Special Entertainment Precincts
Special Entertainment Precincts (SEPs) are a tool for councils to help unlock the potential of their night-time economies. They empower councils to designate areas where councils can set trading hours and sound conditions to encourage live performance and support vibrant going-out precincts.
Building on the success of the Enmore Road precinct, a SEP is established under the Local Government Act 1993 and is an area, streetscape or single venue where sound conditions and trading hours are set by a council in a precinct management plan.
The 24-Hour Economy Legislation Amendment (Vibrancy Reforms) Act 2023 amended a range of legislation to strengthen the SEP framework by legislating increased incentives, regulatory streamlining and improved governance.
Special Entertainment Precincts Kickstart Grant Program
The NSW Government, through the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, will deliver the $1 million Special Entertainment Precincts Kickstart Grant Program to help councils to establish Special Entertainment Precincts (SEPs).
Eligible NSW councils will be able to apply for grants ranging from $50,000 to $200,000 to help establish SEPs, including to hire temporary staff or expert consultants to undertake strategic planning, acoustic frameworks, or consultation activities around proposed SEPs.
The grant program will be open to all councils in NSW that have a mandate or council resolution to establish a SEP, which must identify a specific location and boundary for the SEP. Councils must also clearly demonstrate that the night-time economy is identified as a strategic priority for the local area through relevant adopted strategies and action plans.
Detailed information about the grant eligibility requirements will be published and made available for councils when the grant program opens for applications. The grant program is expected to open for applications later this year and will be accompanied by an online SEP Support Hub for councils, with Guidelines, an Acoustic Toolkit, Handbook and templates.
