Spring Festival	$35,133	$6,570	$13,430	$20,000
Studio Onethirty	12/10/19	Love Local Artisan Market	$30,000	$7,464	$2,536	$10,000
Lions Club of Oatley Inc.	19/10/19	Oatley Village Festival	$20,000	$15,890	$4,110	$20,000
TOTAL				$29,924	$20,076	$50,000

Financial Implications

6. The total financial request for Council’s approval is $50,000 consisting of:

· Total financial value: $29,924

· Total in-kind value: $20,076

The current 2019/2020 budget for sponsorship of community-run events is $104,870. The total financial request for council approval is within the 2019/2020 approved budget.

Risk Implications

7. Each event satisfies the criteria stated in the Events Strategy and the Grants, Donations and Sponsorship Policy. As part of the original Event Application Form, each event organiser provides and implements a risk assessment for their event.

Community Engagement

8. Community engagement was undertaken in the development of the Grants, Donations and Sponsorship Policy and Events Strategy.

9. The Grants, Donations and Sponsorship Policy was adopted by Council on 27 August 2018.

File Reference

D19/136402

Georges River Council – Community and Culture - Monday, 8 July 2019 Page 28

Item: COM026-19 Improvements to the Website for Our Diverse Community.

Author: Web and Digital Officer

Directorate: City Strategy and Innovation

Matter Type: Committee Reports

Recommendation

(a) That Council endorse the continued use of Google Translate as the preferred translation tool on Council’s website.

(b) That Council’s key strategic documents be modified to include a summary presented in the top four community and languages in the Georges River area.

(c) That Council continues to modify the content of the website for continuous improvement to achieve greater accessibility.

(d) That the General Manager investigates the feasibility of a website refresh which exceeds the AA accessibility rating, providing a more innovative and interactive digital presence, and offering our customers a seamless user experience that further strengthens Council’s brand.

Executive Summary

1. Council resolved on 25 March 2019 (following Councillor Liu’s Notice of Motion):

‘That the General Manager prepare a report on the options available to Council to improve the accessibility of our website for all residents of Georges River including people living with a disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds’

2. Council’s Communications Team and Information Management and Technology Team have undertaken a comprehensive review of the website. In particular, this involved analysing the performance of the existing translation tool and accessibility of the website.

Background

Performance of the current Georges River Council website translation tool

3. Council’s website features a Google Translation tool which is located on the web page header of every web page. In addition, the contact details of Council’s Translation and Interpreting Service is promoted on the footer of every web page on the site. This free service is available to non-English speaking customers wishing to do business with Council.

4. Analysis of traffic to Council’s website over the past 9 months (between 1 July 2018 and 23 April 2019) indicates that the demand for content translation, using Google Translate, was very low with only 2.35% of total visitors to the site over this period requesting a translation. The total number of visitors to the website during this period was 292,099 people with 7,884 requesting translation.

5. Most of the visitors to our website (90%) who requested a translation via Google Translate, specified simplified Chinese as the translated language.

6. The top 10 pages on the site which had been translated, using Google Translate, during this period were:

· Home

· Contact us

· Libraries/Library Rooms/Hurstville Library

· Waste and Recycling Services

· Rates and payments

· Make a Rates Payment

· Track a Development Application

· Kerbside Clean Up Collection Service

· What’s On

· Libraries/Locations

7. Based on the research and industry best practice for online translation services, Council may consider applying the following enhancements to the website to improve the service offered to non-English speaking customers:

a. Continue to use the Google Translate tool on the website. This tool is regarded as the best translation tool available on the market. It is extensively used by local government, continually tested and improved to meet the high expectations of the customer, and as a result, provides a good quality translation service.

b. Modify the following key Council strategic documents: Community Strategic Plan, Operational and Delivery Plan, Annual Report and the Economic Strategy to incorporate a summary introduction translated in the following top four community languages: Chinese (simplified), Greek, Arabic and Macedonian.

c. Translate the top 5 to 10 most frequently visited web pages on the website site. This option would incur a significant cost to Council. Any change to a web page would need to be made to all other translated versions. Council is charged a rate of $117.00 for the first 200 words translated then $67.00 per 100 words thereafter.

d. Add a ‘Call to Action’ directing customers to the Google Translate tool on popular web pages.

8. Option (a) is recommended as the preferred option for translation services on the website. It is the most cost effective and maintainable.

9. In addition option (b) will be undertaken as a directive of Executive Team to improve Council’s general communications with the top 4 CALD community groups.

10. As a note of interest, the NSW State Government websites does not incorporate a translation tool and instead refers the customer to the Language Assistance Service hotline number.

Accessibility Performance of Georges River Council’s Website

11. Accessibility testing undertaken by an independent website audit tool, indicates that the accessibility performance of Council’s website requires further work to ensure it complies with AA Accessibility Rating.

12. Staff from Communications and Information Management and Technology are working collaboratively to address the issues identified in compliance testing. These issues range from technical through to content publishing.

