Turning on the lights: Plans to spark up Sydney, Hobart, Darwin

Plans are being mooted to revitalise the CBDs of Sydney and Hobart that would see an explosion of live music and night-time economy, among other positives.

CITY OF SYDNEY

The City of Sydney is on Monday (May 13) set to vote on an overhaul on late-night which would see live music venues trade an hour later and Sydney become a 24-hour city.

If the vote goes through, businesses could immediately apply for the new trading hours through a development application process, but will have to show how their new hours will noise-impact surrounding areas.

City centre businesses, shops and restaurants can trade late into the night.

A new cultural precinct will be set up in an industrial part of Alexandria.

Lord mayor Clover Moore said the changes were developed after “an unprecedented call from the community for practical action to help boost Sydney’s nightlife and economy.”

Over 10,000 provided feedback that “they want Sydney to have a diverse and exciting night-time economy with events and activities for people of all ages and interests.

“What they don’t want is a city that is unsafe or that shuts down as soon as the sun goes down.”

She added: “They also respond to the very strong demand for a vibrant, late-night city, and set the foundations for Sydney to become one of the world’s best 24-hour cities.”

According to Moore, Sydney’s night-time economy employs over 35,000 people in 5,000 businesses and generates more than $4 billion for the NSW economy each year.

HOBART

A new $5 million hub being mooted for Hobart will see more live music and venues, as well as outdoor dining, night markets, art-house cinemas and gallery spaces.

It is the initiative of Mona subsidiary DarkLab and Melbourne developer Riverlee.

The hub will be on the Liverpool Street site of the Odeon Theatre, which Riverlee bought eight years ago, and which DarkLab leases.

Other plans for the hub include a “premium boutique retail lane”, office space, residential apartments and a DarkLab-branded hotel.

DARWIN

An ambitious $200 million plan is designed to revitalise the centre of Darwin.

Announced six months ago, it will see Charles Darwin University move from the suburbs to the CBD, bringing with it a large (1,100) student population that will revitalise the area commercially with greater demands for live music, dining and cultural events.