Council plans to rejuvenate Chatswood’s night life with small bars, music venues
A bold plan to rejuvenate the night-time culture on the north shore has been launched with Chatswood on track to become a hub for small bars, live music venues and late-night food offerings.
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A bold plan to rejuvenate the night-time culture on the north shore has been launched with Chatswood on track to become a hub for small bars and live music venues.
Willoughby Council has proposed to encourage after-dark businesses setting up shop in the region in a move to boost the “vibrancy” of town centres and encourage visitors to stay longer.
In a submission to the State Government inquiry into Sydney’s night time economy, the council said its planning strategies to encourage new bars and music venues would address the “changing needs of the community” — partly driven by rising numbers of office workers in the Chatswood CBD, expected to increase by 5100 to 19,100 by 2026.
Mayor Gail Giles-Gidney said demand was also driven by the new Sydney Metro, between Chatswood and Tallawong, which has recorded 5.6 million trips since the rail line opened in May.
“Workers will hopefully come into the town centre by train during the day and then stay to take advantage of the night life we’d have to offer,” she said.
“We’re seeing more people come into the Chatswood CBD (and) the demand is there for more vibrant, after-hour activities.
“At the moment we have The Orchard and the Monkey Bar hotels that have licences to trade to 4am and we think they could be supplemented by more diverse options.
Early feedback included submissions from residents stating “shops and services close way too early for young professionals”.
The council also wants to encourage new galleries, gyms, theatres and food trucks.
There are also plan to make better use of Chatswood’s laneways, as has been done successfully in Melbourne.
Cr Giles-Gidney said implementing the strategy, however, would prove a balancing act between supporting night-time trade and the impacts on the CBD’s residents.
Earlier this year, the Monkey Bar hotel took the council to court after its application to extend 3am trading hours to 4am was knocked back due to factors including noise on the adjoining 534 unit apartment block.
“We’ve got to walk that tightrope between supporting the vibrancy of the town centre while maintaining what people love about Chatswood — it's safe, family friendly environment,” Cr Giles-Gidney said.
Chatswood Chamber of Commerce president Steve Hui said some food retailers in the region have expressed interest in extending their trading hours.
“We have great shopping and restaurants but when you compare our night-time economy to somewhere like Crows Nest it lacks that same vibrancy,” he said.
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be bars — it could also be restaurants and retailers staying open later.
“At moment people go to North Sydney or Crows Nest. We want them to stay here.”
The council said the Metro station due to open in Crows Nest by 2024 would also support new night-time offerings in the St Leonards town centre.
State Government figures show the Willoughby Council region had 235 licenced venues in 2017-18, an increase from 207 in 2015-16.
Other councils in Sydney including Liverpool and Inner West have also made submissions to the inquiry calling for broader reforms that would help encourage late-night economies in their areas.
Councils have also supported reforms to noise regulations to help mitigate complaints in mixed-use buildings.
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