City of Parramatta Council is making planning local street events simpler, with the launch of its latest program.
The Ready, Set, Activate program is designed to make the process from application to activation simpler for street-based events through improved support and processes that empower individuals and organisations to host successful events.
It seeks to harness industry research and community insights to reduce barriers for event organisers, explore street improvements to make them more event-friendly and review Council policies to reduce costs.
City of Parramatta CEO Gail Connolly said Council is committed to improving social wellbeing and inclusion across the city.
“Parramatta loves a good party, and this program will enable Council to foster vibrant and inclusive events that bring our communities together,” she said.
“Building a thriving night-time economy is a key to our vision for becoming a global city and the Parramatta CBD was the second in NSW to have the international Purple Flag accreditation, which recognises the city for already having a safe and vibrant nightlife.”
Streets in Harris Park, Epping, Wentworth Point, Granville and Parramatta have been earmarked to be the first to benefit first from the new Ready, Set, Activate program.
“This program adds to our already billion-dollar night-time economy and will bring some of what our CBD is already experiencing into our growing and diverse suburbs,” Connolly added.
The Ready, Set, Activate program has been funded by the NSW Government’s Vibrant Streets Package – Permit/Plug/Play Pilot grant program, led by Transport for NSW.
NSW Minister for Roads John Graham said he’s proud the government is helping to fund more events in suburban streets.
“When I first came to office and was briefed on the cost of opening a street for an event, I was told it could cost up to $122,000 on each occasion. I couldn’t believe it. We are now fixing this,” he said.
“We want to make these events cheaper and easier for councils to run, so they can host them more often.
“These events bring communities together, having fun and supporting local businesses without blowing the family budget.”
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.