Sydney’s Enmore Theatre is now immune, bless us all, to any annoying noise complaints thanks to a new council decision.
As per Time Out, the good eggs over at Inner West council voted unanimously earlier this week to ensure the iconic Enmore will be protected by new laws intended to promote live music and take pesky power away from irate residents and their complaints.
Enmore Road, including the theatre, will now become the first area in Sydney to be declared a “special entertainment precinct”.
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne shared his happiness at the news on Facebook this week: “This groundbreaking change will give real incentives for venues to host live music instead of pokies, through late trading allowances and reduced avenues for noise complaints against music venues.” Anything that promotes live music over bloody pokies is a good thing in our eyes.
Although special entertainment precincts have been a thing in Queensland since 2006, state legislation was just passed by the NSW Government last year and this is the latest positive development.
Frustrating restrictions around artist numbers, music genres, and dancing will also be removed so watch out because my mate’s 20-piece Ska band have been just waiting for this opportunity.
The amendments will make it easier to change a shop or retail premises into a small arts or music venue. It also means that noise complaints within the new entertainment precincts will be dealt with by the local council, instead of by separate NSW agencies like licensing cops.
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It shouldn’t even take legislation and council rulings to promote arts and culture in a city of Sydney’s size but here we are. So get ready to be as loud and carefree as you want around Enmore soon.
And with the recent full repeal of the terrible lockout laws, things are honestly looking up for the city and its nightlife. Look out Melbourne, Sydney’s coming for you. Slowly. Very slowly.
For more on this topic, follow the Live Music Observer.
Check out Sticky Fingers playing the Enmore Theatre:
