Camden is receiving a $700,000 injection to help deliver two exciting projects, after accepting the funding at last night’s Ordinary Meeting.

Council officially received $500,000 in the second round of the NSW Government’s Streets as Shared Spaces grant, administered by the Department of Planning and Environment.

This funding will help deliver the Larkin Place Activation Pilot, which will see the location become a more flexible, safe and shared public space with increased commercial and social activity. The pilot program, identified through the third stage of Council’s COVID-19 Community Support Package, will also help accommodate small-to-medium scale events, while remaining a parking space.

A further $200,000 was also accepted from Sydney Water, to complete hydrological and vegetation surveys on the Narellan Creek Water Quality Management System.

Mayor of Camden, Cr Therese Fedeli, said the funds would go a long way to assist Council in delivering for the community.

“Council is dedicated to looking for every opportunity to help its community and these funds are a big win for our residents,” Cr Fedeli said.

“Larkin Place was already used as an event space for our first Winterfest in 2019, and this funding will help Council further establish the site for multi-use.

“The hydrological and vegetation surveys on Narellan Creek will allow Council to identify how we can improve water quality, which is also a massive win.

“I’d like to thank both the NSW Government and Sydney Water for their funding.”

Camden State MP Peter Sidgreaves said the Larkin Place Activation Pilot was one of the ways the NSW Government was reimagining the streets of the state.

“This exciting project will see a trial activation of Larkin Place, near the centre of Camden’s CBD, creating informal and formal public space for the whole community to enjoy and enabling walkability and amenity,” Mr Sidgreaves said.

“Streets as Shared Spaces 2 capitalises on opportunities created by the pandemic with 70 per cent of people in a recent poll saying they were connecting with people in public spaces instead of at home.

“The NSW Government is reimaging our streets as better places for people, which will drive an increase in foot traffic, support businesses and bring the community together to enjoy the vibrancy our community has to offer.”