The success of Enmore Road as the state’s first ever Special Entertainment Precinct has inspired 18 other councils across NSW to begin the process of establishing their own nightlife neighbourhood, including Burwood, the Northern Beaches, Waverley and the City of Sydney.
An explosion of bars, entertainment venues and restaurants has made Enmore Road one of the Top 20 coolest neighbourhoods in the world, according to Time Out Magazine.
Establishing an entertainment precinct allowed Inner West Council to set later trading hours and more flexible noise levels to support live music and performance.
Venues inside the precinct can trade an hour later every night, and two extra hours on nights they stage live music entertainment.
The Enmore SEP has been made permanent after an Inner West Council survey found 83% support among locals and the area is attracting people and business.
A process led by the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner has led to interest by 18 councils to establish their own entertainment precinct called for expressions of interest from local councils. Four of the councils have passed resolutions to explore or establish at least one SEP.
The Inner West Council is seeking to establish six additional SEPs in Leichardt, Rozelle, Balmain, two in Marrickville, and Dulwich Hill. Last night the council voted for the proposed SEPs to be submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) for Gateway Determination.
The NSW Government’s vibrancy agenda also includes changes to stop single neighbour noise complaints shutting local venues noise complainants shutting down venues, streamlining noise complaints, extending outdoor dining, supporting live music through Sound NSW, funding street events, supporting businesses to cooperate and market their local night-life precincts.
Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:
“This is another exciting step in rebuilding Sydney’s night-time economy after the era of lockouts and lockdowns.
“The success in Enmore proves Sydney can have both a safe and a vibrant nightlife, catering for a wide range of ages, tastes and budgets.
“This is part of the government’s wider vibrancy agenda which is about rebuilding the night-time economy block-by-block, neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood. The success in Enmore shows that we’re well and truly on the way.”
