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The City of Sydney has advised that post COVID lockdown, businesses in the city centre will be able to host performances on footpaths to help inject more energy and atmosphere back into the city centre.

Businesses with outdoor dining areas can now apply for approval to host entertainment.

To help hospitality venues recover from the devastating effects of COVID-19, the City of Sydney is working with the NSW Government to provide venues with more options to cater for more customers.

They are trialling a fast-tracked, free application process for outdoor dining permits. The trial will run until 30th June 2022. Any new or amended permits granted during this trial period are subject to change when the trial period ends on 30th June 2022.

The temporary changes allow some venues to:

• Increase the space they use on footpaths
• Extend their trading hours
• Apply to use on-street car parking space for outdoor dining
• Host live entertainment in outdoor dining areas.

Who’s eligible to apply

• Cafes, bars, restaurants and cultural venues that already have an outdoor dining permit can apply to:
  -change their current permit so they can potentially trade for more hours and extend their dining space
  -take over car parking space for outdoor dining.

• Cafes, bars, restaurants and cultural venues that currently don’t trade outdoors and that serve food for eating at the premises can apply for:
  -a footpath dining permit
  -take over car parking space for outdoor dining.

All venues need to have a current COVID-19 safety plan in place, electronic check-in facilities, and follow the latest public health orders.

Venues in the following areas need to contact Place Management NSW:

• Darling Harbour
• The Rocks.

Venues in Barangaroo may be serviced by Place Management NSW or Infrastructure NSW depending on their location. Contact either and you’ll be pointed in the right direction for your location.

Assessment criteria

All outdoor dining permits will be assessed against the following:

• Is the venue within the City of Sydney local area and does it have development consent to serve food for eating at the premises?
• How will your venue be able to accommodate patron safety and physical distancing?
• Will the extension to your trading parameters still allow adequate access for pedestrians, residents and essential vehicles?
• What will the impact be on local residents?
• Does the business have a Covid safe plan?

For more information on outdoor dining permits, including fees, call 02 9265 9333.

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17th February 2021 - Expanded outdoor dining support hospitality industry in Hobart’s Midtown

13th January 2021 - Ballarat expands its outdoor dining options

20th October 2020 - Parramatta’s outdoor dining scene revitalised with live music trial

12th October 2020 - Outdoor dining expanded in Bendigo to support hospitality industry

11th May 2021 - OneMusic Australia highlights the importance of music to the dining experience

15th September 2020 - Easing of Coronavirus restrictions in regional Victoria to allow resumption of outdoor activities and dining

29th May 2018 - Award-winning hospitality operator to offer new dining experiences at Falls Creek

30th August 2016 - New dining precinct marks the next stage in Brisbane Showgrounds regeneration project

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