The new Cultural State Environmental Planning Policy will reduce the amount of time it takes to have an event, gig or festival approved by the local council or state agency, removing outdated and lengthy planning pathways for simple and fun events.
This responds to the recent NSW Productivity Commissioner's report which highlighted a potential $8 billion uplift in the NSW night-time economy if unnecessary red tape was reduced to allow venues and events to expand their offering.
It also delivers on a Labor election commitment to support music venues, energise the 24-hour economy and make it simpler for cafes, bars, restaurants and venues to host events and extend trading hours.
We're giving councils, businesses, and communities greater flexibility to create and support local entertainment opportunities, allowing more events, extended trading and easier outdoor activation.
More live entertainment
- Live entertainment like music, comedy, theatre, book readings, and other performances can now occur both indoors and outdoors without a development application as long as it complies with simple rules such as beginning after midday.
Increased patron capacity for outdoor dining
- Venues and registered clubs will finally have capacity to match their outdoor dining space, able to increase patron numbers by up to 30% without a development application.
Easier community events
- Events like street fairs and community festivals will be allowed as exempt development on all public land removing the need for often expensive development applications.
- These events will make it simpler and more affordable for communities across the state to activate local spaces, like town squares, streets and parks.
Extended trading for special events
- Shops, cafes and other unlicenced venues will be able to keep their doors open longer during big local events like street fairs with councils able to declare special trading hours for specific areas.
- This will support both local business and tourism in maximising the benefit of the extra foot traffic generated during special events.
Expanded outdoor dining at farmgate venues
- Farmgate operators like cellar doors and on farm cafes and restaurants can now activate outdoor dining without lodging a development application, supporting regional and local food tourism.
The Minns Labor Government is building better communities and that means rebuilding vibrancy and the 24-hour economy which is still recovering from a decade of lockouts and then lockdowns.
To support the rollout, the NSW Government will release practical resources including a Vibrancy Guidelines and an Events Guide to help councils and businesses make the most of the new opportunities.
