La La La's will receive $171,809 for venue upgrades including staging upgrades, lighting and audiovisual upgrades and solar panels and battery.
Strengthening the live music scene has been a central part of the government work to rebuild the night-time economy after lockouts, lockdowns and persistent inflation have put hundreds of venues out of business.
This third round of venue support combines with a range of measures the Minns Labor Government have introduced through its Vibrancy Reforms to support a revival of the live music scene including:
- Incentives for live music: 596 registered live music venues getting reduced licensing fees and extended trading hours for programming live music. This is quadruple the number since coming into government.
- Special Entertainment Precincts: there are now nine Special Entertainment Precincts in operation, up from one at the time of coming to office. Over 20 more are in preparation, establishing later trading hours and more noise protections for venues in metropolitan and regional communities.
- Noise complaints: stopped single serial noise complainants from shutting down venues, established 'order of occupancy' consideration and streamlined the complaints system.
These latest venue upgrades are in addition to funding for other vibrancy and events including:
- venue upgrades at The Servo (Port Kembla), La La La's (Wollongong) and the UniBar (Gwynneville);
- funding for precinct activation on Keira Street, Globe Lane, Lower Crown Quarter and Port Kembla;
- funding for cultural events like Culture Mix; and
- the ongoing work to upgrade WIN Entertainment Centre and Stadium so that it can host even more events.
Investments such as these support jobs growth in arts, entertainment, and recreation sector, which the draft Illawarra Shoalhaven Plan expects to grow by around a third over the next twenty years.
Minister for Arts, Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:
"These venues are treasured by their local communities, by artists and music fans. This is about backing them with vital investments they often need but can't afford in the current climate.
"If we let our music venues fail then our night-time economies and our cultural life will suffer, and we can't afford to let that happen."
Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully said:
"La La La's is well known for putting on great live music and events and this will help the venue enhance the audience experience and diversify the performers it can attract.
"The Minns Government continues to support venues and events in Wollongong as part of its vibrancy reforms to support the hospitality sector, night-time economy and to make sure that there are new and exciting ways for Wollongong residents to go out and have some fun."
