Overview
Melbourne has the Sydney Myer Music Bowl, Brisbane has the Riverstage, and while spots like The Domain and Centennial Park are often used to host outdoor music events, one thing Sydney is missing is a permanent openair concert venue. That might be about to change, with a new proposal pitching not one, but three new full-time outdoor stages located across Sydney.
The proposal, which has been put together by Australian tourism and events organisation Cedar Mill Group in collaboration with Business Sydney and Business Western Sydney, has floated the idea of a trio of new entertainment spaces in The Domain, Parramatta Park and Thompsons Creek Regional Parkland in Bradfield.
According to Cedar Mill Group, these "permanent performance shells" would generate 2300 jobs and $450 million each year, filling a void for mid-to-large-sized shows too big for venues like Enmore Theatre or the newly opened Liberty Hall, but too small for the likes of Qudos Bank Arena.
The tourism and events group says these stages will be utilised for not only gigs but also performing arts, music festivals, movie screenings and community events.
"Permanent performance shells are the missing piece in Sydney's cultural infrastructure," says Cedar Mill Group Founder and Managing Director Paul Lambess. "They minimise expensive setup costs, disruption to public spaces and the environmental impact from installation of temporary infrastructure."
Cedar Mill has already been given the green light to open a 30,000-capacity amphitheatre in Lake Macquarie, with the expansive regional venue set to open as part of the redevelopment of the Morisset Golf Course next year.
While The Domain and Parramatta Park are expected locations for new outdoor live music structures, the proposal also bookmarks Bradfield for a performance shell. Located an hour southwest of Sydney's CBD, the area is being pushed as Sydney's third city by the NSW Government, with the Western Sydney airport set to be built at Badgerys Creek.
"A performance shell in the early development phase of Bradfield will help anchor the city, create a cultural destination around which the city will evolve with, and offer easy access to the airport and surrounding regions," David Borger, Executive Director of Business Western Sydney said.
Check out the full report on Cedar Mill Group, Business Sydney and Business Western Sydney's proposal for three new permanent outdoor stages across Sydney.