The City of Sydney has proposed changes to planning rules and the introduction of special entertainment precincts to breathe new life into the night-time economy.

At its first meeting of the new term, Council unanimously endorsed the Draft Entertainment Sound Management DCP and special entertainment precincts discussion paper for public comment.

Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said the proposals would make it easier and cheaper for venues to trade later, while balancing the sound management needs of businesses and residents.

“We all want a nightlife we can be proud of and that our global city deserves,” the Lord Mayor said.

“On the back of lockouts and lockdowns and amidst increasing cost of living pressures, we need to ensure we are doing all we can to support this integral part of Sydney’s economic, social and cultural fabric.

“In response to the challenging hospitality environment and NSW Government’s vibrancy reforms,we proposed important changes to the way we manage entertainment sound and new special entertainment precinct designations that will continue us on the path to restoring our thriving nightlife.

“It’s important that we consult extensively with our communities and our venues to get this right.”

The draft controls put the onus for sound management on new development, giving ‘sound rights’ to existing venues or residents, and make it easier to trial extended trading hours.

“The draft planning changes would mean newly built residential developments located in close proximity to entertainment venues will need to include noise protection measures, such as installing double glazed windows and acoustic frames,” the Lord Mayor said.

“New venues, on the other hand, will be required to be designed to manage their own operational noise.”

The City of Sydney is proposing to overlay special entertainment precincts status over existing well-established and well-understood late night trading areas.

“Special entertainment precinct status will build on the extended hours and incentives in our current late night trading areas by providing sound management certainty, extended trading for live music and performance, and an 80% discount on liquor licence fees,” the Lord Mayor said.

“By not simply designating one or two streets but entire precincts, we have already proven can support this kind of activity. We’re hoping to apply the benefits to as many areas and businesses as possible while avoiding the safety and economic impacts of saturation.

“By making it cheaper and easier to operate a venue, we’ll create new, fun and affordable options for people going out at night.”

The current late night trading areas considered for special entertainment precinct status are:

• Central Sydney from Central station to The Rocks, including Haymarket, YCK and the Ivy precinct on George Street
• The Oxford Street precinct including Crown and Bourke streets
• Surry Hills along Crown and Elizabeth streets
• Kings Cross, Macleay, William and Stanley streets
• King Street and Erskineville Road
• Redfern Street, Botany Road and South Eveleigh
• Green Square, north Alexandria and Danks Street
• Central Park, Broadway and Glebe Point Road

The Office of the NSW 24-Hour Economy Commissioner introduced draft guidelines for Councils to establish Special Entertainment Precincts in September this year.

Commissioner Michael Rodrigues applauded the City of Sydney for moving swiftly to begin the conversation with residents and businesses.

“This discussion paper is a welcome step to extend the incentives and benefits of special entertainment precincts to more businesses in existing late night trading areas in Sydney.

“The Office of the 24-Hour Economy values our ongoing partnership and collaboration with the City of Sydney and we appreciate the City of Sydney’s initiatives to improve Sydney’s night-time economy.

“We look forward to continuing to work together to deliver more diverse and vibrant nightlife offerings for the benefit of local businesses and the community.”

The Lord Mayor said these proposals build on the City of Sydney’s long-term commitment to boosting Sydney’s nightlife.

“Following the lockout laws, we updated our late night trading planning controls to cut red tape and enable venues to trade later, and support late-night retail, services, food and live entertainment.

This made a real difference and the sector was just starting to recover when the pandemic reached Sydney,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Again, we have seen the green shoots of recovery, but rent, and transport connectivity and demand, which has been impacted by cost of living pressures, make operating hospitality venues incredibly difficult. That only strengthens our resolve.

“We continue to support this important sector, with $35 million in grants for cultural events, funding for precinct activations like the YCK Laneways and Neon Playground as well as our popular street closure parties, and we support more than 700 hospitality business by waiving fees on outdoor dining already saving them a combined $10 million.

“I would also like to see the state government offer improved late night public transport, including a 24/7 Metro. This would not only help people to get around the city and enjoy all it has to offer, it would help hospitality workers, many of whom are young women, feel more comfortable in working a late shift and getting home safely.

“The City of Sydney is home to a diverse nightlife, with a long history of mixed and vibrant neighbourhoods. We will continue doing all we can to support the continued growth of the night-time economy while accommodating new housing in well-located areas.”

The proposed planning changes and a discussion paper about the special entertainment precinct approach will be open for public comment later this year.