Newtown Venues Could Soon be Allowed to Offer Late-Night Trading and Live Music
Small retail and hospitality venues could soon be given more freedom under proposed changes by the Inner West Council.
As Newtown's lockout law-exempt King Street becomes the go-to for Sydney's after-dark crowds in lieu of Kings Cross, the presiding Inner West Council hopes to boost its status as an all-hours precinct by giving late-night retail trading the go-ahead and allowing arts and music in shopfronts in a new proposal announced this week.
It's also keen to untangle the messy web of confusion that comes from governing just one part of King Street — the council looks after just one side of the road south of Church Street, while the City of Sydney looks after the other. Currently, King Street businesses on opposite sides of the thoroughfare face a swag of inconsistencies regarding the likes of parking meters, streetside seating, business grants and garbage bins.
The suggestions follow the City of Sydney's own proposal to investigate late-night trading over on its turf, with Inner West mayor Darcy Byrne both supporting the idea and calling for the proposed rules to apply to the whole of King Street.
"I want to ensure that common sense prevails over red tape and bureaucracy and create one level playing field for all businesses to unite King Street," he said.
Further proposals by the Inner West Council — which was recently created as a merger between Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils — would allow cafes, restaurants and shops to host small-scale arts and music performances without wading through mounds of red tape, which Cr Byrne says "would provide a shot in the arm to the local arts scene and exponentially increase the number of venues for emerging artists". If the inner west goes with the plans proposed by the City of Sydney, small venues could stay open till 10pm each night without applying for approval to do so.
The council will work with Newtown Precinct Business Association and the City of Sydney to develop the proposed changes. If they are implemented, it could see more small King Street venues open later to offer different types of entertainment, which would make for a more lively Newtown nightlife. We'll keep you updated on any further announcements.
Image: Steven Woodburn.
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