13. Improvements to the website to increase its accessibility have already commenced and the following statistics demonstrate that these actions are having a positive effect on our accessibility rating.

Date	Accessibility Compliance Achieved
Wednesday 5 June 2019	76.6%
Friday 21 June 2019	85.78%

14. Further details are provided in the two accessibility reports attached.

Financial Implications

15. Funding of $7,500 has been allocated from the Disability Inclusion Action Plan for a casual staff member to assist with making changes to the content of the website.

Risk Implications

16. If there is no change to the website, there is a risk customers may misinterpret the information published and disengage with Council.

Community Engagement

17. Community engagement for this activity occurred via webpage feedback received.

File Reference

D19/144129

ATTACHMENTS

Attachment ⇩1	GRC Accessibility Report 5 June 2019
Attachment ⇩2	GRC Accessibility Report 21 June 2019

Georges River Council – Community and Culture - Monday, 8 July 2019 Page 48

Item: COM027-19 Georges River Night Time Economy Strategy

Author: Casual Senior Project Officer

Directorate: City Strategy and Innovation

Matter Type: Committee Reports

Recommendation:

That Council endorse the process, as outlined in this report, to develop the Georges River Night Time Economy Strategy.

Executive Summary

1. Georges River Council is in the process of developing its brand and setting the course towards 2050. As part of this evolution, this report recommends a way forward to develop a vibrant and successful Night Time Economy in the Georges River Local Government Area.

Background

2. In 2017, Australia’s Night Time Economy generated nearly $127 billion in turnover representing 4% of the total economy.

3. The Night Time Economy (NTE) is described as economic activity which occurs at establishments primarily between the hours of 6pm and 6am and can be broken down into Core, NonCore and Supply sectors.

4. Core NTE

The activities that provide primary establishment services to NTE leisure users in the evening (6pm to midnight) and night-time (midnight to 6am). The Core NTE is split into sub-sectors of Drink, Entertainment and Food.

5. Non-Core NTE

Establishments that primarily operate during the day but may provide integral services to the Core NTE, such as public and private transport, hotels and other forms of accommodation, retail services and public services such as policing, health services, parking and lighting.

These tend to be presented at a higher aggregated data level due to availability of data at a more detailed level. Non-Core indicates the scale of the supply chain with which the Core NTE is linked.

6. Supply NTE

As with Non-Core NTE these establishment types tend to operate during the day but are part of the Core NTE supply chain through the production or wholesaling of food, drink or entertainment products for resale. Similar to Non-Core NTE, these activities are presented as an aggregate.

7. In addition to these sectors, there is a huge opportunity to increase the diversity of activities at night including music, retail, culture and creative uses.

8. Resources

There are a number of existing resources available to inform the development of a Night Time Economy Strategy.

9. NTE Profiler

The Council of Capital City Lord Mayors (CCCLM) has developed a globally unique statistical tool which captures the scale, diversity and direction of the development of local, state and federal Night Time Economy (NTE) activity in Australia.

10. This data is a result of work commissioned by the Local Government Safe Cities Network and can be accessed by participating local government areas (LGAs) with information including:

· NTE Establishment numbers

· Employment

· Sales Turnover

· Percentage of local economy

· Density (per km²)

11. Through subscription to this information, and investigation of the most recent 2017 data for Georges River LGA, it has been determined there are:

· 30 ‘drink’ establishments including liquor retailing, pubs, taverns and bars

· 148 ‘entertainment’ establishments including clubs, cinemas, performing arts, sports, horse and dog racing, amusement, gambling and brothels

· 610 ‘food’ establishments including cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services

12. Spendmapp

Spendmapp is an online application that allows users to view expenditure activity in their LGA. The information provided for this application is based on EFTPOS credit and debit card transaction data. This data transformation process captures virtually all economic activity within a region (apart from non-card methods, cash, cheque, B-PAY and direct debits – of which the data is weighted using the Reserve Bank of Australia’s triennial Consumer Payments Survey).

Council has purchased a subscription to this data.

13. Profile | Economy .id

This site provides statistical data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on economic and socio economic information for a LGA, based on the Census. It has the capacity to compare data across Greater Sydney, NSW and Australia.

Council currently has a subscription to the .id suite of products.

14. These sources provide valuable baseline data, and, whilst there are a substantial number of businesses trading ‘after’ hours, there is still more Council can do to encourage and enable further activation of our local Night Time Economy.

15. Local Government Night Time Economy Council’s Committee

The Local Government Night Time Economy Councils’ Committee (NTECC), was established in late 2016 by the councils of Wollongong City, City of Sydney, City of Newcastle, City of Parramatta, Waverley and LGNSW with the objectives to:

· Share information on best practice approaches and contemporary issues to build knowledge and council capabilities to shape vibrant, safe and sustainable NTEs

· Establish a consistent approach to the development and management of NTEs to achieve positive outcomes for business and the community

· Advocate to State and Federal Governments on matters of common interest

· Establish a network of night time economy policy practitioners across NSW councils

· Promote awareness among councillors and staff of the value and benefit of taking a proactive approach to the development and management of the NTE and the work being done in this area

· Promote the benefits of subscribing to the National Night Time Economies Report

· Facilitate capacity building and develop collaborative partnerships around NTE initiatives.

