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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Item 21 MM16/13 Donation to the Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai Women's Shelter...................................... 1
Item 22 MM17/13 Hornsby Mall Christmas Tree......................................................................... 3
Mayoral Minute No. MM16/13
Date of Meeting: 18/12/2013
21 DONATION TO THE HORNSBY/KU-RING-GAI WOMEN'S SHELTER
On Thursday 5 December 2013, I, along with a number of Councillors, attended a community forum that discussed the issues facing homeless women and the need for a suitable shelter in the Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai area.
The over 70 people who attended the forum heard that up to 46,000 women across Australia are homeless each night and that one in two women are turned away nightly from crisis accommodation services, most often due to a lack of available beds.
In Sydney there is a shortage of crisis accommodation between the Lower North Shore and the Central Coast.
The Hornsby Homelessness Taskforce, in conjunction with the not-for-profit group Women’s Community Shelters, has been working to generate community support for the establishment of a Homeless Women’s Shelter in the Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai area.
If sufficient community support is forthcoming, the group would seek to establish a new crisis accommodation service for around 10-12 women in 2014.
Women’s Community Shelters have indicated that they would underwrite up to half of the start up costs and two-thirds of the operating costs associated with the centre for the first two years of operation.
The service would be a community initiative, independent of Council and would need to raise its own funds to cover the remaining start up and operational costs.
Whilst homelessness is not a direct Council responsibility, I seek the support of Councillors in assisting this important initiative by donating $1,000 from Council’s Community Donations Program to the Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter Fund managed by Women’s Community Shelters.
In the event that a Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter does not eventuate within a period of two years, the funds should be returned to Council.
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THAT Council donate $1,000 to the Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter Fund from the Community Donations Program Fund. |
STEVE RUSSELL
Mayor
Attachments:
There are no attachments for this report.
File Reference: F2009/00786
Document Number: D02715941
Mayoral Minute No. MM17/13
Date of Meeting: 18/12/2013
22 HORNSBY MALL CHRISTMAS TREE
In partnership with Hornsby Westfield, Council has traditionally erected a large public Christmas Tree in Hornsby Mall. The partnership has been in place for over a decade and during this time the tree has suffered from natural wear and tear to the point where it is now looking quite tired and in need of repairs.
Having regard to the current state of the tree, Council in consultation with Westfield decided to take a new approach in theming Hornsby Mall for Christmas in 2013. Funds that otherwise that would have been spent on the hire and installation of the old Christmas Tree were instead invested in new Christmas lights and decorations that adorn the trees in Florence Street East, as well as in the installation of artificial turf that will function as a “place” for a series of planned Christmas and summer themed events
The intent of this approach was to engage the community in the Hornsby Mall via activities and events rather than have a traditional static Christmas display. Some of the planned Christmas activities include a visit by The Wiggles and Christmas Carols. This reflects Council’s desire to make its public spaces vibrant, interesting and valued by the community
I am mindful of the sentiment associated with the Christmas Tree and would like to ensure that Council reflects community expectations in its Christmas theming of Hornsby Mall for 2014.
Accordingly, I am of the view that Councillors should participate in an informal briefing in early 2014 to workshop ideas about how Hornsby Mall can be transformed into a vibrant Christmas space that is reflective of community expectations.
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THAT an informal briefing be held in early 2014 to discuss options for the Christmas theming of Hornsby Mall in 2014. |
STEVE RUSSELL
Mayor
There are no attachments for this report.
File Reference: F2013/00074
Document Number: D02717479