Sydney WorldPride 2023: Northern Beaches Council could spend up big to support local LGBTQ+ events

The LGBTQ+ festival, Sydney WorldPride 2023, will attract 78,000 visitors to the city in February. Northern Beaches Council is looking at spending up big to be part of the celebrations.

Lighting up Manly Town Hall in rainbow colours — at a cost of $100,000 — is being looked at by the council as one of the ways to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community on the northern beaches.

And more than $52,000 could be spent on flags and banners during Sydney WorldPride 2023, Northern Beaches Council will be told at its meeting on Tuesday night.

Last month council staff were asked to examine potential cultural and tourism opportunities to be had by organising themed events around the biennial international festival — Sydney’s biggest event since the 2000 Olympic — to be held in conjunction with the annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras between February 17 and March 5.

Manly Town Hall could be lit up in rainbow colours to help the northern beaches celebrate next year’s Sydney WorldPride 2023 Festival that supports the LGBTQ+ community. Picture: Virginia Young

WorldPride was set up to promote and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and human rights across the world.

Some Northern Beaches councillors suggested the show of support for the festival, and helping stage events, could attract some of the 78,000 visitors to Sydney for WorldPride 2023 to the area.

Last month, five councillors — Kristyn Glanville, Vincent De Luca, Candy Bingham, Stuart Sprott and Ruth Robins — submitted a Notice of Motion calling on council staff to liaise with Fusion Pride, Lifesavers with Pride, and local Chambers of Commerce, about potential local WorldPride-themed events and activations.

A promotional design of a rainbow path in Newtown to be built in time for Sydney WorldPride. Norhtern Beaches COuncil is looking at “installations” too. Picture: Pauline Lockie

The council has already written to NSW transport authorities suggesting they investigate whether Manly ferries and B-Line buses can appropriately decorated during the WorldPride festival.

In its report to the council, the Arts and Culture section outlined a range of suggestions ranging from promoting the festival through its social media, website and e-newsletters, to spending $100,000 on a light display on Manly Town Hall “in rainbow colours or themes”.

Large public art installations — temporary and permanent — could be dotted around the northern beaches at a cost of $10,000 per installation.

“Rainbow” pavements and pedestrian crossings could be created in five key locations such as The Corso, at an estimated cost of $5000.

“Rainbow” predestrian crossings, like this one across Oxford St in Darlinghurst's Taylor Square, could be created around Manly. Picture: Chris McKeen

Staff also suggested that local businesses and organisations could receive small grants, totalling $20,000, to help them with WorldPride linked events.

Fusion Pride, a northern beaches’ Pride organisation, is co-ordinating a Pride Picnic on February 18 on the Dee Why beachfront. The Harbord Beach Hotel, at Freshwater is planning a week-long series of activities from February 20 including rainbow lights, rainbow cocktails, a drag comedy night, “Queer Talk” and “Story Time”.

Fusion Pride, a northern beaches’ Pride organisation, is co-ordinating a Pride Picnic on February 18 on the Dee Why beachfront. Picture: Richard Dobson

Greens councillor Kristyn Glanville said there was an appetite from within the local LGBTQ+ community for local events. Liberal councillor Stuart Sprott said people on the northern beaches would “get a lot out of it”.

“If we don’t get on board with it, we’re crazy,” Cr Sprott said. “It’ll bring so much to the northern beaches.”

(Left to right) Josie Baker, Charisma Belle, Carmen Geddit, Decoda Secret and Jacqui St Hyde at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras WorldPride Bid Launch at the Sydney Opera House in June, 2019. (AAP Image/Joel Carrett)

Another Greens councillor, Miranda Korzy said on Tuesday that while she recognised that Manly was the tourism focus on the northern beaches, she hoped that money would be sent across the whole local government area.

“While we can focus on attracting tourists to the Beaches, we should also be sending a message that we celebrate LGBQTI residents here who are an integral part of the community,” Cr Korzy said.