EXCLUSIVE: If You Think Sydney's Nightlife Is Dead, Here's How You Can Take Action

The City Of Sydney announced last November that it would be accepting feedback from locals about how Sydney can become a "more diverse, late-night city".  

Now, with the deadline for the public's feedback set for this Friday (8 February), it is more important now then ever to make your voice heard. 

In this exclusive opinion piece, Councillor Jess Scully goes through some of the most vital topics relevant to making Sydney a late-night city and what you can do to help.

LOCKOUT LAWS

When people tell me “Sydney’s nightlife is dead”, I tell them, “It’s not: it’s just not where you last left it.”  

This is not to say that the lockout laws haven’t had a huge impact.

But our nightlife goes on and will always find a way to survive. In Sydney, we’ve seen our venues, bars and clubs shifting away from the traditional party zones and move south and west of the CBD. Now, you’re more likely to find your favourite new hang in Redfern, Chippendale, Newtown and the southern part of Surry Hills, with more spots beginning to emerge in Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, Pyrmont, Ultimo. And, with 30,000 of the 61,000 people who will call Green Square home by 2030 already settled in, I’m hearing calls for more things to do in Green Square.

That’s where the review of our late night development control plan comes into play – it’s a plan for Sydney’s nightlife of the future. We’ve scoped a new, industrial part of Alexandria that’s PERFECT for 24-hour activity, without impacting on residents. We’re looking at ways we can support a diverse, late night city, which is not just about drinking. We want to give venue owners an incentive to put on performances or live music, by offering them an extra hour of trading and we’re proposing venues on our village main streets (not venues that exit on to quiet, residential streets) should be able to trade until 3am. These are all practical solutions within the City’s control that would make the world of difference to Sydney’s nightlife – we just need you – business owners, venue managers and residents all across the City – to let us know what you think of each of these proposals.

VENUES

Across the city, there’s heaps of creative, character-filled venues like The Bearded Tit and The Barber Shop and precision cocktails in places like This Must Be The Place, Bulletin Place and PS40. There have been new foodie landmarks like Bart Jr and Cho Cho San and the rebirth of icons like The Lansdowne. 

The most important thing you can do as a Sydneysider is to go to these venues. If we don’t support the many small bars, restaurants, venues and shops who ARE persevering and doing great things in the face of the lockout laws, then that tired old phrase “Sydney’s nightlife is dead” will be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

NIGHTLIFE

When we first asked the people of Sydney what they wanted to see change in our nightlife, in March last year, 10,000 of you responded – proving that there’s a huge community demand.

What the overwhelming majority of you told us is that you want a diverse nightlife. You want a nightlife that offers something for everyone, near where you live. In other words, more local, small venue experiences, with a variety of dining, retail, cultural and performance options. We also know you want longer trading hours and more diversity when it comes to late night businesses. Hardly anyone wants more mega pubs and nightclubs or smaller late night trading areas.

So that’s what this plan (the late night development control plan) responds to. And I know you might be sick of giving feedback, but I promise you – this is important. We have listened and to be able to deliver this plan, we need you to give us your thoughts on each of the proposals and how it will affect you, your favourite venue, your neighbourhood and – most importantly – the places future you wants to go out to.

This Friday is your last chance to feed in on this plan. Sydney needs you. 

To submit your feedback, click here.