Vibrancy Reforms Set to Be Introduced to Parliament Today

Building communities where culture thrives after dark as much as during the day is at the heart of the second tranche of the Minns Labor Government’s Vibrancy Reforms set to be introduced to Parliament today. 

The vibrancy package complements the NSW Government’s plan to build more homes and a better state to live in by ensuring local venues, events and community life flourishes. 

The Vibrancy Reforms are cutting red tape that has tipped the balance against live music and community life and in favour of neighbour complaints designed to turn the dial down on culture and entertainment. 

The second tranche of reforms are: 

• Tearing up baffling restrictions on licensed venues that include “no entertainment” clauses or dictate what genre of music or even how many musicians can play.
• Requiring property buyers to be notified that they are moving into an existing entertainment zone to protect the intent of Special Entertainment Precincts and reduce the friction between venues and their neighbours.
• Ending the antiquated rule that prevents people living within five kilometres of a registered club from signing in without first becoming a member.
• Binning the restriction on outdoor dining approvals that prevented patrons from standing while drinking outside a licenced premises.
• Amending the Major Events Act to make it easier to support foundational events like Sydney Festival and Vivid Sydney.
• Empowering the Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy to refer live music and performance venues with legitimate disputes to mediation. 

At the heart of the second tranche of reforms is the expansion of Special Entertainment Precincts (SEPs) which empower and support councils to balance competing needs in their communities. 

A key part of the precinct model will be an acknowledgment by residential and business property buyers in official documents that they are moving into an established entertainment zone. 

The proposed changes to the SEP framework build on the success of the Enmore Road SEP and will ensure residents and other property purchasers are notified on their planning certificates if they buy a property in an entertainment precinct. This is called an “eyes wide open” clause in paperwork that should reduce the friction between venues and their neighbours. 

A $1 million grant program to kickstart more SEPs will help councils establish precincts, including support to engage staff or expert consultants to undertake strategic planning, sound standards, acoustic frameworks, consultation, communications and engagement. 

The program is expected to open for applications later this year and will be accompanied by an online assistance portal available from November. 

“Building more homes is the top priority for the NSW Government, but we are also determined to build vibrant communities around these homes,” said NSW Premier Chris Minns. 

“From binning restrictions on outdoor dining to encouraging more local entertainment zones, our reforms back in live music and will help get Sydney’s night life going again.” 

The first round of Vibrancy Reforms delivered improvements that: 

• Permanently relaxed rules for outdoor dining to allowing venues to make the most of their outdoor space.
• Ended single noise complaints from shutting down pubs and other licensed venues.
• Made it easier to activate streets for festivals and events (Open Streets program) and a regulatory model that allows streamlined approvals for repeat events (Permit, Plug, Play).
• Expanded Special Entertainment Precincts that empower local councils to change the rules around noise and opening hours in a designated area to support live entertainment and nightlife.
• Increased incentives for live music and live performance, with two hours extended trading and an 80% reduction in liquor licence fees for licensed venues offering live music and performance.
• Created easier pathways for extended trading hours for major events like the Olympics and World Cups. 

Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said a guiding principle of the Vibrancy Reforms is building communities in which after work hours and weekends are not simply a time to retreat behind a closed front door at home, but a time that brings people together. 

“It is about cutting the red tape that has strangled nightlife over time and made local live music and performance at venues in many cases the exception rather than the rule. 

“We are rebuilding Sydney and regional centres across the state neighbourhood by neighbourhood and giving councils the tools to use the special entertainment precinct model,” he said.

Minister for Liquor and Gaming David Harris said changes in liquor act and licensing — including extended trading, specifically in performance venues — is encouraging and stimulating live music and live performance culture. 

“We will continue to work alongside industry, businesses, councils and communities across NSW to support the growth of SEPs, to bring even more vibrancy to precincts throughout the state. 

“Safety is also a key focus for these reforms, and we will continue to work with the relevant agencies to ensure a safe and vibrant nightlife across NSW,” he said.