NSW Government expands Special Entertainment Precinct Grant Program
With Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) trials rolling out across the state to support live music and local-going out districts, the Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner will offer an additional $1.25 million to support more local councils looking to establish their own SEP trials.
The Productivity and Equality Commissioner’s 2025 report into the NSW night-time economy identified that the fit-for-purpose, precinct-wide rules in SEPs can cut costs, reduce delays and attract investment into local areas.
The report found that businesses in SEPs can avoid the usual Development Application (DA) costs, saving an estimated $30,000 each on applications solely for extended trading hours, and avoiding a wait of an average 130 days during time-consuming DA processes.
SEPs support the growth of live entertainment through extended trading hours for live music venues and favourable sound regulation to provide more operational certainty for venues, businesses and residents.
SEPs allow councils to manage activity in a defined area, set tailored trading hours and sound requirements in a precinct management plan, and allow businesses such as shops ,cafes and community facilities to open later and support live music venues without having to adjust their development consents – saving them time and money.
They also allow councils to ‘future-proof’ a precinct by ensuring new property buyers are aware they are moving into an area where entertainment is encouraged and requiring appropriate sound attenuation in new buildings to prevent conflicts.
Twenty-two councils have passed resolutions to investigate or establish SEPs in their local areas, with Burwood, Fairfield, Byron Shire, Sutherland Shire, Hornsby, Liverpool, Northern Beaches, Tamworth and Goulburn councils receiving grants under round one of the SEP Kickstart Grant program to establish SEP trials.
Under round 2 of the program, eligible NSW councils can apply for grants ranging from $20,000 to $200,000 to help with the setup costs to establish SEP trials including strategic planning, acoustic frameworks, consultation, communications and/or engagement.
To strengthen safety and local collaboration in SEPs, exploring Purple Flag accreditation will be included as part of the funding requirements. Under the grant, councils can apply for up to an additional $50,000 to explore Purple Flag accreditation, an international framework which recognises precincts that achieve high standards of excellence, and are welcoming and vibrant after dark.
For more information or to apply, visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/special-entertainment-precinct-sep-kickstart-grant-program%e2%80%8b-round-2-%e2%80%8b
24-Hour Economy Commissioner Michael Rodrigues said:
“The key to the success of the Special Entertainment Precinct model is in empowering councils to work out, in consultation with their communities and local businesses, what the settings for nightlife should be.
“Interest in the model from across the State is encouraging. We know that people are looking to enjoy a night out closer to home. We look forward to working with councils and their communities to make that happen.”
Contact: media@dciths.nsw.gov.au
Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner
The Office is committed to building safe, vibrant and diverse 24-hour economies statewide; enhancing flexible day and night trading conditions; and strengthening NSW’s appeal as a global destination. This vision is underpinned by the 24-Hour Economy Strategy, with an emphasis on data and measurement, which focuses on precinct building and place-based economies; night-time workers in priority industries; safety, wellbeing and accessibility for all; authentic storytelling; and an enabling regulatory framework to bring vibrancy across NSW.