Inner West Council placed the draft Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan on public exhibition between 24 May and 22 June 2022.

During the public exhibition 789 visitors viewed the project page on yoursay.innerwest.nsw.gov.au and 135 downloaded the document.

Twelve people provided comments on the draft Plan on Your Say Inner West Council’s digital engagement site and one person via an email.

The comments were mostly positive in support of the plan. There also were suggestions on how to improve the plan and feedback on the use of the terminology in the Acknowledgement to Country.

1. Council adopt the Reconciliation Action Plan;

2. During the life of this plan consideration will be given to establishing a Voice to the Inner West Council. Consideration should include but not be limited to the following issues:

a) Consider whether and how the role of the Inner West Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee could expanded to form a Voice to the Inner West Council

b) Establishing a simple and timely payment process so Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are compensated for their time and knowledge.

c) Creating guidelines, in collaboration with your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples community and the Metropolitan Land Council about what matters the Voice to Council should deal with.

3. Council officers prepare a budget and recurrent investment for adoption by Council that supports the Voice to Council and the implementation of the major initiatives over the life of the RAP, being:

a) Creation of Survival Memorials in three locations, the first in Yeo Park, Ashfield will be installed in 2022/23;

b) Knowledge and culture playing a visible and integral role in placemaking and connecting to Country, including for example new walking trails and wayfinding across the Inner West;

c) All Council tenders over $150,000 advertised on Supply Nation, and smaller scale positive procurement in favour of local Aboriginal businesses;

d) Nurturing connection to Country, including tours, stories, dance, and services;

e) New large scale Council research on archaeology in collaboration with local residents; and

f) Identifying appropriate Council owned property for an Aboriginal Community Hub and scoping costs and logistics to implement.

4. Council receive quarterly progress reports of progress toward establishing the
community hub; and

5. Council receive quarterly progress reports on the development of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Procurement Strategy including KPIs for awarding of contracts and the total value.