16. Georges River Council is a member of the NTECC practitioner group and regularly attends Masterclasses which have included:

· Strategy Development

· Business Engagement

· Planning for a Vibrant Night Culture

· Making Space for Culture

In addition, the NSW Night Time Economy Councils’ Committee have also produced ‘Masterclass Guidance Material.

17. NSW Government’s Guide for Establishing and Managing Night Time Economy Uses

The NSW Department of Planning recently released this Guide for budding entrepreneurs looking to operate within the NTE, anyone who wants to expand their current daytime businesses into the NTE space and local councils as a reference document.

18. It focuses on music, arts and cultural uses including:

· small or medium scale cultural areas such as art galleries, theatres, studios and auditoriums

· pop-up or temporary uses such as events or markets

· retail venues such as bookstores, boutique clothing stores and music

· stores who would like to host forms of entertainment

· small bars

· venues that have the ability to host live music

· cafes and restaurants

· food trucks or mobile vendors/venues

· any business seeking to diversify or extend their trading hours beyond the traditional 9–5

19. Georges River Council Economic Development Strategy

Adopted by Council in 2018, the Economic Development Strategy states:

Theme 2: Attractive and healthy places to work live and invest in – day and night’

Goal 3: Plan for suitable centres to have night-time entertainment, dining and other recreational opportunities’

The Strategy provides a blueprint for the Georges River economy to 2022.

20. Night Time Economy Strategies, Studies and Action Plans

Several Councils including City of Sydney, Parramatta, Ryde, and Penrith, Wollongong, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie have already undertaken NTE studies and produced strategies and/or action plans.

21. These strategies and action plans relate to:

· Data and analysis

· Regulation, Planning and Licensing

· Noise

· Transport and way-finding signage

· Alcohol management

· Design

· Activation

· ‘Good’ Practice

· Engagement, partnerships and collaboration

· Marketing and promotion

22. Social Media

Launched in 2017, the Global Cities After Dark Facebook Group brings together over 200 specialists from various fields within night time culture from multiple cities around the world, working towards a common goal. Developing a global cities network is one of the keys to exploring the challenges and opportunities within a night time economy. Members include creative leaders of the night, hospitality figures, local and state government, health and safety specialists and inspirational figures who demonstrate that safe nightlife can also be exciting, free and dynamic.

Council currently has representation in this group.

23. Next Steps

Work with, and build on, what we have

Given the cost and time delay in engaging a consultant in the production of a Night Time Economy Strategy, and the plethora of information available to Georges River Council arising from the journey of other Local Government Areas in the Night Time Economy space, it is prudent to not ‘reinvent the wheel’.

24. Here’s what we can do now, with what we already have:

· Establish best practice after investigating Night Time Economy Strategies, Policies and Action Plans from a range of Councils.

· Consider the NSW Government’s Guide for Establishing and Managing Night Time Economy Uses.

· Identify base line Night Time Economy establishment numbers using the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors – NTE Profiler along with Profile .id.

· Establish local spending patterns using Spendmapp

· Investigate existing hubs of night time activity (Beverly Hills, Hurstville and Kogarah) and their part played as part of existing ‘holistic’ consultations e.g. Hurstville Place Strategy, Kogarah Place Strategy, Kogarah Investment Strategy, Georges River Innovation Strategy, Georges River Reputation Strategy and Georges River 2050.

· Undertake a night time audit of existing activity* in:

- Beverly Hills

- Hurstville

- Kogarah

* It is recommended to wait until September/October to conduct this audit in order to gain a truer representation of those businesses open during night time hours.

· Establish what barriers affect the growth and development of the local Night Time Economy e.g. planning, liquor licensing, noise/building regulations, acceptable cultural/creative uses at night and work with relevant parties to address these issues.

· Connect and develop a relationship with the St George Liquor Accord to identify establishments with extended trading hours, determine potential hazards and growth opportunities from a group perspective.

· Liaise with local existing night time operating business owners to determine usage and their desire to grow their offering.

· Establish a Reference Group for late night trading restaurants, cafes, cinemas, Hurstville Entertainment Centre, and local retail to investigate potential growth opportunities.

· Work with local businesses and organisations to build capability and capacity to grow the local NTE.

25. Timeframe

Investigation into the Georges River Night Time Economy will commence in July 2019, with night audits held in Beverly Hills, Kogarah and Hurstville in September/October 2019. It is anticipated the full report will be presented to a Councillor Briefing in December 2019.

Financial Implications

26. Within budget allocation.

Risk Implications

27. No risks identified.

Community Engagement

28. Community engagement will be conducted by way of night audits in Beverly Hills, Kogarah and Hurstville.

File Reference

D19/151233