New Entertainment Precincts unveiled for western Sydney

Burwood and Fairfield councils, located in Sydney’s west, have committed to establish NSW's next Special Entertainment Precincts (SEP).

The state's first ever Special Entertainment Precinct was made permanent on Enmore Road, Newtown in December 2023 which has led to boosted foot traffic, business revenue, and night-time visitation. This was followed by the Inner West Council and the City of Sydney's commitment for additional Special Entertainment Precincts.

Special Entertainment Precincts allow councils to change trading hours and sound rules within a designated area to allow local hospitality and entertainment operators to thrive.

Burwood is becoming one of Sydney's most popular nightlife precincts thanks to its famous Chinatown Night Markets and surrounding eateries. To further enhance the precinct, Burwood Council will establish a Special Entertainment Precinct over three blocks around Burwood Chinatown.

Fairfield is also emerging as a leading Western Sydney nightlife precinct with renowned eat streets with a range of cuisines, street art and bars. Fairfield Council will establish two Special Entertainment Precincts, one in Canley Heights along Canley Vale Road and the other in Canley Vale along Canley Vale Road.

Both councils will receive Special Entertainment Precinct Kickstart Grants ($195,000 for Burwood Council and $183,308 for Fairfield Council) that will support strategic planning, developing acoustic frameworks and community consultation. Both councils aim to establish the trial phase of their Special Entertainment Precincts by the end of 2025.

Once established, Special Entertainment Precincts allow councils to future proof their entertainment precincts by notifying residents and prospective home buyers that they will be living in a defined area where later trading hours and higher levels of sound are supported by council.

The move to establish Special Entertainment Precincts in Burwood and Fairfield are expected to be followed by more announcements, with another 15 local councils across metropolitan and regional NSW raising resolutions expressing interest in establishing SEP.

Rolling out Special Entertainment Precincts across NSW is one of many tools the NSW Government is using to rebuild a vibrant and safe night-time economy.

NSW Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham enthused "we're very excited to announce that Burwood and Fairfield will be our next hubs for vibrant nightlife, and to say that there'll be more on the way."

"Anyone who's been out in Enmore will know it's been a huge success. Now the same planning tools will boost other precincts, but in a flexible way that helps harness the unique personality of each community.

"The days where it was all about piling into Kings Cross for a boozy night out are over. We are now backing dozens of very different nightlife precincts right across the city and the state. Some will be about bars and nightclubs, others will be about food, art, culture, night markets or retail."

Image top. Burwood Chinatown credit Burwood Council; Image below: Enmore Road Newtown. Credit: NSW Gov