The home of Tamworth Country Music Festival will now see a boost to its night-time economy all year round as it launches NSW's first regional Special Entertainment Precincts.
Tamworth Regional Council have established two precincts - one in the CBD and the other at the Sports and Entertainment Precinct - which will have tailored trading hours and sound rules that support hospitality and entertainment operators to thrive.
The trials will support the growth of the region's live music, sporting and nightlife offerings, encourage investment in entertainment venues, support local artists and performers, and provide certainty for businesses, developers and residents in Australia's Country Music Capital.
This brings the total number of Special Entertainment Precincts in NSW to 11, with over 20 more in various planning stages.
SEPs also allow councils to future-proof their entertainment precincts by notifying residents and prospective home buyers that they will be living in a defined area where later trading hours and higher levels of sound are supported by the council, and complaints about business noise will be handled with reference to the settings for the area.
For Tamworth, where iconic music venues need to co-exist with new residential development, these protections are vital to making sure the gigs continue year-round and residents and visitors alike can enjoy great entertainment.
Tamworth Regional Council received $200,000 funding under the NSW Government's SEP Kickstart Grant program to establish two SEP trials in the CBD and the Sports and Entertainment Precinct.
For more information, visit Special Entertainment Precincts.
Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said:
"Tamworth is famous for its music and nightlife during the country music festival, this will help locals boost vibrancy all year round.
"Congratulations to the Tamworth Regional Council for leading the charge and becoming the first regional city to establish a Special Entertainment Precinct, we know others will soon follow suite.
"To see these precincts roll out in regional settings demonstrates how versatile this model is, where local councils decide where to boost entertainment and hospitality and we cut the red tape that allows them to do it."
24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said:
"The great thing about the Special Entertainment Precinct model is that it has been designed to be adaptable to different settings. Councils are best placed to work out what makes sense in their context.
"As both residents and country music festivalgoers know, Tamworth has some great nightlife offerings in different areas of town, so it's great to see these two trials now getting underway. Exploring Purple Flag accreditation will also uplift the Council's night-time economy planning and encourage greater collaboration.
"Consultation is key, and these SEP trials will help councils work with local businesses, creatives, residents, police and other local leaders to get the settings right."
Tamworth Regional Council Team Leader - Strategic Planning, Mitch Gillogly said:
"Tamworth is uniquely positioned to lead this trial as the first regional city in NSW to trial the Special Entertainment Precincts.
"Unlike other precincts established to date, Tamworth's trial includes two distinct entertainment areas, recognising both our vibrant CBD, which is synonymous with live music and the Tamworth Country Music Festival, and our Sports and Entertainment Precinct, which hosts major concerts, equine and sporting events.
"This trial will provide valuable insights into how Special Entertainment Precincts can support regional economies, encourage investment in live entertainment, and create vibrant, safe destinations while balancing the needs of local communities."
