The City of Sydney has unveiled plans to boost nightlife, saying 5000 businesses across more than 20 special entertainment precincts are set to benefit.
Venues within the precincts will be able to trade later and gain access to NSW Government benefits, including liquor licence fee discounts and extended licensing hours.
“This will be the largest overhaul of late-night trading of its kind in Australia,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said.
“Our community has resoundingly voiced its support for our plans so far, highlighting the fact that we want to see a nightlife that reflects our status as a global city.
“The community has also asked us to allow some areas to trade even later and we’ve listened.”
The proposals seek to expand some of the City of Sydney’s existing late-night precincts and add new ones. Hopefully, security will also be addressed.
Special entertainment precincts would now include:
*a new area along Harris Street in Ultimo, including the Powerhouse Museum
* expanded precincts along Meagher Street and Shepherd Street in Chippendale
* an expanded Oxford Street precinct, covering The National Art School and Qtopia.
“In response to community feedback we have expanded special entertainment precinct status to some new areas," Moore said. "We have heard the concerns of residents in some of those areas and we will continue to work with them as well as businesses, workers and visitors through this next phase to ensure we get the balance right.”
The following areas would be upgraded to a later ‘tier’, unlocking later hours for businesses:
* Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Wharves 3 and 4
* several streets around the Mercantile Hotel in The Rocks
* part of Oxford Street to the east of Taylor Square
* Regent Street, Botany Road and parts of Redfern Street
* The Hollywood Quarter around Campbell, Foster and Commonwealth streets in Surry Hills.
“It’s clear our communities are invested in these proposals but it’s a very technical process, so by consulting them every step of the way we’re ensuring they understand and support us at each stage of this journey,” Moore said.
The changes are part of a broader suite of proposals to recognise established and understood late-night trading areas with special entertainment precinct status.
“We all want a nightlife we can be proud of, and that our global city deserves,” Moore added.
* expanded precincts along Meagher Street and Shepherd Street in Chippendale
* an expanded Oxford Street precinct, covering The National Art School and Qtopia.
“In response to community feedback we have expanded special entertainment precinct status to some new areas," Moore said. "We have heard the concerns of residents in some of those areas and we will continue to work with them as well as businesses, workers and visitors through this next phase to ensure we get the balance right.”
The following areas would be upgraded to a later ‘tier’, unlocking later hours for businesses:
* Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Wharves 3 and 4
* several streets around the Mercantile Hotel in The Rocks
* part of Oxford Street to the east of Taylor Square
* Regent Street, Botany Road and parts of Redfern Street
* The Hollywood Quarter around Campbell, Foster and Commonwealth streets in Surry Hills.
“It’s clear our communities are invested in these proposals but it’s a very technical process, so by consulting them every step of the way we’re ensuring they understand and support us at each stage of this journey,” Moore said.
The changes are part of a broader suite of proposals to recognise established and understood late-night trading areas with special entertainment precinct status.
“We all want a nightlife we can be proud of, and that our global city deserves,” Moore added.
Image: City of Sydney, Ed Hurst
