Busking policy revealed by Newcastle City Council to foster local talent

Newcastle is known for producing the likes of Silverchair and The Screaming Jets – but a new plan is set to be rolled out to nurture new talent. Find out what’s being done here.

Newcastle City Council will look to put a busking policy on the agenda. (generic pic) Picture: Kevin Farmer

With a proud live music culture, it’s only fitting Newcastle should foster the local talent that can bring live entertainment to the CBD and surrounds.

Newcastle City Council currently doesn’t have a specific busking policy – but a push to develop one will hopefully support more live performance opportunities and create “enjoyable ambience” in public spaces.

Newcastle musician Lachlan Morris, member of five local bands including ambient instrumental group Sunbiirds, said the “incidental nature” of playing outside is inspiring and it’s vital for that to be nurtured.

“Quite often we’re not really suited for pubs, it doesn’t really gel as well as other types of live music so performing outdoors in a busking style is a really great way for us to do our craft,” he said.

“Hopefully a policy would make playing outside easier to do, easier to manoeuvre through with the least amount of social and residential friction.

Musicians Lachlan Morris and Noah Church of Sunbiirds - Newcastle-based ambient instrumental group love to play outside in a busking type environment. Supplied.

“This would just be doubling down on the sentiment that we are a live music town.”

After approaching Newcastle councillor Carol Duncan about the rules surrounding busking type entertainment across Newcastle, she’s now leading a charge to ensure it’s put on the agenda with a notice of motion going up at Tuesday’s Council meeting.

“We don’t have a policy that really encompasses that,” she said.

“The number of conversations I’ve had with local musicians over the years, buskers or people who would like to busk, what do they need to do, are there places they can or can’t go, how does it work.”

Newcastle Councillor Carol Duncan has a notice of motion to introduce a busking policy. Supplied.

Cr Duncan said council should encourage performers from all backgrounds to showcase their talents, with the introduction of a buskers licence long overdue.

“Supporting artist and creatives to be able to create and earn an income. To support the right to have a creative career,” she added.

“When we have active cities, busy cities with people in them, they’re more fun to visit, they’re interesting and they’re also safer, people offer that wonderful thing known as passive surveillance.”

And if a fee is necessary, to keep it as low as possible.

“Staff will be looking at policies from other councils across Australia, I have asked that it be very low because for your average busker these are people that can’t afford high fees,” Cr Duncan said.

The policy will look to get into line with other councils across NSW that have buskers permits in NSW including Albury, Bryon Shire, Tamworth and the Northern Beaches.

It has also been recommended that the City of Newcastle forms a live music approval subcommittee to assess applications for approval.

The proposed policy will initially look at identified spaces, including those such as James St Plaza, Hunter St, Honeysuckle Promenade and the Hunter St mall in Newcastle, but with hope of growing that down the track.

“We need to ensure the policy also looks at including our other local town centres and public spaces, so LGA wide, hopefully grow that because all our local centres should be able to offer that,” Cr Duncan said.