Meet the new Special Entertainment Precincts

What is a Special Entertainment Precinct?  

Special Entertainment Precincts (SEPs) are a tool for councils to help unlock the potential of their night-time economies and are part of the Government's broader vibrancy agenda. 

SEPs are defined as areas, streets or single venues where sound conditions and opening hours are set by the local council in a document called a Precinct Management Plan. The conditions in a Precinct Management Plan vary from council to council, but they generally offer more generous trading hours to businesses and remove restrictions on live entertainment. Precinct Management Plan conditions also override the conditions on existing development consents in the area, bypassing the complex and costly process of individual businesses modifying their consents in order to operate later at night. 

SEPs are designed to put local councils in the driver’s seat when it comes to decisions about what a vibrant night-time economy could look like in their part of the state– creating going-out districts that reflect an area’s local character and offer a diverse range of activities to the public. 

Following the success of Enmore Road, the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner established the SEP Kickstart Grant Program in 2024, which allocates funding to councils with resolutions to establish a SEP in their area. The grant helps fund all the work that goes into setting up a SEP, including community outreach and getting advice from acoustic specialists. Other ways the Office lends a helping hand to councils hoping to establish a SEP in their area include through an opt-in Acoustic Toolkit, best practice handbook, model templates and an online support hub.

Where are the new Special Entertainment Precincts?

So far, 2025 has seen a wave of brand-new Special Entertainment Precincts planned across the state with the support of the NSW Government’s SEP Kickstart Grant. Western Sydney will see its first-ever SEPs in Canley Heights and Canley Vale, and, in the northwest of the city, Hornsby town centre is setting up to become a SEP, too. Meanwhile, Sydney’s Inner West will also get its second SEP, located in Burwood Chinatown. 

Byron Bay will become the first regional area to establish a trial Special Entertainment Precinct, reflecting the Office’s new state-wide remit.  

Why do Special Entertainment Precincts matter?

So, why get excited about these new Special Entertainment Precincts?  The establishment of new SEPs offers NSW residents and visitors the opportunity to enjoy a greater range of activities and experiences at night in an ever-growing number of areas across the state. Business owners and operators within SEPs are offered the opportunity to save precious dollars by avoiding the costly process of modifying development consents, and the freedom to offer a wider range of entertainment options. 

Across the state, 18 councils currently have resolutions to establish a Special Entertainment Precinct, so keep your eyes peeled in your local area. 

To learn more about Special Entertainment Precincts, access the guidelines today.

For information about any SEPs being established in your area, please visit your local council's website.