Woollahra Municipal Council supports and encourages footway dining as a means of creating vibrant streetscapes and creating opportunities for businesses to grow and prosper. Businesses with existing Footway Approval for footway dining can apply to use kerbside parking space for additional footway dining.
This reallocation of kerbside parking to footway dining is commonly referred to as a ‘parklet’.
Glenmore Road Parklet
The trial parklet program was introduced by WMC in July 2021 in response to COVID-19 social distancing requirements, as a simple temporary initiative to provide immediate support to local cafes, bars and restaurants. The trial program provided valuable insights and community feedback on how Council could make this temporary physical change permanent.
Feedback from the trial period was overwhelmingly positive, according to Council. Of the respondents, 84.9% said they were more likely to dine at a business that provides outdoor seating; 85.7% had a positive view of a parklet’s impact on the streetscape; and 86.1% supported continuing the program beyond the initial June 2023. Given the success of the trial program, on 26 June 2023 Council resolved to support the formalisation of the parklet program.
WMC’s Parklet Program Policy and Guidelines states that under Section 125 of the Roads Act 1993, Council can issue an Approval Notice for a period of up to 12 months with the potential for extension.
The London Parklet
On William Street in Paddington, the London Hotel recently opened its new kerbside outdoor seating area. Despite some opposition from residents and neighbours and initial concerns from the Paddington Society, The London Parklet opened in October 2025. In submissions to WMC, members of the community expressed concerns about the potential effects on pedestrians, raising fears that tables and chairs will block access for dog walkers and people with prams, while others opposed the loss of some parking spaces required for the development.
It’s Paddington, and it’s just not right to start blistering it out with parklets – it’s not the right spot for it
WMC Councillor Toni Zeltzer warned that “introducing a parklet on the road could set a precedent” for the area. “It’s Paddington, and it’s just not right to start blistering it out with parklets – it’s not the right spot for it,” she said. “When you buy into an area near a pub, it’s a case of ‘buyer beware’, but for a pub to constantly grow I don’t think is right in Paddington because the homes are so close together.”
London Hotel licensee Kingsley Smith, in a SMH article, rejected claims that the parklet would lead to late-night disturbances for residents living within earshot of the venue. “We’re only looking to put out 14 seats plus a sidewalk table, so it’s not as though there’ll be a huge crowd of people causing noise,” he said. “We’re a heavily regulated industry with rules upon rules for everything. Compared to Europe, we’re a very ‘nanny’ state, and the conditions will reduce any of the potential impacts. Since COVID-19 there’s been a very noticeable trend with younger generations choosing not to drink as much alcohol and instead looking for more alfresco dining experiences and that’s what we want to offer.”
Village Inn Parklet
The benefits of the pub’s expanded frontage has drawn additional foot traffic that supports nearby cafés, boutiques and businesses, signalling a shift in how the street is being used, from cars and parking to people and place-making.
The parklets are part of a broader Woollahra Council strategy to create vibrant streetscapes, help businesses grow while placing people back at the heart of the street.
Other Parklets
Other parklets throughout Paddington are being refurbished or added as the concept expands to other venues. The parklet on the corner of Glenmore Road and Oxford Street has recently been upgraded, and the parklet at the Paddington Inn is being rebuilt after recent damage by a passing vehicle.
The Paddington Society believes that William Street, while a popular location for small specialty shops, is also a residential street. Residents exist harmoniously with ground floor retail outlets of a boutique or artisan nature and open for trade only during the day, respecting the inclusive residential character of the area. William Street is a relatively quiet street in the evening with boutique retail closed and limited vehicular traffic using the narrow one-way exit to Oxford Street. The residential character should not be disrupted to make way for further venues and parklets that could be accommodated in other more suitable locations.
