Lyon was one of hundreds of artists, musicians, restaurateurs, writers, community groups, eco-warriors and others who donated their time and talents to raise more than $70,000 for the centre’s work with homeless people.
More than 80,000 people flocked to Camperdown Memorial Park to enjoy an impressive line-up of bands like The Griswolds, Polographia and Dweeb City; writers like Fiona Wright, Susan Wyndham and Sean Rabin; and local restaurants like Hartsyard, Bloodwood and Blackstar Pastry.
Crowds relished the offerings of 300 market stalls, five bars and 40 food stalls –bopping in the buzzy children’s area and relaxing in the chill zone.
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre chief executive, Liz Yeo, said she believed the event offered something for everyone and was probably Australia’s largest festival for a social purpose.
“All funds raised support our first-response program, which assists people at risk of homelessness,” she said.
Yeo said more than 300 people would be helped to find stable housing in the coming year thanks to the community’s generosity, but their efforts shouldn’t stop there.
Up to ten people came to the centre each day to talk to staff, she said, and the majority of their issues related to housing. Many came to look at the list of current boarding house vacancies posted at the centre – even though boarding houses were hardly affordable.
“Homelessness is a big issue in our area. To deal with that problem we need more affordable housing. That’s why we’re running a housing affordability campaign,” she said.
“We’re not just going to raise money. We want to raise awareness as well, and we want to start advocating from our position as a local neighbourhood centre that is in an area that’s massively affected by a growing lack of affordable housing.”
The severe shortfall not only affected the most disadvantaged people but was now also affecting the mainstream. “People are realising that their kids can’t afford to live in the Inner West now – even if they’re middle class.”
Yeo said the neighbourhood centre would like to see 30 per cent of proposed housing redevelopments designated for social and affordable housing.
In many other global cities, such as London and New York, up to 40 per cent of housing in new developments must be affordable, and Sydney desperately needs that kind of policy.
“If those global cities can do it, why can’t Sydney? It’s a no-brainer.”
Many people had signed a petition at the festival and others could do so online.
Festival sponsor Urbane Real Estate had also been gathering signatures.
The centre will take the signed petitions to the Greater Sydney Commission whose plans to guide council land use and zoning in six Sydney districts will be on public exhibition and open for public consultation until the end of March 2017.
“We want to show that X number of people have happily signed to say they want to see the serious issue of housing affordability addressed in planning for Sydney’s future.”
Yeo said many people still called Newtown home in terms of where they feel at home – whether they could afford to live there or not.
What people loved about the area, she said, was “its quirkiness and diversity, the markets, the one offs, the musicians and the creative and this was all very connected to this year’s festival theme, ‘Home is where the heart is’.
“If you want to keep that kind of place that we love and call home … but you have a lack of affordable housing, and you don’t have spaces for artists and musicians and other creative people, you are going to lose them. The place becomes generic.
“We must try to protect the Newtown vibe.”
