Hilltops Council has extended a proposal to the City of Canterbury Bankstown to look into the possibility of forming a City Friendship Agreement with the report presented at the July Ordinary Meeting with the recommendation to enter the inter-council agreement.
Hilltops Director Corporate and Community Sarah Karaitiana presented the report to Councillors with the recommendation to enter into the Friendship Agreement.
"This initiative was driven by community interest in strengthening ties between the two regions, recognising shared values and opportunities for collaboration," Ms Karaitiana said.
"Canterbury Bankstown and Hilltops share a rich cultural diversity, strong community spirit and a commitment to fostering understanding and connection across different faiths and backgrounds."
According to the report the agreement aims to allow both Councils to acknowledge the cultural connections between the two areas, readily exchange information that is appropriate and to benefit of one another, and on occasion of visits exchange appropriate gifts in recognition of the agreement.
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"This agreement fits within the Hilltops Sister and Friendship City Policy which states that an Inter-Council Friendship Agreement exists primarily to promote greater awareness and understanding between respective regions and cultures within New South Wales, and other Australian States," Ms Karaitiana said.
"Under such Agreement, both Councils facilitate an exchange of information and activities that will benefit both Councils through local sporting, education, business and cultural groups and organisations and Council staff participating in exchanges that will lead to greater understanding and involvement between each community.
"Inter-Council Friendship Agreements can include subsidiary Agreements such as 'Professional Services Exchange Agreement' for staff exchange."
As part of the report there was a letter to Mayor Brian Ingram proposing a Friendship Agreement, a formal City Friendship Agreement from Canterbury Bankstown and the Hilltops Council Sister and Friendship City Policy.
In the letter to Mayor Ingram, City of Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said the city would be pleased to formalise the connection between the two areas.
"As you've highlighted, both Canterbury Bankstown and Hilltops share a rich cultural diversity, strong community spirit and a commitment to fostering understanding and connection across different faiths and backgrounds," Mayor El-Hayek said.
"We hope this invitation will be received warmly and look forward to your response."
Hilltops Council already has a Sister City Relationships with Lanzhou in China which was estabilshed in 1997.
