Liverpool CBD Special Entertainment Precinct

A Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) is a new planning term introduced by the NSW Government as part of their Vibrancy Reforms. A SEP is a designated area where Council sets trading hours and sound conditions to support live performances while providing certainty for venues, residents, and businesses.

The precinct will be created under the Local Government Act 1993. A Planning Proposal will be submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure for approval to establish the trial, followed by Public Exhibition, and approval by Council.

This Planning Proposal will be supported by:

• A Precinct Management Plan
• An Acoustic Framework
• Proposed changes to the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) and Development Control Plan (DCP)
• The precinct must be formally created to enable the trial to go ahead.

The SEP will establish fixed, measurable sound limits for entertainment venues (measured at an external boundary) and internal noise limits for new and extended residential developments, and hotel and motel accommodation within and close to the Precinct.

This differs from the current approach, where the assessment of noise disturbance complaints relates to whether the sound is considered “offensive”.

The SEP won’t apply to:

• sound disturbance from activity on the street
• sound coming from non-entertainment venues such as shops and residences
• mechanical sound such as ventilation equipment
• sound from roads, the railway, Whitlam Centre and Woodward Park

The proposed SEP will be centred in Liverpool’s CBD, spanning Macquarie Street, George Street, and Macquarie Mall, Liverpool’s key dining, events, entertainment, and retail areas. It will also extend along Scott Street and Memorial Avenue to Woodward Park.

• Establish Liverpool CBD as a going-out district where entertainment and live performances are supported and encouraged
• Specific fixed sound limits provide certainty to venue operators and the public
• Reduced liquor licensing fees when venues include live entertainment
• A 1 to 2-hour trading extension on nights with live performances
• An established sound complaints process
• Future residents in proximity are given forewarning of the SEP and applicable sound limits to be expected
• Reduces land use conflict issues

Council will set trading hours in the Precinct Management Plan. When the precinct is established, existing trading hours on development consents that are less than the hours set by the Precinct Management Plan are ‘turned off’. Venues with longer hours will have these maintained. Council will continue to regulate the trading hours of all premises.

Council will set the sound criteria framework in the Precinct Management Plan. An acoustic study will be undertaken to inform this framework. This is based on NSW Government guidance.

When the precinct is established, existing sound criteria on development consents and liquor licenses will be overridden by those in the Precinct Management Plan.

Conditions on development conditions that prohibit live entertainment will not have an effect.

Offensive noise provisions will not apply to venues in the precinct if they are acting in accordance with the sound criteria framework in the Precinct Management Plan.

Council will continue to regulate sound from unlicensed venues as well as non-entertainment related sound.

Liquor & Gaming NSW will continue to be responsible for managing entertainment sound complaints for licensed venues. When the precinct is established, a higher threshold for complaints will apply. The disturbances must exceed the limits in the Precinct Management Plan to be unreasonable

Liquor & Gaming NSW will continue to be responsible for regulating liquor licences in the precinct.

Incentives exist for licensed venues with reduced liquor licensing fees and extra trading hours on a liquor licence:

• two additional hours only where live entertainment is hosted for 45 minutes after 8 pm, and/or
• an additional hour on other nights of the week, subject to the licensed venue meeting certain conditions and notifying Liquor & Gaming NSW

The SEP aims to help make Liverpool’s city centre safer and more enjoyable by encouraging more people to be out and about at night. A busy, well-lit city with more outdoor dining, live music and community events means more “eyes on the street,” which helps discourage anti-social behaviour.

Clear rules for trading hours and noise will also give businesses certainty while protecting nearby residents from excessive impacts. This means people can enjoy music and entertainment in a managed way that balances fun with respect for the community.

Overall, the precinct will create a lively atmosphere where people feel safe, businesses can thrive, and the city centre becomes a welcoming place to spend time after dark.