Our City After 5

The evening economy is defined as social or business activities and experiences that contribute to the economy every day of the week, for all ages and abilities, between the hours of 5–9pm. Activities may include sport and recreation, arts and cultural events, entertainment, social activities, work, volunteering, retail, education, commuting, dining, and even staying in.

The City of Canada Bay has a lot to offer. We're a celebrated recreation destination with few rivals, our foreshore is inviting and beautiful, and we are home to connected and vibrant communities. However, there are periods when many of us that live, work and play in the City of Canada Bay don't explore our streets, attend local community events or visit our local businesses.

In 2020 we turned our attention to understanding why, to strengthen the liveability of our City and the opportunities that lie in the evening economy. The Our City after 5: Evening Economy and Activation Plan 2021 - 2031 was developed to guide future planning and activities to help build investment, business, community and culture. Following public exhibition of the draft plan it was adopted by Council on 16 February 2021.

To download the adopted plan, click here.

Community Engagement & Public Exhibition

In February 2020, we headed to the streets to hear from you about what you do now between 5–9pm, and what you would like to do more of.

We found that many in our community want to stay local and enjoy activities within walking distance, and that you like variety.

We took the hundreds of pieces of feedback from our community and developed a draft plan.

We also built upon significant community consultation undertaken by our strategic planning team around the Local Strategic Planning Statement, and from YOUR Future 2030 — our community strategic plan created by the community, for the community.

Having conducted community engagement, we developed a draft plan for Council to review. At the Council Meeting on 17 November 2020, Council reviewed the draft plan and approved it to be put on public exhibition for the community to read and provide feedback. The public exhibition period ran from 19 November – 14 December 2020.

Timeline

Our 5 Key Directions

These set out the directions for Council and businesses to help achieve the Our City after 5 vision.

1. Guide future planning and activities that help build community, investment, business, connectivity, and culture

Review local planning controls and development processes to improve greater evening activation Balance and manage competing land use needs for both residents and businesses ensuring sustainability principles are considered Promote opportunities for investment in evening economy and activation Strengthen and promote transport connections

 

2. Improve public amenity for evening activation

Create a safe, welcome and well-designed City that promotes community safety, accessibility and inclusion whilst ensuring sustainability principles Inspire and attract residents and visitors to stay, play and spend locally Adapt our places and activities to support community health and wellbeing

 

3. Support the development of a diverse evening offering

Incentivise businesses to extend trading hours, diversify offerings, collaborate and partner Stimulate creative entrepreneurship Make space for children and young people Build business capacity and expertise for adaptive response to change Include evening recreation and social activities

 

4. Strengthen the unique characteristics of our local places

Promote and celebrate our village centres, local businesses and evening offerings Make space for the development of local arts and culture

 

5. Optimise use of underutilised community facilities and recreation spaces for the evening

Promote existing assets to develop our evening offerings including community and recreation facilities, parks and village centres