Landmark changes to make it easier for organisers to host events in NSW

Event organisers along with communities and councils in NSW will have a much easier and cost-effective path to hosting festivals, parties and events on their local streets and outdoor areas under landmark changes to the application process.

The activation of streets is part of the NSW Government’s vibrancy agenda to remove red tape, bring back live music, encourage local entertainment zones and prevent single complainants from shutting down venues.

A faster, light-touch application process will provide a cost-effective and ongoing solution that provides certainty for businesses, including cafes, restaurants, Clubs, RSLs, certainty about where outdoor dining can take place and allow them to make the most of space outside their venues.

NSW Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham notes “People want to be able to use their streets as public spaces – they own them. The proposed reforms will permanently relax rules for outdoor dining that came into force during COVID, allowing venues to make the most of space outside their venues with a quicker, light-touch application process.

“COVID-19 showed us that Sydney is a city that does alfresco well. The reforms will permanently relax the rules for outdoor dining allowing venues to make the most of their outdoor space."

The NSW Government is also making outdoor dining permanent across NSW, with a law change to cement temporary arrangements introduced during COVID-19.

Drawing from the successful approach developed by Wollongong Council a ‘global approvals’ approach will be rolled out to 127 councils across the state.

A pilot will also be delivered which will aim to reduce the costs associated with street closures and traffic planning. Events on streets can require a development application and can incur traffic management costs of over $100,000 for a single day. The pilot will involve finding potential savings, by planning for multiple events in the same location in advance, making it easier and more affordable to put on local events over a period of time.

This will substantially reduce the costs associated with street closures and traffic planning for events to close a local street for an event.

Guidelines will be issued that help councils, event organisers and businesses use public lands and close streets in a more cost-effective and simpler way, without the need to keep going through the same process for the same location every time.

The global approvals model will facilitate events like the Sydney Streets street party events happening in the City of Sydney.

The package of reforms will be introduced to Parliament within days.

Outdoor dining will be freed up on a permanent basis from 1st January, with businesses supported to use their privately-owned land for outdoor dining and events. This will make temporary measures introduced during COVID-19 permanent.

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully added “Outdoor dining exemptions introduced during the pandemic helped build a more flexible and responsive hospitality industry.

“In meeting our election commitment to make outdoor dining permanently available across NSW, business will soon have permanent access to a faster and more cost-effective pathway instead of having to complete a detailed and costly development application.

“The outdoor dining changes are part of the Minns Government’s broader reform package to improve vibrancy in our streets and create a better environment for hospitality trading.”

For more information about the NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms

For more details of the Outdoor Dining explanation of intended effect (EIE) exhibition