Over 40 and out after dark

Increasing the number of people over 40 out late in Sydney represents a key goal of the new after-dark plan, but is it realistic?

Approved last month by the City of Sydney, the Open Sydney plan aims for a 34 per cent rise of those over 40 out after 11pm by 2030.

Part of a broader campaign to reinvigorate Sydney’s night-time economy, Open Sydney’s designer Suzie Matthews stressed the limited options for those over 40.

“Only 6 per cent of people accessing Sydney later in the evening are in the over 40s age range and this is why we think there’s a tremendous missed opportunity in the business offer at the moment,” she said.

Sydney’s current night-time landscape is dominated by beer barns, bouncers and kebab shops, a culture that strongly appeals to the 18 to 25 age bracket.

In response, Ms Matthews has developed specific plans to diversify Sydney’s after-dark experience. Expanding retail trading hours, increasing the number of small bars, cultural venues and a 24-hour library are some of the options being discussed. Some projects, including the proliferation of ‘food trucks’, are already underway.

“In some ways they had been alienated from the life of the city at night, so it was about filling in the gaps for that demographic,” Ms Matthews said.

Patricia Forsythe, Executive Director of the Sydney Business Chamber, has been consulting the City of Sydney on the plan since 2011. She recognises the challenges posed for those in older age brackets.

“One of the challenges is the fact that many of the people that fit the categories who are attracted to the night-time economy are not necessarily going to be older people. [Open Sydney] will require some general shift in the culture of the city and that is one where the focus of a lot of late nights is not one built on the drinking culture, but one where there is a broader city focus,” Ms Forsythe said.

With the passing of the Liquor Amendment Bill 2013 last month, licenses can now be issued to smaller venues authorised to stay open until 2am. The move has led several City of Sydney councillors to argue the issue of safety should be a greater priority.

“They are not displaying any interest in solving the current problems which are the major safety issues and alcohol issues that are occurring on the streets at night,” said Independent Councillor Angela Vithoulkas. “And that is why the demographic of over 40-year-olds are not coming into the city.

“[Open Sydney] isn’t even a band-aid on open heart surgery, this is complete denial of what’s existing … by not addressing the very serious problem that is existing how can we cater for over 40-year-olds.”

Liberal Councillor Edward Mandla highlighted Kings Cross as a case in point with over-clustering and a negative drinking culture. “Safety is the overarching requirement with over 40s,” he said.

Mr Mandla expressed disappointment the goal of an ‘Inviting and Safe Sydney’ was not prioritised as the plan’s number one goal.

“A minor argument maybe but an opportunity missed to set the high ground that there will be no compromise on safety,” he said.

By Pat Griffiths