Picture: stock
Moves to rejuvenate Sydney’s night economy could see the burden for sound management shift from live venues to residential developers.
The City of Sydney Council, at its first meeting of its new term, unanimously endorsed a draft live sound management plan and a discussion paper for entertainment precincts for public comment.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore AO says the proposals will 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,” she says.
“On the back of lockouts and lockdowns and amid 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.
“It’s important that we consult extensively with our communities and our venues to get this right.”
She says the draft control plans 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,” Moore says.
“New venues, on the other hand, will be required to be designed to manage their own operational noise.”
Moore also wants special entertainment precincts status for existing late night trading areas so it can provide sound management certainty, extend trading for live music and performance, and provide an 80 per cent discount on liquor licence fees.
“By not simply designating one or two streets but entire precincts, … we’re hoping to apply the benefits to as many areas and businesses as possible while avoiding the safety and economic impacts of saturation,” she says.
Crown Street in Surry Hills, Sydney. Photo: City of Sydney/Katherine Griffiths.
The current late night trading areas considered for special precinct status include Central Sydney (from Central station to The Rocks and taking in Haymarket, YCK and the Ivy precinct on George Street); Oxford Street precinct; Surry Hills (along Crown and Elizabeth streets), Green Square and Central Park.
NSW 24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues says the discussion paper is “a welcome step” to extending the benefits of special entertainment precinct status to more businesses in existing late night trading areas.
Moore says these proposals will continue to rebuild Sydney’s nightlife after the lockout and pandemic.
“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,” she says.
“This made a real difference and the sector was just starting to recover when the pandemic reached Sydney,” the Lord Mayor says.
Moore says there have been “green shoots” of a post-pandemic recovery but rent, transport and demand have been hit hard by living cost pressures.
She also wants the state government to improve late night public transport, including a 24/7 Metro for patrons and shift workers.
The proposed changes and discussion paper will be open to public comment later this year, council says.
