Inner West Council

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This article is about the local government authority. For the Sydney region, see Inner West.

Inner West Council
New South Wales
Location in Metropolitan Sydney
Population182,818 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density5,220/km2 (13,530/sq mi)
Established12 May 2016 (2016-05-12)
Area35 km2 (13.5 sq mi)[2]
MayorDarcy Byrne
Council seatAshfield, Leichhardt & Petersham
RegionInner West
State electorate(s)
Federal division(s)
WebsiteInner West Council
LGAs around Inner West Council:
Canada Bay
Burwood Inner West Council City of Sydney
Canterbury-Bankstown Bayside Bayside

Inner West Council is a local government area located in the Inner West region of Sydney in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The council makes up the eastern part of this wider region, and was formed on 12 May 2016 from the merger of the former Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils.[2][3]

The council comprises an area of 35 square kilometres (14 sq mi) and as at the 2021 census had an estimated population of 182,818.[1]

The mayor of Inner West Council is Darcy Byrne, elected by the councillors on 29 December 2021. The most recent NSW local government election, on 4 December 2021, resulted in a Labor majority of 8 Councillors.[4][5]

History[edit]

In the early 2010s, the New South Wales Government explored merging various local government areas to create larger councils within Sydney. In 2013, the Independent Local Government Review Panel (ILGRP) initially proposed a merger of the six inner west councils - Burwood, Strathfield, Canada Bay, Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville, into a single council that would govern almost all of the inner west region.[6] Alternative mergers were also proposed, such as one between Auburn, Burwood and Canada Bay,[6] or between Burwood, Canada Bay, Strathfield and Ashfield.[7] The final proposal in the 2015 review of local government boundaries recommended that the Municipality of Ashfield, the Municipality of Leichhardt and the Marrickville Council merge to form a new council with an area of 35 square kilometres (14 sq mi) and support a population of approximately 186,000.[8] On 12 May 2016, Ashfield Council, Marrickville Council and the Municipality of Leichhardt merged to form the Inner West Council.[2]

Proposed de-amalgamation[edit]

In December 2021, a majority of voters in Inner West Council voted in favour of reversing the 2016 merger and separating the three pre-existing councils of Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville.[9] The final declared results were: 62% yes and 38% no.[9]

In 2022, the council prepared a business case for de-amalgamation. As of December 2022 Inner West Council has prepared and submitted a final submission to the NSW Minister for Local Government.[9][10] In March 2024 the Government of New South Wales ruled out a merger on cost grounds.[11]

Suburbs and localities in the local government area[edit]

Suburbs in the Inner West Council area are:[12]

Demographics[edit]

At the 2021 census, there were 182,818 people in the Inner West local government area; of these 48.8 per cent were male and 51.2 per cent were female. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 1.2 per cent of the population; significantly below the NSW and Australian averages of 3.4 and 3.2 per cent respectively. The median age of people in Inner West Council was 38 years; same as the national median of 38 years. Children aged 0 – 14 years made up 14.6 per cent of the population and people aged 65 years and over made up 14.1 per cent of the population. Of people in the area aged 15 years and over, 37.1 per cent were married and 10.7 per cent were either divorced or separated.[1]

At the 2021 census, the proportion of residents in the Inner West local government area who stated their ancestry as Australian or from Britain or Ireland was about 68 per cent of all residents. In excess of 49 per cent of all residents in Inner West Council nominated a no religious affiliation at the 2021 census, which was in excess of the national average of 38.4 per cent. Meanwhile, as at the census date, compared to the national average, households in the Inner West local government area had a higher than average proportion (42.9 per cent) where two or more languages are spoken (the national average was 31.8 per cent); and a lower proportion (69.8 per cent) where English only was spoken at home (national average was 72.0 per cent).[1]

