'It's time to become a 24-hour city': City of Sydney passes late-night trading plan - which could push the NSW government to reconsider hated lockout laws
- City of Sydney has passed a late-night trading plan to become a 24-hour city
- Councillors unanimously voted in favour of Late Night Trading plan on Monday
- The new development controls allow 24-hour trading across the city centre
- Trading for low-impact food and drink venues have been extended to 2am
- Despite being passed, the plan is still subject to NSW government's lockout laws
The City of Sydney has passed a 24-hour trading plan which is hoped to encourage the NSW state government to reconsider its hated lockout laws.
Councillors unanimously voted in favour of City of Sydney's Late Night Trading plan at its monthly council meeting on Monday night.
The new development controls allow 24-hour trading across the city centre - from Hyde Park to Darling Harbour, and south to Central station - and extended trading to 2am for low-impact food and drink venues on major high streets.
The City of Sydney has passed a late-night trading plan will allow around the clock trading and is hoped to encourage the NSW state government to reconsider its lockout laws (pictured: Darling Harbour)
Councillors unanimously voted in favour of City of Sydney's Late Night Trading plan at its monthly council meeting on Monday night (pictured: Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour Bridge)
The green light was also given to a new cultural precinct for Alexandria and late-night trading areas in fast-growing neighbourhoods such as Barangaroo and the Green Square precinct.
Low impact businesses on Crown Street, Redfern Street, Union Street and Glebe Point Road, in Sydney's inner-city, will be allowed to trade until 2am instead of midnight.
This means the possibility of more small bars, restaurants and small venues for residents to enjoy.
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Despite being passed, the plan is still subject to the NSW government's lockout laws which prohibit entry into bars, pubs and clubs after 1.30am and legally enforce last drinks.
Tom Hespe, the co-owner of Woolloomooloo's Grand Days bookshop, welcomed the changes which will provide new 'opportunities'.
'In a mature, global city - like Sydney likes to think it is - businesses need to be able to trade 24/7 and there's no reason why they shouldn't,' he told Sydney Morning Herald.
The 24-hour city centre would stretch from Darling Harbour to Hyde Park and down to Central Station
In a statement on Monday night, Lord Mayor Clover Moore (pictured) said it was time for Sydney to be a 24-hour city
The City of Sydney is doing its part. I hope these changes encourage the NSW Government to reconsider the lockout laws and help Sydney regain its status as one of the world's premier late night destinations,' Cr Moore said (stock image)
'It just opens so many more opportunities for businesses, and for the area.'
In a statement on Monday night, Lord Mayor Clover Moore said it was time for Sydney to be a 24-hour city.
'It's time for Sydney to become a 24-hour city and we've now given businesses the opportunity to open around the clock,' she said.
Cr Moore said that more than 10,000 people said they wanted a diverse and exciting night-time economy, not a city that is 'unsafe or that shuts down as soon as the sun goes down'.
'The City of Sydney is doing its part,' Cr Moore said.
'I hope these changes encourage the NSW Government to reconsider the lockout laws and help Sydney regain its status as one of the world's premier late night destinations.'
The new development controls allow 24-hour trading across the city centre and extended trading to 2am for low-impact food and drink venues on major high streets
Cr Moore said that more than 10,000 people said they wanted a diverse and exciting night-time economy, not a city that is 'unsafe or that shuts down as soon as the sun goes down'
However, a spokesman for Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said it was often the council's 'own restrictions rather than lockout laws that stop venues from trading later at night'.
'The NSW Government supports a vibrant and diverse nightlife for Sydney and welcomes initiatives that contribute to this,' the spokesman said in a statement.
'The City of Sydney has already stated that their plans for 24-hour trading would be subject to the lockout and last drinks measures that apply to certain licensed venues in the Sydney CBD and Kings Cross precincts.'
The changes will take effect in June.
Businesses and venues will need to apply for additional trading hours through a development application process.
They will be subject to trial periods to ensure the community is consulted and that venues are well managed.
Lockout laws have been a contentious issues since their introduction in February 2014 - a state government initiative to reduce alcohol-fuelled violence.
The laws, which include regulating entry, shots and last drinks, have come at the cost of popular venues, night spots and the late-night entertainment industry.
