Cumberland puts draft gender equity strategy on public exhibition

Residents will be able to comment on the Draft Gender Equity Strategy 2026-2030 before it returns to council for another decision.

Cumberland Council has agreed to place its Draft Gender Equity Strategy 2026-2030 on public exhibition for 28 days, opening the way for public feedback before the document comes back to councillors.

The decision was made at the council meeting on 25 February, where councillors carried a motion to exhibit the draft strategy and receive a further report after the exhibition period ends.

For residents, the immediate change is that the proposed strategy will be available for review and comment before any final adoption. The minutes do not set out the exhibition dates or the contents of the draft strategy, but they do confirm that public submissions will form part of the next stage.

The item was listed as a response to a notice of motion on commitment to gender equity in Cumberland. The motion passed unanimously, with no votes recorded against it.

The next step is a 28-day public exhibition period, followed by a report back to council once submissions have been considered. Any final adoption would need to occur at a later meeting.

The same meeting also approved a revised 2026 meeting schedule, backed a 12-month trial of separate community engagement forums, and endorsed several contracts for works including upgrades at Chadwick Reserve in Lidcombe, Lytton Street Park and the Regents Park Library Precinct.