* Our footpath gardens have fruit trees like this Pomegranate, flowers for bees, and keep rain where it falls to cool streets. 16 compost options handle 300 to 400 kg a week
Support footpath gardening in Chippendale and across Australia, please.
After 18 years of footpath gardening and community actions to cool, grow tree canopy and transform Chippendale streets the policy permitting foot path gardening without Council approval is being reviewed.
There are over 1,000 herbs, edible native and introduced plants, fruit tree and passive irrigation that make the streets cooler in summer, and which provide food for native and introduced bees. Our footpath gardens are recognised on Council’s website, here.
The draft policy is here. It applies to the whole of Sydney City Council’s area.
It’s good as it makes clear we may garden in lanes, too.
But one thing is bad as it has restricted composting our food waste. Council funding is not available for footpath gardening but is available for community gardens. Each week we compost 300 to 400 kg of food waste from local cafes, apartments, terraces and bars. So we create free soil and fertiliser for our footpath gardens.
Our community submission to the Council by Friends of Chippendale is copied below.
Please support us by emailing your own comments asking Council to permit, promote, support composting - by 3 November 2026.
If you do email, you’re very welcome to copy, refer to or attach our submission - copied below - and say you support us and our submission. The email address for your submission is:
Go the worms, bees, and conversations and community in our streets and yours.
Thank you,
Michael Mobbs
Submission by Friends of Chippendale about new footpath and laneway policy
https://www.friendsofchippendale.au/
friendsofchippendale@gmail.com, michael@sustainablehouse.com.au
20 October 2026
Submission on draft footpath and laneway policy
Draft policy is published for comment here:
- To: Jen Beer, CommunityGreening@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Proposed edits to draft policy
Summary of requested policy changes
· Footpath composting permissible
· Existing composting options may continue
· New composting options approval process
· Aerial bundling to promote biodiversity at ground and tree canopy levels
Amendment 1: Existing and new composting:
To clarify that existing and new composting options are permissible amend paragraph F in the draft policy to read:
“Existing composting options may continue to be used.
Existing and new composting is permitted in footpath gardens to enable soil and garden beds to be maintained at no or lower costs to gardeners.
Existing and new compost installations are permitted in footpath and verge gardens, subject to performance standards. A composting system complies with this policy where it is constructed from rodent-resistant materials, maintained in an operable condition that prevents vermin access, and operated to prevent offensive odours.
Note:
Each week Chippendale footpath gardeners compost between 300 to 400 kg of food waste in 16 or more compost options, and place compost on footpath gardens. Images below show that over the last 15 or so years the compost has transformed the soil, plants, trees and streets into healthy, shading canopy and biodiversity. Our composting avoids 30 to 40 kg of climate pollution or over 1.5 tonnes a year. As no council funding is available for footpath gardening, local composting provides free, rich fertilizer.
Amendment 2: Guidelines and process for composting options and applications:
“Any application for approval to a new composting option may be made to the City Council Parks Department free of charge.
Composting registration/approval requests submitted to Council shall be determined within 30 days of receipt.”
Amendment 3: Increasing biodiversity, native bee, insect and bird populations:
“Native bee and insect populations forage in both tree canopies and ground level plants. To promote biodiversity generally Council will assist gardeners to reduce tree pruning and associated maintenance costs by electricity service providers by continuously promoting aerial bundling of electricity wires where possible. To support biodiversity footpath garden plant selection by footpath gardeners and Council will prioritise plants providing protection and foraging for small native birds particularly those birds with declining populations such as the Willie Wagtail, the Superb Fairy-wren, the migrating Eastern Koel, and native parrots.”
Key points
Public submissions due by 3 NOVEMBER to: sydneyyoursay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
· Sustainable Chippendale Footpath Gardens is a community garden registered on Council’s website - https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/community-gardens/sustainable-chippendale-footpath-gardens
· Chippendale has supported and engaged continuously with footpath gardening since our community held the Food for The Future Fair in Peace Park in 2008, when our community began to collaborate with Council in developing the original policy.
· Footpath gardening provides these benefits in Chippendale and generally:
o grows community and social cohesion
o footpath conversations grow friendships, understanding, are a forum to share local news, reduce loneliness, maintain physical and mental health
o increases biodiversity, plant and pollen food options for native bees and insects
o increases urban street cooling *
o reduces premature human deaths from heat *
o reduces stormwater pollution by amending hydrophobic soil to permeable soil
o composting provides multiple benefits for social interactions and supports Council and NSW government Food Organics initiatives (FOGO)
o increases property values
o Council’s 2020 community engagement survey demonstrated composting was the leading priority of those gardeners surveyed
o reduces mattress, furniture and other waste on footpaths
* NOTE: “EXTREME heat has killed more Australians than all other natural disasters combined” - the NSW Net Zero Commission April 2026 https://www.netzerocommission.nsw.gov.au/publications/heat-stress-spotlight-report and see also Attachment 5
Attachments
1. Letter to Chippendale Community by Mayor Clover Moore dated 27 January 2011:
“The City of Sydney has chosen Myrtle Street , and surrounding areas in Chippendale, as a trial site for how to create a ‘sustainable street’.”
2. Images from 2008 Food for the Future Fair
3. Extract from 2020 City of Sydney community gardens engagement survey showing composting was the main priority for gardeners
4. Draft registration form currently being trialled for Chippendale Footpath Gardens
5 Summary of impacts upon communities as outlined in the Australian National Climate Risk Assessment Report 2025
1 Letter to Chippendale community, Mayor Clover Moore, 27 January 2011:
2 Images from 2008 Food for the Future Fair showing community planting in footpaths during the fair and supported by, and in collaboration with, Council
3 Extract from 2020 City of Sydney community gardens engagement survey showing composting was the main priority for gardeners
Michaal Mobbs, for and on behalf of Friends of Chippendale
20 October 20226