Manly: Push for entertainment precinct to boost night-life, music
Music venues, eateries and bars in a northern beaches tourist hub could stay open longer if a new push to create a “special entertainment precinct’’ is successful. See what it means here.
NSW
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Manly could become a “special entertainment precinct” with later closing times for pubs, live music venues, eateries and bars.
In a move to boost the local hospitality industry, Northern Beaches Council is looking at an 18-month trial change to rules around night time noise and trading hours in the tourist hotspot.
The council will vote next week on a motion to set up the trial entertainment zone in the Manly CBD and to apply for grant funding from the NSW Government for a noise study.
If the motion is successful, the council could take advantage of new state laws that enable “vibrant” precincts to be established that allow more “favourable” trading conditions for live music venues, restaurants and bars to help rejuvenate the local “night time economy”.
In a report to be presented to Tuesday night’s council meeting, councillors will be advised that if the grant application is successful, the council will have to lodge a planning proposal for the Manly precinct by December.
Councillors will be told that in the past 12 months, $283m was spent on dining and entertainment in Manly, with close to 50 per cent of that money spent by people from outside the area.
“Enhancing vibrancy and increasing entertainment offerings and activities would boost Manly’s profile as a local, regional and international destination and increase visitor spending,” the report states.
Venues in special entertainment precincts can add two extra hours on nights when live music is offered and one hour on other nights.
If the trial goes ahead, the council would manage noise from unlicensed venues while Liquor & Gaming NSW would oversee entertainment sound complaints for licensed venues.
Cr Heins said the council would be also be able to draw up plans to encourage more music and performance venues.
The NSW Government’s 24-Hour Economy commissioner Michael Rodrigues has already made several visits to the northern beaches.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins has previously said entertainment precincts added certainty for businesses and locals about what the noise rules were.
“This would give a level of protection to those kinds of businesses who want to do something different at night.”
Cr Heins has also stressed that the extended hours need not just be used by food and beverage providers.
“There are lots of other things that can be happening at night that are creative … for people who want to stay out. It doesn’t have to be drinking.
“You could be a bookshop that decides to stay open for poetry readings.’’
Prominent Manly hospitality operator Matt Clifton, who has several venues under the Saga Group including InSitu, The Cumberland, Donny’s Bar, and Henry G’s, has backed the idea for local entertainment precincts.
Mr Clifton, who is also chair of the Experience Manly tourism advocacy group, said it was a fantastic step by the council.
“In reality we’re already a destination hub for a range of businesses in the night time economy,’’ he said.
“What the 24-hour commissioner’s office is doing is enabling businesses like cafes, restaurants and bars to be able to trade healthily without being dictated to by residents.
“We need to find a happy balance between residents and businesses.
“You can’t have a thumping nightclub at 3am without noise mitigation measures, but cafes and restaurants trading into the early hours is reasonable for an entertainment precinct.”
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Originally published as Manly: Push for entertainment precinct to boost night-life, music
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