How do you improve the nightlife in Chatswood?

Allowing for louder music and longer hours, new “entertainment precincts” across Sydney — including Marrickville, Newtown and Balmain — have aimed to help nightlife flourish in a city crippled by years of lockouts and lockdowns.

Now, the North Shore will also get involved, with Chatswood and Hornsby set to become the first Special Entertainment Precincts in the region.

What happened: In a meeting last Wednesday, Willoughby City Council approved a plan that would see Chatswood become a special nightlife district.

• The precinct would cover a large part of the Chatswood CBD, stretching from the Pacific Highway down to Hercules Street. 

• Councillor Robert Samuel added to the motion, asking for the area around Chatswood Oval to be included. He told the Lorikeet this would allow local sports clubs to benefit from the precinct.

A what now? Special Entertainment Precincts are part of the Minns government’s “vibrancy reforms” aimed at boosting the nighttime economy in Sydney.

• Local councils can establish these precincts to allow for longer business hours and looser noise regulations in high-traffic areas. 

• In turn, the state government will support them with funding and provide economic incentives for local venues to host live music. 

Process, process: Before any serious changes are made, of course, there is a long administrative process to go through. 

• First, Willoughby Council will need to apply to the state government for funding.

• Following this, a long consultation process with local businesses and residents will take place. 

A council spokesperson told the Lorikeet this process will also include the many stallholders on Victoria Avenue. The spokesperson claimed these stallholders stand to benefit from the increased visitation expected in the precinct. 

Hornsby is slightly ahead in this process, having received a $200,000 grant for their precinct in May last year.

What will it look like? The details of SEPs are determined on a case-by-case basis by the local council. 

In the Inner West Council, where six of these areas are in place, some of these SEPs have resulted in venues like the Cricketers and the London Hotel, along Darling Street in the Balmain SEP, being able to operate on weekends until 2am without applying for any special approval. 

• These extended opening hours come with automatic extensions of liquor licenses as long as the venues are hosting live music or art shows at least twice a week.
  

• New sound restrictions have been devised for these precincts, too. In Balmain, noise levels along Darling Street can reach 65 decibels on weekends.

Pokies: One of New South Wales’ most profitable pastimes will benefit from the scheme as well.

While still beholden to the mandatory shutdown period between 4am and 10am, extended licences provided under this scheme will allow for longer operation of pokie machines.

Thumbnail: Chatswood Markets