Places

Here you coan find information about the places in the two North-West wards of Parramatta. These two ward areas are known as Caroline Chisholm ward and Arthur Phillip ward, and includes (in whole or in part) the suburbs of Parramatta, Nth Parramatta, Westmead, Northmead, Toongabbie, Constitution Hill, Old Toongabbie, Wentworthville, Pendle Hill and Winston Hills.

In many ways each of these suburbs is a distinct and liveable neighbourhood, with its own history, character and community.

Council wishes to build on the unique strengths of these special “places” and is currently developing a “portrait” of each place with the involvement and contribution of the local community.

We are keen to get your comments, ideas or information to be potentially included. This could be in the form of stories, up coming events, local community action, memories or your comments on services.

Community Events

Fairs, festivals, street parties, performances, forums, exhibitions and all kinds of community events are important ways we come together in our communities.

Recent Events

Local Neighbourhood Picnic 12 July 2007

Local Neighbourhood Picnic 11 October 07

Celebrate Your Place 21 October 2006

Your ideas for creating community spirit projects in your place are always welcome. Use the "Let us know" form

Community Spirit

The level of community spirit in a community, builds opportunities for communication between residents, focussing on similarities rather than divisions within a community. Council has endorsed important initiatives to build community spirit in order to promote more supportive, connected and safer neighbourhoods by encouraging residents to get to know their neighbours and to show pride in the area in which they live.

Building local pride in a community supports the community to be involved in issues, activities and assets which can lead to local advocacy and community action on locally-identified needs.

• Information on the Community Spirit forum held in November 2006

Your ideas for creating community spirit projects in your place are always welcome, and we are also seeking out some examples – stories – where real ‘community spirit’ arises from our local communities. Use the "Let us know form"

North West Community Spirit Forum - 21 April 2007

The North West Community Spirit Forum built on ideas generated at the Community Spirit Forum hosted by the Lord Mayor in November 2006. This forum focussed on generating ideas for local community spirit activities and events. The Forum bought together a range of interested residents, community leaders and community minded organisations to discuss strategies and develop actions to build ‘community spirit’ in the neighbourhoods of Toongabbie, Wentworthville, Constitution Hill and surrounding areas.

There was much enthusiastic discussion during the Forum, and many ideas were offered. Here are some of them:

• Neighbourhood parties
• Places for young people to hang out à things to do that are safe and fun
• Clean, safe streets
• Attractive public places
• Volunteer work
• Neighbourhood watch
• Community Newsletters/Newspaper - worked on/created/contributed to by community members
• Cultural Event – promote variety of cultures
• Sue Savage Reserve area some good use by families etc – more facilities needed.
• Working on relationships between older and younger residents to increase understanding of each other
• Safety houses
• School festivals/celebrations
• Historical societies and their activities
• Sporting events – bring together local teenagers – outside of local school system
• New resident package that provides information on local services and facilities, events and programs available (especially long term ones that can connect people long term)
• Community radio; announcements about local activities
• Community bulletin boards at local shops, where everyone goes
• Better promotion of what’s already happening
• “Open Mike” night for young people at local café

Following the Community Spirit Forum, a number of local residents continued to meet on a regular basis, to plan events and activities that would build on the community spirit in the North West. The first Celebrate Your Place event organised by this group of residents and Council as the “Local Neighbourhood Picnic” in Reynolds Park in Toongabbie in the July school holidays

Partnerships in ‘place’

The Community Capacity Building (CCB) model is about building long term, lasting partnerships between Council, other services and local residents.

Your ideas for possible partnership opportunities in your place are always welcome, and we are also seeking out some examples where partnerships in the community have made a difference.

Use our "Let us know" form to submit your ideas and proposals.

Your Place Community Safety Action - Wentworthville Department of Housing Estate

NSW Police Force, Parramatta City Council (PCC) and the Department of Housing (DoH) have formed a partnership to look at what are important community safety issues for the residents of the Wentworthville estate.

Over the past 6 months, there have been a number of events organised, which have given local people an opportunity to identify the issues most important to them, and to get involved in decisions being made. The events have included:

• Community information and consultation session (and sausage sizzle) held on Wednesday 2 May 2007 at the Toongabbie East Public School.
• Community Safety Audit - a large number of local residents, along with representatives from PCC, DoH and the Police undertook a community safety audit, by walking around various areas of the estate identifying problems.
• Community BBQ in the October school holidays, including a Footy Clinic and Drumming workshops.

This project will bring service providers and residents together to share information, develop and implement strategies that will build the Wentworthville Estate into a place that is safer, friendlier and more attractive. Volunteers are warmly welcomed to get involved by letter box dropping leaflets, assisting people to complete the survey, helping with sausage sizzles etc.

There will also be some interesting projects to be developed once we all know what action needs to be taken, and residents will have a very important role to play in working together to bring about changes.

If you would like more information on this project please contact:
Jane Lowe - Community Place Development Officer North West
Phone: 9806 5116
Email: sbieman@parracity.nsw.gov.au