$1.5m boost to Sydney & NSW Night-Time Economy
Vyva Entertainment, Mirrah and L-FRESH The LION performing live at the annual 4Elements HipHop Festival (4ESydney) in Bankstown, 2017. Photo: Snappatronik.
Sydney precincts and NSW live music events will benefit from an investment of $1.5 million from the NSW Government aimed at stimulating the night-time economy.
A package has been developed with two major elements. Firstly, putting $1.5 million towards boosting night-time events, in particular, live music, and secondly, introducing innovative trading arrangements to enable businesses to thrive.
A one-off $500,000 grants program for seven Sydney-based precincts aims to help individuals and organisations run street festivals, events, arts and entertainment.
The seven precincts supported through the Activate Sydney@Night initiative are Darlinghurst, Haymarket and George Street, Parramatta, Liverpool, Newtown, Opera House to Walsh Bay, and Pyrmont.
A new type of pop-up liquor licence, which will be trialled in the seven precincts, will be introduced from March and help diversify the social, cultural and business offerings in the night-time economy.
An expert advisory panel will be established to advise Government of ways to integrate liquor and planning approvals. The panel will look at opportunities to remove duplication, reduce red tape and make it easier to start and grow licensed businesses in NSW. Experts will also look at ways to encourage more rooftop bars across Sydney.
Also launched today, live music across Sydney and NSW will be supported through a new one-off $1 million Music Now fund that will support the presentation of contemporary acts and increase participation in live music events across the State.
A three-month blitz on outdated licence conditions, such as limitations on types of music that can be performed at a venue, is currently underway.
“There might be conditions remaining on some licences that no longer serve a purpose, so affected venues have the opportunity to have them removed, free of charge,” Mr Toole said.
More information on the Office of Responsible Gambling’s Activate Sydney@Night grants can be found here.
Published: 24 January 2019