It looks like things are starting to really pick up for Sydney’s night-time economy, if the latest plan from the City of Sydney Council is anything to go by.
Announced this morning, Sydney’s new 24-hour entertainment precinct plans will make it possible for clubs, pubs, nightclubs and even cafes and retail shops to extend trading hours.
It’s hoped the removal of Sydney’s infamously thick red tape will align the city with some of the world’s greatest 24-hour metropolises like New York City, Las Vegas and Tokyo. And while that goal has been buzzing around for years now, it finally looks like things have been set in place to erase the ill-will Sydney’s draconian lockout laws left behind.
With the Sydney Metro now firmly established in the city’s day-to-day, the infrastructure is certainly there to facilitate such plans. Of course, a 24-hour transport system would be necessary for something like this, but with these plans going forward Sydneysiders should be much more confident that the powers that be are taking swift action.
As per the plan, it’s looking like businesses within these set “entertainment precincts” can apply to open 24 hours a day. This includes venues across the majority of the CBD and other designated “Special Entertainment Precincts”
According to the NSW Government website, a Special Entertainment Precinct is mostly defined by its level of noise pollution:
“A special entertainment precinct is a defined area where sound from premises with amplified music is managed by a council through its noise management plan. This lets councils more easily support live music and performance in the precinct.”
Assumedly, this includes spots like Kings Cross and Newtown, which have long done the heavy lifting for Sydney’s night-time economy, operating within that frame of red tape that’s now bring torn down.
The proposal includes the option for small bars and clubs in the CBD and Oxford Street to apply for an additional three hours of late-night trading until 4am without the need for a development application. Meaning you’ll be able to get much more on Oxford Street at 3am than your standard butter chicken kebab from Indian Home Diner or pork roll from Mr Crackles.
Paul Nicolaou, Business Sydney executive director, welcomed the news remarking that the plans would make Sydney “a truly global, 24-hour city.”
“Sydney doesn’t need to be a city that shuts down at 9 o’clock, a time when comparable world cities are coming to life,” he said.
“It also shows what the state government and council can achieve when they are on the same page on ways to bring people back to a revitalised CBD.”
We echo Paul’s sentiment in that the plans would be much more attractive with a fare free light rail, at least between Circular Quay and Surry Hills, with hopeful scope for a “free zone” similar to Melbourne’s.
Reportedly, the trading hours permitted in these Special Entertainment Precincts would still be dependant on the type of business and the area it is located in. Exact requirements for businesses are yet to be announced.
Importantly, the plan is, right now, just a plan.
A City of Sydney planning committee, chaired by the newly re-elected Lord Mayor Clover Moore, approved the Special Entertainment Precinct plan on Monday. The council will vote on the plan next week, which is when we’ll know more about what Sydney’s night time activities will look like moving forward.
Are there any 24-hour venues in Sydney right now?
Yes, with a big but.
Currently 24-hour venues in Sydney include Pyrmont Bridge Hotel, The Bridge Hotel in Rozelle, Madison Hotel in Surry Hills and Circular Quay cafe City Extra. There’s not much beyond that, with only a handful of nightclubs open past 2am. This includes Club 77, Arq and Carousel, all open until 4am or 5am on weekends, and Newtown’s playful Pleasure Club which has a rare 4am licence Wednesday through Sunday.
Even one of Sydney’s highly-touted “late night” bars, Employees Only, is shuts at 3am on Fridays and Saturdays. Other bars open well past midnight include Old Mates Place (open until 2am everyday except Monday) and Newtown haunts Websters Bar, The Bank Hotel and The Marlborough Hotel, open until 4am on most days.
Having more venues open for night owls, shift workers and tourists will completely change the way Sydney is perceived, presenting yet another paradigm-shifting transformation for the city that currently sleeps at around 9pm. Evidently, it’s something the city desperately needs in order to introduce more vibrancy, personality and, importantly, safety.
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