Selected historical census data for Inner West Council local government area[a]
Census year 2021[1] 2016[13] 2011[14] 2006[15] 2001[16]
Population Estimated residents on census night Increase 182,818 Decrease 182,043 Increase 263,560 Increase 168,323 155,456
LGA rank in terms of size within New South Wales 14th
% of New South Wales population 2.43%
% of Australian population 0.78%
Estimated ATSI population on census night Increase 2,162 Increase 2,034 Increase 1,585 Decrease 624 636
% of ATSI population to residents Increase 1.2% Increase 1.1% Increase 0.6 Steady 0.4% 0.4%
Cultural and language diversity
Ancestry,
top responses		 English Increase 29.9% Increase 21.0% 16.6% - -
Australian Increase 24.4% Increase 16.7% 15.7 - -
Irish Increase 13.7% Increase 9.8% 7.5% - -
Scottish Increase 9.6% 6.5% - - -
Chinese Increase 8.5% Decrease 5.9% 10.3% - -
Language,
top responses
(other than English)		 Mandarin Decrease 3.3% Decrease 3.6% Decrease 5.9% Increase 6.2% 4.0%
Greek Decrease 2.7% Increase 2.9% 2.7% - 3.2%
Italian Decrease 2.2% Decrease 2.8% Decrease 5.7% Decrease 7.6% 9.0%
Vietnamese Steady 2.0% 2.0% - - -
Cantonese Steady 1.9% Decrease 1.9% Decrease 4.3% Increase 5.6% 5.3%
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation,
top responses		 No religion, so described Increase 49.7% Increase 40.4% Increase 23.6% Increase 15.5% 12.7%
Catholic Decrease 20.5% Decrease 22.4% Decrease 31.9% Decrease 36.2% 38.8%
Not stated Decrease 5.4% 10.7% - - -
Anglican Decrease 5.8% Decrease 7.1% Decrease 9.6% Decrease 10.0% 12.1%
Eastern Orthodox Steady 4.2% Decrease 4.2% Decrease 4.8% Steady 5.0% 5.5%[b]
Median weekly incomes
Personal income Median weekly personal income Increase $1,207 Increase $957 Increase $723 $534 -
% of Australian median income 144.6%
Family income Median weekly family income Increase $3,155 Increase $2,498 Increase $1,985 $1,456 -
% of Australian median income 144.1%
Household income Median weekly household income Increase $2,340 Increase $2,048 Increase $1,662 $1,191 -
% of Australian median income 142.4%

Council[edit]

The Inner West Council comprises fifteen Councillors elected proportionally, with three Councillors elected in five wards. On 9 September 2017, the current council was elected for a fixed three-year term of office (which was extended for twelve months in 2020 to December 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic);[17][2][12] the mayor is appointed biennially and deputy mayor annually by the councillors at the first meeting of the council.

Officeholders[edit]

Mayor Term Notes
Richard Pearson (Administrator) 12 May 2016 – 21 September 2017 [3]
Darcy Byrne (ALP) 21 September 2017 – 7 September 2021 [18][19] Mayor of Leichhardt 2012–2014, 2015–2016.
Rochelle Porteous (GRN) 7 September 2021 – 29 December 2021 [20][21][22] Mayor of Leichhardt 2011–2012, 2014–2015.
Darcy Byrne (ALP) 29 December 2021 – present [23][24]
Deputy Mayor Term Notes
Julie Passas (Lib) 21 September 2017 – 11 September 2018 [18] Ashfield East Ward Councillor 2012–2016.
Victor Macri (Ind) 11 September 2018 – 10 September 2019 [25] Mayor of Marrickville 2012–2013.
Vittoria Raciti (Lib) 10 September 2019 – 22 September 2020 [26] Ashfield North East Ward Councillor 2012–2016.
Victor Macri (Ind) 22 September 2020 – 7 September 2021 [27] Marrickville Ward Councillor 2017–2021.
Pauline Lockie (Ind) 7 September 2021 – 29 December 2021 [20]
Jessica D'Arienzo (ALP) 29 December 2021 – 13 September 2022 [23]
Philippa Scott (ALP) 13 September 2022 – 19 September 2023 [28]
Chloe Smith (ALP) 19 September 2023 – present [24]
General Manager/CEO[29] Term Notes
Vanessa Chan 12 May 2016 – 1 September 2016 General Manager of Ashfield Council 2010–2016[3][30]
Rik Hart 9 September 2016 – 20 February 2019 General Manager of Warringah Council 2007–2016[31]
Michael Deegan 20 February 2019 – 19 October 2020 [32][33]
Elizabeth Richardson (acting) 19 October 2020 – 30 October 2020 [34]
Brian Barrett (acting) 30 October 2020 – 9 April 2021 General Manager of Marrickville Council 2013–2016[35][36]
Elizabeth Richardson (acting) 9 April 2021 – 3 May 2021 [37]
Peter Gainsford 3 May 2021 – present General Manager of the City of Canada Bay 2018–2021[38]

