Cronulla Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP)

Sutherland Shire Council engaged Hawkridge Entertainment Services (HES) to complete the Cronulla Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) Plan. Council is establishing a SEP for Cronulla to support a safer, more vibrant and sustainable night-time economy. The SEP provides a legislative framework to extend appropriate trading hours, enable more live music and performance and improve public-domain activation while addressing community amenity and safety. Council’s objectives set out through the State’s Vibrancy Reforms are to strengthen local businesses and creative activity, enhance liveability and manage impacts through clear rules and monitoring.

Under section 202 of the Local Government Act 1993, a special entertainment precinct is an area in which amplified music is regulated by, or under, a law other than the Liquor Act 2007, noise attenuation requirements apply to certain development and dedicated live music and performance venues may trade liquor for an additional 60 minutes under section 12A(4) of the Liquor Act. This framework enables councils to adopt a plan of management that sets how the night-time economy will operate.

The Precinct Management Plan is the mechanism that implements the SEP locally. As guided by the NSW Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner, a precinct management plan established under the Act must include: trading hours for licensed and unlicensed premises; a sound management framework (including attenuation requirements) for defined development types; and a clear complaints and compliance process. The plan also confirms that venue operational trading hours are set by Council through this plan (not liquor licensing hours, which remain regulated by Liquor & Gaming NSW). The SEP is established under the NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms.

The program is funded through the NSW government Special Entertainment Precinct Kickstart Grant Program.

How we help

Hawkridge Entertainment Services provides a range of services for organisations including strategic analysis, feasibility development and business case writing. We are experts in the development of cultural infrastructure. Some of our recent projects are:

We deliver successful outcomes by finding solutions to complex issues. We listen to stakeholders and complete tasks in the timeframes required.

Other similar projects completed by Hawkridge Entertainment Services are available here.