Randwick Council votes on trading hours change for bars, restaurants
A proposal to liven up night-life across the Randwick Council area by increasing trading hours for restaurants, small bars and shops has received backing from councillors.
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A proposal to liven up night-life across the Randwick Council area by increasing trading hours for restaurants, small bars and shops has received backing from councillors who have voted to progress the proposal to the next stage of planning.
Randwick Council resolved early last year to prepare a long-term night-life strategy.
The Randwick City Night Time Economy Study has since been drafted and outlines strategies to improve night-life over the next 10 years.
One of the recommendations is to extend existing retail trading hours to 11pm and allow “low impact” bars (which can include restaurants) to operate as late as 1am outside and 2am inside (with restrictions differing for different areas).
Other recommendations also include better support of live music and events, better use of council-owned and private spaces for exhibitions, and better transport options at night.
On Tuesday night, the council voted to pursue actions recommended in the study by moving the proposal to the next stage, public exhibition.
The strategy was initiated by Randwick’s youngest councillor Dylan Parker who said there was room to improve night-life in the region.
“Small bars, live music and food trucks would be an exciting addition to our area,” he said.
“We’ve got the beaches, the parks and the walkways. There is absolutely no good reason why we can’t have arts, music, and culture as well. It just takes effort and energy.”
Randwick councillor Anthony Andrews also commended the study.
“I like to see people go out and enjoy themselves and not have to look at their clock and go it’s time to go home,” he said.
“So I commend this report and I hope that we see more vibrant night time economy in Randwick in the future.”
Aidan Morrison, co-owner of Bat Country based at The Spot, said his restaurant and bar would greatly benefit from extended trading hours particularly on Fridays and Saturdays.
“At the moment we are able to trade until midnight,” he said.
“It would be great if we could remain open a little bit later. On Fridays and Saturdays we basically have to kick out a full house.”
Councillors raised some concerns about relaxing trading hours but voted to move the study to public exhibition to hear what residents thought.
The study will be placed on public exhibition for two months between November 26 and January 26 during which time the public can provide feedback.
Hard copies will be available at the council’s customer service centre and libraries from November 26 and an electronic copy will be available on the Your Say Randwick website.
Areas identified for relaxed trading hours in the study include town centres in Kensington, Randwick Junction, Kingsford, Maroubra Junction, Matraville, The Spot (Randwick), Maroubra Beach and Frenchman’s Road (Randwick).
The Night Time Economy Study is the result of extensive consultation with more than 900 people.
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