75341

Aiming to rebuild Sydney’s night-time economy through the support of live music venues, the NSW Government had today announced that 77 venues will receive grants of up to $100,000 for soundproofing their venues and to encourage live entertainment.

The move coincides with new noise complaint regulations coming into effect from 1st July that it is claimed will protect venues from serial complainants, while sound proofing grants will, according to the NSW Government “protect residents’ right to a good night’s sleep”.

Venues as diverse as inner-city clubs and country pubs are among the venues which will benefit from the grants, with 21 venues - including Darlinghurst’s Club 77, The Lansdowne Hotel in Chippendale and Avoca Theatre - each set to receive up to $100,000 each.

56 venues will be given up to $80,000 to help host live performances, including iconic Bondi venue Icebergs, Newtown’s Rising Sun Workshop, Yulli’s in Surry Hills, Penrith dive bar Elton Chong and The Family Hotel in Bathurst.

Announcing the initiative, NSW Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, John Graham stated “the old NSW sport of moving in next to a music venue and complaining until it gets shut down, is now history. That era is coming to an end.

“The soundproofing and venue support will mean venues can host more live music, whilst reducing the impact on their neighbours.

“We made a commitment to increase the number of live music venues across NSW and through ongoing reform and the Venues Unlocked grant programs we are enabling venues to expand their offerings, while also supporting new music venues to get their performance programming off the ground.”

The noise and licensing reforms coming into effect from tomorrow include:

• Order of occupancy. This will become a central consideration in determining disturbance complaints and considers whether the licensed venue or the complainant occupied their premises first. The party established first will be favoured in determining disturbance complaints. This will prevent incoming residents restricting the entertainment offerings or operating hours of already established venues.

• Simplifying noise complaint process. Liquor & Gaming NSW will become the lead regulator for noise complaints relating to licensed premises. Previously, seven agencies have managed noise complaints.

• Complainants. The number of people required to make a statutory disturbance complaint against a licensed premises will increase from three to five. They must not be from the same household or business and will be required to prove that they have tried to resolve any issues with the licensee before lodging a complaint.

• Take-away alcohol for small bars. Temporary allowances for limited take-away sales from small bars that were introduced during the covid-19 pandemic will become permanent.

• New extended trading applications for hotels that schedule live music or arts and cultural events.

• Streamlined consultation processes for liquor licence applications and community feedback, reducing costs for applicants and making it quicker and easier for the community to have their say.

As the new regulations come into effect the Venues Unlocked package delivers grants that support new and existing venues to host more live gigs without further impacting neighbours, through two programs:

• Soundproofing Grants will support 21 new and existing venues with up to $100,000 to help them achieve best-practice soundproofing and sound management.

• Live Performance Venue grants will support 56 venues with up to $80,000 for essential equipment, programming and marketing costs.

More information on the grants is available on the Venues Unlocked website at www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/venues-unlocked

Related Articles

25th June 2024 - Insurance premium discussion on agenda for live music inquiry

19th June 2024 - NSW budget backs arts, night-time economy and tourism

7th June 2024 - ‘State of the Scene’ report delivers inaugural census of the live music industry in NSW

29th May 2024 - Australian Live Music Business Council welcomes US law change on ticketing transparency

2nd May 2024 - ‘The Green Room’ venue in Byron Bay spotlights its live music offerings

27th March 2024 - NSW Vibrancy Reforms see live music venue numbers soar

12th December 2023 - Small live music venues at the core of city culture and connection

6th December 2023 - NSW Parliament passes live music vibrancy reforms

7th November 2023 - NSW Government to conduct its first live music audit

20th October 2023 - APRA AMCOS Annual Report reveals closure of 1,300 live music venues

19th October 2023 - NSW Government vibrancy package aims to protect and empower live music industry

4th October 2023 - National survey reveals Australians want more live music venues

18th September 2023 - Great Southern Nights live music event returns in 2024 with new format

18th July 2023 - Newcastle local venues incentivised to host live music and performances

9th June 2023 - Inner West Council looks to invigorate local arts and live music scene

27th May 2023 - Spectacular opening night for Vivid Sydney 2023

3rd May 2023 - Leaders of global night-time economy cities share insights at NEON Sydney

28th April 2023 - $200,000 grants for Western Sydney arts and cultural venues to stay open at night

11th April 2023 - Live Music Activations program to support Inner West creatives and organisations

1st December 2022 - New night-time destinations showcased for Sydney

18th July 2022 - Sydney’s Entertainment Quarter soon to be home to new live music venue Liberty Hall

11th May 2022 - Industry bodies unite to release plan for next Federal Government to back live music

22nd April 2022 - $500,000 injected into eclectic mix of night events for Newcastle CBD

3rd March 2022 - Parramatta Nights event returns to re-energise the CBD precinct

5th November 2020 - Save Our Stages NSW calls on public to help save the state’s live music industry

23rd October 2020 - Survey shows over 400 Australian Live Music Businesses face imminent closure

7th September 2020 - Night Time Industries Association launches new campaign aimed at younger patrons

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

Click here to view our subscription options.