Residents, businesses and community organisations across Parramatta will soon find it easier and more affordable to host events, meetings and celebrations, with the City of Parramatta introducing a new package of venue hire incentives from 1 July 2026. The initiative aims to increase community participation by significantly reducing the cost of hiring some of the city’s most popular public venues.
As part of the new program, venue hire fees at several key Council-owned facilities will be reduced by 50 per cent during off-peak periods. The discounted rates will be available to a broad range of users, including community groups, commercial organisations and unfunded not-for-profit organisations, making high-quality event spaces more accessible than ever before.
The offer applies to some of Parramatta’s flagship community venues, including PHIVE, the Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library (WPCCL) and the City’s network of 18 community centres. Council hopes the initiative will encourage greater use of these facilities while supporting stronger community connections and local economic activity.
In addition to reduced venue hire costs, first-time users will receive a range of complimentary benefits designed to make organising events even easier. New hirers at PHIVE will receive free refreshments and stationery for their first booking, helping community groups and businesses host meetings and workshops with reduced upfront costs.
Those choosing the Wentworth Point Community Centre and Library will also have access to additional incentives, including complimentary event styling, audio-visual equipment and co-working desk packages. Meanwhile, new users booking any of Parramatta’s 18 community centres will receive their first hour of venue hire free, providing further encouragement for local organisations to make use of Council facilities.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said the new incentives reflect Council’s commitment to making community infrastructure more accessible while ensuring local venues become vibrant gathering places for residents, businesses and organisations throughout the year.
According to Cr Zaiter, Parramatta is home to some of Australia’s highest-quality community facilities, and Council wants to see these spaces activated by as many people as possible. By reducing hire fees during quieter periods, the City hopes more residents will choose Council venues for community meetings, training sessions, workshops, celebrations, networking events and social functions.
Council also believes the initiative will provide valuable support for community organisations, small businesses and local not-for-profit groups that may have previously found venue hire costs challenging. Lower fees are expected to encourage new events while helping existing organisations expand their programs and community engagement activities.
The discounted venue hire program forms part of a 12-month trial, which will run until 30 June 2027. During this period, Council will monitor community participation, venue bookings and customer feedback to assess the success of the initiative and determine whether the incentives should become a longer-term feature of Parramatta’s community services.
As Parramatta continues its rapid growth as Western Sydney’s leading economic and cultural centre, improving access to modern community facilities remains a key priority. Through more affordable venue hire and added customer incentives, the City of Parramatta hopes to create more opportunities for people to connect, collaborate and celebrate, further strengthening the vibrant and inclusive community that continues to shape Australia’s fastest-growing CBD.
