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Neighbourhood Projects & Community Connections

Do you have an idea about how your neighbourhood or local village could be improved?

Neighbourhood and Village Improvement Projects build a sense of pride in, and ownership of public spaces. Council encourages groups of residents and businesses to be actively involved in shaping what their area looks and feels like.

You can make a positive change in your community by sharing your ideas and working with others to turn unloved public spaces into treasured community places. Community-led placemaking harnesses the creativity and energy of residents to transform neglected areas through quick, short-term and low-cost initiatives.

Interested? Contact the Coordinator Local Connections on 9083 8916 or at connected@waverley.nsw.gov.au

Here are some examples of how to shape your local area and stay connected:

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  Neighbour day

  Neighbour Day is Australia’s annual celebration of community, encouraging people to connect with their neighbours. Knowing your neighbours and your broader community has never been more important to support the most vulnerable, tackle loneliness and work together for collective wellbeing.

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  Street Play

  Street Play is an initiative of Waverley to encourage locals to connect with neighbours on their street. Permits can be sought to temporarily close your street on a Sunday afternoon and turn this vehicle-oriented space into a site for play, creativity and conversation.

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  Verge Gardens & Shared Gardens

  Creating a verge garden on your street increases biodiversity, stops water run off and cools the neighbourhood. It is also a great way to meet neighbours, improve the aesthetic of an area, share produce and swap gardening tips.

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  Murals & Community Art Projects

  Creative encounters in public spaces enliven often neglected areas and reveal stories embedded in place. Art projects create a catalyst for conversation between locals and reflect the ideas and aspirations of people living in the neighbourhood.

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  Street Libraries

  Finished reading a book and want to share the story with someone else? Street Libraries are a great way of passing on knowledge and stories within a community. This free initiative of swapping books with locals in a neighbourhood, increases literacy, encourages storytelling and reduces waste through the share economy.

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  Neighbourhood celebrations & gatherings

  Community celebrations are a great way to build a more connected and cohesive neighbourhood and to get to know your neighbours. In emergencies, neighbours can keep an eye on your place, or put the bins out or collect the mail for you when you are away