Mayor Darcy Byrne Announces 6 More Entertainment Precincts For The Inner West

In exciting news for Inner Westies: six more special entertainment precincts are set to be established throughout the Inner West. 

The precincts will start up in areas like Norton Street Leichhardt, Darling Street in Balmain and Rozelle, and Marrickville Road, right through Marrickville and Dulwich Hill. 

Each precinct will include numerous pubs, restaurants, clubs, and other entertainment venues for people to enjoy. 

“After establishing the state’s first entertainment precinct in Enmore, which has been a roaring success, we’re now spreading it throughout all of the Inner West,” said Balmain Mayor Darcy Byrne. 

Since the Inner West Council’s major revitalisation of Enmore Road has proven to be beneficial to the community and the Inner West’s spirit, the council has opted to plan out more expansions for the street. 

Council has now been given the green light from the State Government to proceed with its planning proposal to establish the rest of the Special Entertainment Precincts. 

 

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Why does Sydney need the Entertainment Precincts?

The Inner West has continued to position itself as the leading entertainment and live music destination in Australia, but due to NSW’s lockout laws, enjoying live music until late was difficult. But Mayor Byrne has a workaround. 

“This will give a real incentive: later trading (hours), for venues that host gigs and artistic activity to rely on the arts rather than poker machines,” said Mayor Byrne. 

The plan outlines several points of focus, from allowing businesses in Special Entertainment Precincts an extra hour of trade, permitting all main street premises to host small scale live performances without needing a development application, extending footpath dining until 11pm, and reducing the number of government agencies that police and regulate sound in the precinct to just one (Liquor and Gaming NSW), as well as mandating the sound-proofing of new, nearby developments to reduce sound impacts and keep the neighbourhood residents unaffected by major noise pollution. 

“These new Special Entertainment Precincts will build on the success of Enmore Road and create more opportunities for performing artists, as well as boost local businesses and add to the vibrancy and nightlife of our neighbourhoods,”

“Earlier engagement this year for these new precincts received great community support, so we know this is something local people are enthusiastic about,” said Mayor Byrne.

The Council will be taking community feedback and reviewing it until April 2025. 

Special Entertainment Precinct Locations:

• Balmain (Darling Street)
• Dulwich Hill (Marrickville Road & New Canterbury Road)
• Leichhardt (Norton Street & Parramatta Road)
• Marrickville North (Victoria & Addison Road)
• Marrickville Town Centre (Railway Parade, Marrickville Road & Illawarra Road)
• Rozelle (Darling Street & Victoria Road)