Current composition[edit]

The most recent election was held on 4 December 2021, and the makeup of the council by order of election, is as follows:[39]

Party Councillors
  Australian Labor Party 8
  Greens NSW 5
  Independents 2
Total 15
Ward Councillor Party Notes
Ashfield – Djarrawunang (Magpie) Ward[40][41][42]   Dylan Griffiths Greens
  Mark Drury Labor Elected 2017; Ashfield South Ward Councillor 2006–2016.
  Jessica D'Arienzo Labor Deputy Mayor 2021–2022.[23]
Balmain – Baludarri (Leather Jacket) Ward[43][41][42]   Kobi Shetty Greens
  Darcy Byrne Labor Elected 2017; Mayor 2017–2021, 2021–present;[18][19][23]
  John Stamolis Independent Elected 2017; Leichhardt Balmain Ward Councillor 2014–2016.
Leichhardt – Gulgadya (Grass Tree) Ward[44][41][42]   Marghanita Da Cruz Greens Elected 2017
  Philippa Scott Labor Deputy Mayor 2022–2023.[28]
  Tim Stephens Labor
Marrickville – Midjuburi (Lillypilly) Ward[45][41][42]   Mat Howard Labor
  Justine Langford Greens
  Zoi Tsardoulias Labor
Stanmore – Damun (Port Jackson Fig) Ward[46][41][42]   Liz Atkins Greens
  Chloe Smith Labor Deputy Mayor 2023–present.[24]
  Pauline Lockie Independent Elected 2017; Deputy Mayor 2021.[20]

Town halls[edit]

Leichhardt Town Hall, seat of the former Leichhardt council, now one of the three seats of the Inner West Council

The Inner West Council owns and maintains the three seats of the three pre-merger councils, being Ashfield Town Hall, Petersham Town Hall and Leichhardt Town Hall. Since 2021, all Council meetings have been held at the Ashfield Service Centre. [1]

In addition, the Council also owns the Marrickville, Balmain and St Peters town halls, which were the seats of municipal councils that had existed prior to their merger into the immediate predecessor councils.[47]

Past councillors[edit]

2017−present[edit]

Ashfield–Djarrawunang Ward[edit]

Year Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party
2017   Mark Drury Labor   Tom Kiat Greens   Julie Passas Liberal
2021   Dylan Griffiths Greens   Jessica D'Arienzo Labor

Balmain–Baludarri Ward[edit]

Year Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party
2017   Darcy Byrne Labor   Rochelle Porteous Greens   John Stamolis Independent
2021   Kobi Shetty Greens

Leichhardt–Gulgadya Ward[edit]

Year Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party
2017   Lucille McKenna Labor   Marghanita Da Cruz Greens   Vittoria Raciti Liberal
2021   Philippa Scott Labor   Tim Stephens Labor

Marrickville–Midjuburi Ward[edit]

Year Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party
2017   Sam Iskandar Labor   Colin Hesse Greens   Victor Macri Independent
2021   Mat Howard Labor   Justine Langford Greens   Zoi Tsardoulias Labor

Stanmore–Damun Ward[edit]

Year Councillor Party Councillor Party Councillor Party
2017   Anna York Labor   Louise Steer Greens   Pauline Lockie Independent
2021   Chloe Smith Labor   Liz Atkins Greens

Election results[edit]

2021[edit]

This section is an excerpt from Results of the 2021 New South Wales local elections § Inner West.[edit]

