Cultural SEPP
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Anna KuceraWhat’s this about?
In 2023, the NSW Government made an election commitment to support music venues, trading hours and outdoor performance through a Cultural State Environmental Planning Policy (Cultural SEPP).
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has prepared an Explanation of Intended Effect for the Cultural SEPP, proposing changes to the planning system to support more creative, hospitality and cultural uses contributing to the 24-hour economy. It builds on changes from the government’s recent Vibrancy Reforms.
The changes to the planning system proposed through the explanation of intended effect are:
Current planning pathways
- Expand the non-refusal standards for different types of entertainment.
- Develop new model conditions of consent for entertainment.
Events
- Increase development standards for temporary structures used at community events.
- Support events at major precincts by enabling more events across new and existing sites.
- Support Vivid Sydney with exempt development standards for the temporary light and sound structures.
- Allow temporary extended trading hours for unlicensed businesses during special events.
- Support events in town halls.
Outdoor dining and food trucks
- Investigate providing outdoor music and outdoor dining patron increases using exempt development.
- Extend exempt development pathways to make outdoor dining easier at farm gate premises.
- Improve provisions for food trucks in residential and conservation zones, and investigate measures for food businesses using shipping containers.
Changes to the Business and Industrial Codes in the Codes State Environmental Planning Policy
- Allow a change of use in the SP4 enterprise zone.
- Development standards to retrofit bike rails and bike lockers in existing buildings.
The department is also seeking feedback on 2 new guidelines:
- Guideline for Late Night Hours of Operation for Food and Drink Premises
- Guide to Planning Pathways for Community Events.
The Cultural SEPP will make changes to existing planning instruments once the proposals are finalised. The changes are likely to be made in stages during 2025.
Have your say
We have extended the public exhibition period, have your say by 7 February 2025.
There is 1 way to provide feedback.
The explanation of intended effect and guidelines can be found on the NSW Planning Portal.
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