From authentic cuisine and cultural institutions to live music and street festivals – Bankstown and Campsie’s new planned Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) trials will ensure nightlife destinations in these areas continue to thrive.
SEP trials will be established in Bankstown and Campsie’s town centres with City of Canterbury Bankstown Council awarded a SEP Kickstart Grant ($112,000) which will support late-night trading for businesses and help to stimulate the night-time economy.
The trial will support Campsie's vibrant Asian dining scene and a range of festivals and events such as the Campsie Lantern Festival, while Bankstown’s SEP trial will support its wide array of international eateries and cultural hubs including Bankstown Arts Centre, Bryan Brown Theatre, a Western Sydney University campus and a variety of retail outlets.
Through the NSW Government’s SEP initiative, councils can tailor trading hours and sound rules within a designated area in consultation with their community to support shops, businesses, hospitality, entertainment and community facility operators to thrive.
Established SEPs also 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 the council. Northern Beaches, Sutherland Shire, Liverpool City, Goulburn-Mulwaree, Tamworth Regional, Byron Shire, Fairfield, Burwood and Hornsby councils have also received grants under the SEP Kickstart Grant program.
An additional 12 councils across the state have also expressed interest in establishing SEPs. The NSW Government is committed to supporting the rollout of more SEPs across the state to contribute to NSW’s vibrant, accessible, welcoming and diverse night-time economy.
24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said: “Canterbury-Bankstown Council is one of the unsung heroes of the night-time economy movement and I am pleased to see council avail itself of the Special Entertainment Precinct trial to enhance a much-loved part of South West Sydney.
“In many ways the success of areas like Haldon St, Lakemba have shaped the Special Entertainment Precinct approach, so I am grateful for the council team for their continued leadership. Understanding community needs and ambitions will underpin the successful trial, and I wish the team the best as they go about this work.“
Canterbury-Bankstown Council Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said: “These entertainment precincts will bring our business centres to life and generate economic and community benefits.
“It’s also an opportunity for local businesses to be creative and to offer new live entertainment and dining options to boost interest from residents and visitors from other parts of Sydney.
“This trial is a step in the right direction, and I look forward to seeing the results.”
Learn more about SEPs here.
