Sydney’s nightlife prepares for COVID bounce-back

The future for the night economy across Sydney and the state of NSW is looking a lot rosier following the scrapping of draconian restrictions on music venues, and the publication of a raft of proposals to “create a stronger and more diverse” nightlife.

The NSW Legislative Council last week passed amendments to the Liquor Amendment (Right to Play Music) Bill 2020, which will dump some of the laughable regulations governing music venues across the state.

Those bans and restrictions have long been lamented by the Labor Opposition, in particular John Graham, Shadow Minister for Music and the Night Time Economy.

“In the 1984 movie Footloose, two things were banned: dancing and rock music. Currently NSW has bans or restrictions in venues on dancing and rock music,” said Graham in 2018. Other bans or restrictions on live music have targeted disco, DJs, drumming, four piece bands, singer songwriters, the bass guitar, vinyl records, bands facing in a direction other than south and, bizarrely, mirror balls.

The crowds gather

Following presentations by Graham and others, the NSW Upper House reportedly approved reforms allowing music venues an 80% discount on licensing fees and a half hour extension on trading hours, informed by the regulatory framework in Queensland, which underpins the entertainment precinct in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley.

The Live Music Office welcomed the changes. “In a welcome spirit of cooperation across the political spectrum, a package of key liquor reforms for music, arts, hospitality and the night economy were tonight endorsed by the NSW Parliament. Included are entertainment precincts & removing entertainment conditions,” the trade body tweeted.

In a welcome spirit of cooperation across the political spectrum, a package of key liquor reforms for music, arts, hospitality and the night economy were tonight endorsed by the NSW Parliament. Included are entertainment precincts & removing entertainment conditions #nswpol

— LiveMusicOffice (@LiveMusicOffice) October 22, 2020

In other news, the City of Sydney is inviting feedback on years-long proposals to improve planning controls for cultural life, creative activities, live entertainment and the night-time economy.

Those proposals were kicked into shape following the publication in early 2017 of An Open and Creative City, a discussion paper which presented a long-term vision and strategies for Sydney’s night time economy and cultural life.

Sydneysiders are asked to comment on plans for developing “fair management” methods for sound leakage from entertainment venues; expanding trading hours for small businesses without additional approval and more.

“We’ve been working on these important changes to our planning controls for some time, but they will be more important than ever as we help businesses and our cultural sector bounce back post-coronavirus,” reads a statement issued last week from Lord Mayor Clover Moore’s office.

We're proposing changes to create a stronger and more diverse nightlife – we'd love your feedback!https://t.co/uVtCZ7Zc9G pic.twitter.com/ErrPrWqwWK

— Clover Moore AO (@CloverMoore) October 23, 2020

As the council stressed when the discussion paper was first published, these planning controls, once finalised and accepted by the NSW Government, are going to be in place “for a long time – so it’s vitally important that we get everyone who has a stake in Sydney’s night time economy participating in the process.”

Feedback can be lodged before 5pm on 18th November.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.