Celebrate Local Government Week
Published on 26 July 2024
Join us to celebrate Local Government Week, Monday 29 July - Sunday 4 August 2024 as we showcase the work Woollahra Council does and the diversity of services we provide.
Local Government Week is designed to highlight the important and far-reaching role councils play as the hubs of their community.
Councils are responsible for beaches, parks and playgrounds; libraries, local festivals and lighting; cemeteries, childcare centres and community infrastructure. We employ horticulturalists, labourers and librarians; cleaners, carpenters and carers; electricians, engineers and educators.
During this special week we encourage people to explore some of the ways your Council is part of your daily life, and to participate in the events that showcase some of the things we do for the community.
We're celebrating some fantastic Woollahra Council initiatives and hosting a range of great events during Local Government Week - check out some of the highlights below.
National Tree Day
Local Government Week is off to a good start following National Tree Day on Sunday 28 July. Together with 132 volunteers, we planted over 3,000 shrubs and 9 mature trees at Christison Park, Vaucluse. We planted a range of locally native plants to beautify the park and extend the habitat corridor for small birds and other wildlife. Join our Bushcare volunteers to help care for local bushland sites and grow native seedlings.
Solar My School
A great example of a successful local government initiative and what can be achieved through collaboration between councils is the Solar My School program, which is heading off into the sunset after seven successful years.
Established by Woollahra, Waverley and Randwick Councils to help schools in the east install solar power on their rooftops, the pioneering program provided specialist technical advice and support for utilising the financial and environmental benefits of clean, locally produced renewable energy.
Find out which schools went solar with the help of the Solar My School Project.
Concept drawing of the Lyne Park Playground upgrade
The newly upgraded Lyne Park Playground is opening soon
The Woollahra Council area has a range of historic gardens, foreshore parks, playgrounds and bushland reserves. Our dedicated staff are passionate about maintaining and revitalising our parklands. During this year's Local Government Week, we are celebrating the re-opening of Lyne Park Playground, a popular recreational area, which has been upgraded to provide inclusive, imaginative and flexible play experiences for all ages and abilities.
Works will include new play equipment such as:
- Double flying fox
- Four bay swing with seven types of swings suitable for a variety of ages and abilities
- Sensory walkway
- Water play zone
- Nature play area for older children and inter-generational recreational experiences
- An imaginative climbing and sliding flying boat - a playful nod to the site’s history as the former Rose Bay International Airport. This will be installed into the playground in November / December.
This project is funded by Woollahra Council and the NSW Department of Planning and Environment’s Places to Play, Metropolitan Greenspace Program and the Australian Government’s Investing in our Communities Program.
For more information about this project, please visit our Your Say community engagement page.
Cranbrook School was a recipient of a Woollahara Council Environment Grant
Celebrating our Woollahra Council Grant Recipients
Congratulations to the community organisations, schools, businesses and individuals from across the Woollahra Local Government Area, who received a total of $255,000 in funding through its Grants Program.
The projects will make important contributions to the ongoing development of the Woollahra community, and benefit both local residents and visitors to the area.
The 54 successful recipients will use grant funding to develop projects including initiatives supporting sustainability in schools, increasing mental wellbeing in the community, delivering green energy to community organisations, youth-led community events and connecting local businesses.
Find out more about the Woollahra Council grant program and how you can apply for a grant.
What will you spot with our new coastal binoculars?
Next time you head out on a coastal walk, take a few minutes to check out the new binoculars and signs we’ve just installed at Jacobs Ladder in Gap Park and the southern corner of Christison Park. We've put these in place to help everyone observe and learn more about our whales, other marine mammals and coastal birds.
We are lucky enough to have one of the best spots in Sydney to appreciate the spectacle of the yearly whale migration so take a few minutes to look up, out and along the coast to see what you can spot.
Find out more about the binoculars and what animals you will be able to spot.
Bus to Books in action
Bus to Books
Did you know that Woollahra Libraries offers a monthly bus service for residents in our LGA who have difficulty accessing the Library due to limited mobility?
The Woollahra Libraries Bus to Books service picks you up from your home and takes you to Woollahra Library at Double Bay. During your visit you can access our Library resources and browse and borrow our books, movies, magazines, and much more. Enjoy morning tea and conversation with some new friends before the bus takes you back home.
The service operates on the fourth Thursday of every month and bookings are essential as places are limited. Please contact the Library for bookings on 9391 7100 or email homelibraryservice@woollahra.nsw.gov.au
18 Footers Sailing Club goes solar
Solar My Suburb
Jointly run by Woollahra, Randwick and Waverley Councils, this free initiative is helping Clubs and community organisations in Sydney’s eastern suburbs save on energy bills with solar power, by providing support from start to finish.
How we help:
- A free expert solar assessment to help choose the right size solar power system
- Estimates on system cost, savings and financial incentives
- Advice on funding and payment options
- Support in selecting a quality system from a trusted installer
- Promoting and celebrating your organisation’s inspirational solar project
This program has a proven track record of success, having already helped 12 community organizations through Solar my Suburb and 40 schools in Sydney’s eastern suburbs go solar with the similar multi-award-winning Solar my School program, with more on their way.
Find out more and register today
BYO Book Club
The BYO Book Club is a drop in Book Club where you can talk about what you’ve been reading, hear what others have been reading and chat with fellow book lovers and library staff over morning tea.
Paddington BYO Book Club: Held the first Tuesday of each month (excluding January) from 10.30-11.30am at Paddington Library.
Watsons Bay BYO Book Club: Held the second Wednesday of each month (excluding January) from 2.00-3.00pm at Watsons Bay Library.