The Liberal Party did not endorse any candidates, including its two councillors elected in 2017.[48]

2021 New South Wales local elections: Inner West[48][49][50]
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Labor 40,113 38.6 +4.7 8 Increase 3
  Greens 37,499 36.0 +7.2 5 Steady
  Independent 15,967 15.3 −2.7 2 Decrease 1
  Independent Liberal 6,738 6.5 −11.1[c] 0 Decrease 2[c]
  Community Independents 1,195 1.1 0 Steady
  Community Independent 898 0.9 0 Steady
  Animal Justice 876 0.8 +0.8 0 Steady
  Socialist Alliance 749 0.8 –0.2 0 Steady
 Formal votes 104,035 96.49
 Informal votes 3,795 3.51
 Total 107,830 100.00

Culture[edit]

Inner West Library Service[edit]

Marrickville Library

The Inner West Library Service consists of a network of 8 libraries located within the Inner West Council boundaries. After the Inner West Council amalgamation, a new library management system was launched on 1 March 2019, with a soft launch in late February allowing members to borrow from all libraries in the service.[51][52][53]

The libraries of the Inner West Library Service include:[54]

  • Ashfield Library
  • Balmain Library
  • Emmanuel Tsardoulias Community Dulwich Hill Library
  • Haberfield Library
  • Leichhardt Library
  • Marrickville Library
  • Stanmore Library
  • St Peters/Sydenham Library

