Council hits back over DCP

The City of Sydney has slammed reports they are shutting down Sydney’s nightlife at midnight.

Council released information clarifying their position on late night trading for venues in the area last week.

Sydney City’s Manager of the Late Night Economy, Suzie Matthews, said media reports they are enforcing a midnight curfew are false.

“The negative campaign being run in the media misrepresents the truth,” she said. ” The City of Sydney is not shutting down Sydney’s nightlife at midnight.”

Three years ago, the Development Control Plan (DCP) was established in an attempt to better manage late night trading premises where violence and anti-social behaviour were prominent.

Proposed amendments to the DCP have created controversy among the venue owners and the public.

But Sydney Council has maintained its position saying the proposed changes will not result in any new time restrictions.

“The truth is that the minor and technical amendments to the DCP that were proposed recently do not include any new time restrictions,” Ms Matthews said.

According to the DCP draft amendment, it proposes to: “introduce reviewable conditions for hours of operations and number of persons permitted in a premise.”

It further states: “‘Extended’ hours of trading will be subject to a trial period condition and/or reviewable condition.

“Both types of conditions allow the Council the flexibility to reassess the use of extended hours of trading by the holder of a consent and to respond to such things as changes in the late night character of a neighbourhood and changes in management.”

Small bar operators fear they will not be able to extend their trading hours under the proposed changes.

“We should not be punished because other venues are not managed effectively. I’m frightened that an application to extend trading hours and increase patronage will be rejected because of these changes,” a Sydney bar owner said.

Licensing laws in NSW changed just over two years ago, which enabled a number of small venues to open.

But most licenses for these bars have been restricted to a midnight curfew, with small patron numbers.

“Extending trading hours are approved based on an ongoing commitment to good management and safety- but are not an absolute right,” Ms Matthews said.

A spokesperson for the City of Sydney said they had been crucial in assisting the success of small bars and creating a vibrant late night economy.

Ms Matthews said the proposed changes to the DCP only apply to new venues and premises substantially modifying their operations.

“This DCP provides an incentive for venue operators to manage their premises in a safe and responsible manner if they are to continue operating into the early morning,” she said.

By Sophie Cousins