Public Forum - 17 Mar 2026 6:30 PM

Topics

• Residents raise transport and road safety concerns across multiple Inner West items
  Public forum speakers turned out for cycleway, transport forum and Illawarra Road safety items, signalling active local concern over road conditions and movement corridors.
  Transport changes can affect safety, access, congestion and active travel outcomes for several suburbs.
• Public space use and dining policies remain on the agenda
  Parklets and on-road dining were among the public forum items, indicating ongoing local interest in how streets are used by businesses and the community.
  Street activation rules can change parking, pedestrian amenity and hospitality trading conditions.
• Call for affordable creative spaces surfaces in Inner West forum
  An item on affordable workspaces for visual artists and writers drew public participation, suggesting pressure on creative space affordability and availability.
  Workspace access affects local cultural activity, small creative businesses and use of community properties.

Decisions

• Public speaking heard on transport and local road safety issues
  Speakers were listed for the Balmain Road and Callan Park Cycleway, the Local Transport Forum meeting, and Illawarra Road traffic and safety concerns.
  Residents raised transport and safety concerns for specific local roads and cycleway projects.
• Public speaking heard on public space and place activation matters
  Speakers were listed for Parklets and On Road Dining and for the Marrickville Mosaics Repair item.
  These topics relate to street use, public realm management and local place maintenance.
• Public speaking heard on arts space access and democratic rights
  Speakers were listed for Supporting Visual Artists and Writers to Find Affordable Spaces to Work in the Inner West and for the Notice of Motion: Defence of Democratic Rights.
  Residents and community groups engaged on cultural workspaces and civic rights issues.

Discussion

• Transport and cycleway concerns
  The forum included speaker registrations for Balmain Road and Callan Park Cycleway, Local Transport Forum Meeting, and Illawarra Road Traffic and Safety Concerns.
  Could affect travel patterns, street safety and active transport in affected neighbourhoods.
• Public space activation and street dining
  Parklets and On Road Dining was raised during the forum, alongside other local place-based matters.
  May affect footpath use, parking, hospitality activity and amenity for nearby residents and businesses.
• Affordable creative workspaces
  The item on supporting visual artists and writers to find affordable spaces to work in the Inner West drew a public speaker.
  Relevant to local arts workers, creative organisations and potential use of council-owned or affiliated spaces.

Impacts

• Residents in Lilyfield, Tempe, Annandale, Marrickville and Newtown may be affected by transport, street-use and local amenity discussions.
• Local businesses may be affected by parklet and on-road dining arrangements.
• Artists and writers may be affected by access to affordable workspace options in the Inner West.

Places

• Balmain Road (road)
  Raised in relation to cycleway/public forum discussion.
• Callan Park (park)
  Raised in relation to the cycleway item.
• Lilyfield (suburb)
  Listed as speaker suburb for the cycleway item.
• Tempe (suburb)
  Listed for the Local Transport Forum item.
• Illawarra Road (road)
  Raised for business roundtable and traffic/safety concerns.
• Annandale (suburb)
  Listed as speaker suburb for Illawarra Road matters.
• Marrickville (suburb)
  Listed for parklets, on-road dining and mosaics repair.
• Newtown (suburb)
  Listed for the defence of democratic rights motion.

Next

• Council to proceed to consider the items for which public speakers were registered.
  At the associated council meeting following the forum
• Members with declared interests to manage participation as noted in the forum record.
  During discussion and voting on the relevant items

Extract

Public Forum Meeting 17 March 2026 1 Proceedings of the Public Forum held on 17 March 2026 held at Ashfield Service Centre for the 17 March 2026 Council Meeting Public Forum commenced at 6.32pm 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 Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor Councillor General Manager Director Planning Ruth Callaghan Director Community Sharon Bowman Peter Shields R...