Double Bay BYO Book Club: Held the third Thursday of each month (excluding January) from 2.30-3.30pm at Woollahra Library at Double Bay.
Rhyme time fun at Woollara Libraries
Story time, Rhyme Time and Book Babies
Enjoy stories, rhymes, singing and dancing with your child at each of our Woollahra Library locations. This program runs weekly during the school term.
Rhyme Time for babies and toddlers (0-2 years)
- Woollahra Library at Double Bay - Monday 10:00am and 11:00am, Tuesday 3:30pm
- Watsons Bay Library - Thursday 10:00am and 10:30am
- Paddington Library - Thursday 10:30am and 11:15am
Story Time for pre-schoolers (3-5 years)
- Paddington Library - Sunday 10:30am & Monday 10:30am
- Watsons Bay Library - Tuesday 10:30am
- Woollahra Library at Double Bay - Wednesday 10:30am & second Saturday of the month 10:30am
Book Babies (ages 0 - 18 months)
Woollahra Library at Double Bay - Monday 2:30pm
Find out more.
Tai Chi at Paddington Library
Tai Chi Workshops
Engage the body and mind through a Tai Chi class. Join a qualified teacher from Sydney Vision Tai Chi Qi Gong Health as they share the benefits of this ancient form of Chinese exercise. Then get active as you partake in an introductory Tai Chi session. Bookings not required.
Cost: free
Wednesday, 31 July 2024, 10:30am - 11:30am, Paddington Library, 247 Oxford Street, Paddington, more details.
Thursday, 1 August 2024, 10:00am - 11:00am, Woollahra Library at Double Bay, 451 New South Head Road, Double Bay, more details.
Learn the art of Japanese flower arranging
Sogetsu Ikebana Workshop with Sandy Marker
Join Ikebana artist Sandy Marker for a Sogetsu Ikebana workshop, set within Damien Drew's Shikoku no Seijaku exhibition. Sandy, who has achieved the highest level of Sogetsu Ikebana teaching under Koka Fukushima in Japan, will guide you through the fundamentals of this beautiful Japanese art form.
Participants will learn about the history and principles of Ikebana, be treated to a demonstration of the basic Moribana Upright Style, and have the opportunity to create two of their own flower arrangements.
When - Thursday 1 August, 6.30 - 8.30 pm
Where - Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf
Cost and inclusions - $35 (+ booking fee) - includes all materials + refreshments
More details and book your spot.
Take part in a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony with Ryoko Freeman
Join us for a multi-sensory experience of Chado, the Way of Tea, hosted by Ryoko Freeman from the Chado Urasenke Tankokai Sydney Association Inc. Discover the beauty and simplicity of the Japanese tea ceremony, a practice that transcends tea-making to become a meditation on spirit, form, and movement.
Ryoko will serve matcha tea with handmade Japanese sweets.
When - Saturday 3 August, 1.30 - 2.30 pm
Where - Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf
Cost and inclusions - $25(+ booking fee) - includes refreshments
More details and book your spot.
3D Printing - Jewellery Workshop
Are you ready to take your 3D printing skills to the next level? Join us for our jewellery workshop. This workshop is designed for anyone who is passionate about 3D printing jewellery or those who have completed our beginner level workshop “Intro to 3D Printing“ and want to take their knowledge and skills to the next level.
Workshop is for ages 12+ only.
Cost: free
Thursday 1 August 2024, 6:30pm - 8pm, Woollahra Library, 451 New South Head Road, Double Bay.
More details and book your spot.
Download the Woollahra App Today!
Easily request Council services anytime, anywhere and track your requests with the Woollahra Council App.
The App’s innovative functionality puts a wide variety of customer service options at your fingertips, allowing you to lodge and track the progress of your service requests through your phone or device and attach images, significantly increasing efficient service delivery and providing updates in real time.
With over 20,000 service requests received every year via phone, email and letter, requests logged through the App can be sent directly to relevant Council staff to assign and action, saving hours of processing time with each request.
The App is free to download and provides you with the ability to link details for your property - immediately providing location-specific information on regular waste collection services and Council clean-up collection dates - and also the option to make secure credit card payments for delivery of some services.
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
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Free e-waste collection service
This service allows you to book in a free collection of your unwanted e-waste. All you need to do is book in a collection (available Monday-Friday) and leave your e-waste on your kerb (or rear lane if you have one) for collection by the next business day.
Items accepted
- Desktop computers, monitors, keyboards, mice and cables
- Laptop computers, tablets, GPS & PDA units
- Printers, scanners, copy and fax machines (household size)
- Hard drives and modems
- Video game consoles, devices and controllers/joysticks
- Mobile phones, landlines phones and cameras
- Televisions, CD players and DVD players
- Loose CDs and DVDs (please no plastic cases)
- Small appliances like blenders, toasters, kettles, hair dryers etc.
- Medium appliances like vacuum cleaners, power tools, coffee machines etc.
Items NOT accepted
- Whitegoods - fridges, stoves, microwaves etc. Put these out on your scheduled clean-up day.
- Batteries - small household and vehicle batteries - drop these off at a chemical clean out collection. Household batteries can also be taken to the collection point at the Woollahra Library in Double Bay or Paddington Library.
- LED lights, fluorescent light tubes and globes (see chemical cleanout collection).
- Video and cassette tapes (see scheduled clean-up day).
- E-waste from business (see business recycling)
- Any other item that is not deemed e-waste as part of this service.
How do I book a collection?
There are a few options for booking a collection. You can:
The collection will occur within 24 hours of booking, or the next business day. Please place your e-waste neatly at the kerbside, or your rear lane if you have one, on the same day as the booking is made. Make sure all personal data is deleted from devices.
There are no limits to the amount of collections per year, but they must be booked in.