Lane Cove Council Subsidising Street/Apartment Blocks Get Togethers

Everyone loves good neighbours. How well do you know your neighbours? Do you know them by name? Do you want to know them better?

According to an Australian National University (ANU) research project, neighbourhood relationships and social connections protected against loneliness, depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The findings come from a nationally representative longitudinal survey of more than 3,000 people, conducted over three waves between May and November 2020.

This ANU research backs up other studies that show the benefits of knowing your neighbours.

A great example of a fabulous local street party was the wedding of Norma and Wally in Avalon Avenue. Read more here (it’s a lovely story).

Lane Cove Council Will Give Your Street $250 to Party

Lane Cove Council has a Meet Your Neighbours Toolkit.

As part of the launch, Lane Cove Council will subsidise strata and residents up to $250 to host their own “Meet Your Neighbours” event.

The program supports Relationships Australia’s Neighbours Every Day campaign, which promotes social connection and encourages people to build positive relationships with their neighbours.

You can host a street party, BBQ, breakfast or treasure hunt. Council will support your event ideas.

Funding conditions

• Reimbursement from Council for a Meet Your Neighbours event is at the discretion of Council.
• Limited funds are available. Council will consider all applications, but priority will be given to those who have not previously received funding for a Meet Your Neighbours event.
• Applications will be assessed based on previous funding allocations and the potential impact of the event.
• The event must be held between Monday 26 October 2026 and Sunday 2 May 2027.
• The event must be accessible to all neighbours within an apartment building or a defined area of the street.
• If held in an apartment building, the event must have approval from the strata body. If held in a common or shared space of a building, it must follow the building’s normal booking and security procedures.

Items that will not be reimbursed

• Alcohol
• Salaries or event coordination costs
• Permanent supplies (e.g. games, sporting goods or infrastructure)
• Activities that do not comply with local laws
• Costs associated with usual strata management activities

Applications are now open.  To apply, click here.

How Do You Hold a Street Party?

Lane Cove Council has developed a Street Party Kit, which you can download here. You can even apply to close off your street.

How Do You Host a Neighbourhood Scavenger Hunt?

Get the whole street and family involved in a scavenger hunt that ends at a secret location in your street (where you can have drinks and nibbles waiting). You can find ideas here.

Hold a Street Breakfast Party

Grab some trestle tables and a BBQ, get a couple of people to bring along their coffee machines and you have a street breakfast! Need trestle tables or other party equipment? Borrow them from The Sydney Library of Things.

If you need large games like Connect 4, Jenga or chess, the Lane Cove Toy Library has them. Find out how to borrow here.

What are you waiting for? Apply here now.