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Inner West was known in the Census as a Statistical Area Level 4 in 2011, and known as a Statistical Subdivision in 2006 and prior.
  2. ^ Eastern Orthodox was known simply as Orthodox in the 2001 Census.
  3. ^ a b Compared with the Liberal Party result at the 2017 election.[48]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Inner West". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 29 January 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  2. ^ a b c d "Inner West Council". Stronger Councils. Government of New South Wales. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 15 March 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 [NSW] - Schedule 9 - Provisions for Inner West Council" (PDF). Parliament of New South Wales. 2012. p. 21. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  4. ^ Thompson, Angus (21 December 2021). "Labor's Inner West victory up in the air following recount requests". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  5. ^ Hore, Allison (23 December 2021). "After recount requests denied, meet the inner west's surprise new councillors". Inner West Review. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b Merger Proposal: Burwood Council, City of Canada Bay Council, Strathfield Municipal Council, January 2016
  7. ^ Strathfield Council rejects proposal to merge with Burwood, Ashfield and Canada Bay, 26 April 2013
  8. ^ "Merger proposal: Ashfield Council, Leichhardt Municipal Council, and Marrickville Council" (PDF). Government of New South Wales. January 2016. p. 7. Retrieved 18 February 2016.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ a b c Hore, Allison (16 February 2022). "Inner West Council moves on demerger". Inner West Review. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  10. ^ "De-amalgamation". Inner West Council. 9 January 2024. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  11. ^ Innwer West Council demerger rejected by NSW government ABC News 15 March 2024
  12. ^ a b "Community profile". Inner West Council. 6 November 2023. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024. It includes the following suburbs: Annandale, Ashfield, Balmain (including Balmain East), Birchgrove, Dobroyd Point, Dulwich Hill, Enmore, Haberfield, Leichhardt, Lewisham, Lilyfield, Marrickville, Petersham, Rozelle, Stanmore, St Peters, Summer Hill, Sydenham, Tempe and parts of: Ashbury, Camperdown, Croydon, Croydon Park, Hurlstone Park and Newtown.
  13. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Inner West (A)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Edit this at Wikidata
  14. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Sydney - Inner West". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 February 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  15. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Inner Western Sydney". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
  16. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (19 November 2002). "2001 Community Profiles: Inner Western Sydney". 2001 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved 5 February 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  17. ^ "Report on the conduct of the 2021 NSW Local Government elections" (PDF). New South Wales Electoral Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2024. The elections in 2020 were originally scheduled to be held on Saturday, 12 September 2020. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the then Minister for Local Government announced the postponement of these elections, first to 4 September 2021 and subsequently to 4 December 2021.
  18. ^ a b c Visentin, Lisa (21 September 2017). "Labor wins inner west mayoralty after power-sharing deal with Liberals". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  19. ^ a b "Darcy Byrne re-elected as Inner West Mayor" (Press release). Inner West Council. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  20. ^ a b c "New Mayor and Deputy Mayor" (Press release). Inner West Council. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  21. ^ Gorrey, Megan (7 September 2021). "Inner West councillors oust controversial Labor mayor Darcy Byrne". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Inner West Council mayor Darcy Byrne replaced ahead of December elections". ABC News. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  23. ^ a b c d Maguire, Sarah; Hore, Allison (29 December 2021). "Darcy Byrne wins election as inner west mayor". Inner West Review. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  24. ^ a b c "Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting held on 19 September 2023" (PDF). Inner West Council. 19 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  25. ^ "New Deputy Mayor for Inner West Council" (Press release). Inner West Council. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 30 September 2018.
  26. ^ "Cr Vittoria Raciti new Deputy Mayor of Inner West" (Press release). Inner West Council. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  27. ^ "Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting on 22 September 2020" (PDF). Inner West Council. 22 September 2020. p. 2. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  28. ^ a b "Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting held on 13 September 2022 at Ashfield Service Centre" (PDF). Inner West Council. 13 September 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  29. ^ Known as the Chief Executive Officer until 30 October 2020.
  30. ^ Barwell, David (2 September 2016). "Inner West Council general manager Vanessa Chan resigns less than four months into the role". Inner West Courier. Archived from the original on 5 February 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2017 – via The Daily Telegraph.
  31. ^ "Experienced GM to step in at Inner West Council" (Media Release). Inner West Council. 9 September 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  32. ^ "Michael Deegan appointed new Inner West CEO" (Press release). Inner West Council. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  33. ^ Thompson, Angus (21 October 2020). "Inner West Council CEO Michael Deegan resigns". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  34. ^ "Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting on 27 October 2020" (PDF). Inner West Council. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  35. ^ "New acting General Manager for Inner West" (Press release). Inner West Council. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  36. ^ Thompson, Angus (30 March 2021). "'Enormous betrayal': Inner West GM resigns after Dawn Fraser Baths referral". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Minutes of Ordinary Council Meeting on 13 April 2021" (PDF). Inner West Council. 13 April 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  38. ^ "New General Manager for Inner West Council" (Press release). Inner West Council. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  39. ^ Maguire, Sarah (20 December 2021). "Labor picks up three seats for outright majority on Inner West Councill". Inner West Review. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  40. ^ "Inner West - Ashfield - Djarrawunang (Magpie) Ward". NSW Local Council Elections 2021. NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  41. ^ a b c d e "Council Wards to Adopt Aboriginal Names". Inner West Council. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  42. ^ a b c d e "Inner West Council Ward Map". Inner West Council. 14 December 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  43. ^ "Inner West - Balmain - Baludarri (Leather Jacket) Ward". NSW Local Council Elections 2021. NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  44. ^ "Inner West - Leichhardt - Gulgadya (Grass Tree) Ward". NSW Local Council Elections 2021. NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  45. ^ "Inner West - Marrickville - Midjuburi (Lillypilly) Ward". NSW Local Council Elections 2021. NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  46. ^ "Inner West - Stanmore - Damun (Port Jackson Fig) Ward". NSW Local Council Elections 2021. NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  47. ^ Inner West Council - Town Halls
  48. ^ a b c "Inner West". ABC News.
  49. ^ "Inner West council election, 2021". The Tally Room.
  50. ^ "Balmain candidates – NSW election 2019". The South Sydney Herald.
  51. ^ "Collections - Libraries". Inner West Council. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  52. ^ "Library Fine Amnesty and Transition to New Services". Inner West Council. 13 February 2019. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  53. ^ "Inner West Council: Library & History Catalogue Home". Inner West Council. Inner West Council Library & History. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  54. ^ "Locations and Opening Hours". Inner West Council. Retrieved 12 January 2019.

External links[edit]

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