A number of promoters, artists, Government policy-makers, city councillors, urban planners and more convened in Sydney earlier this week in an effort to map out a way for the city to recover its vibrant nightlife post-lockout laws.
Held on Friday, Global Cities After Dark, a one-day forum that “approaches night time culture from a global perspective”, saw experts share their plans for what the city could look like in the years following the end of the lockout laws.
Interactive audience workshops during the event resulted in the following plans:
ONE-YEAR PLAN
“There needs to be an optimistic way forward, open and proud - how do we make Sydneysiders proud and make the media message more about improved cultural life after lockouts, and not just more drinking hours?”
FIVE-YEAR PLAN
“Culture mapping will be key to championing the stories and people behind them in the various communities that make Sydney what it is. A micro and macro plan for Sydney and what it represents to people on a local and international scale should be decided upon and amplified accordingly. Vibrancy will be actively encouraged and accessibility for artists and creatives will be made possible with semi-permanent structures and a government committed to unconventional night time activities.”
10-YEAR PLAN
“With increasing digital engagement, public space will be taken back and used to build a sense of community and inclusiveness, to avoid people in apartments suffering from isolation. With more flexible working opportunities and no more 9-5 culture, Sydney will maintain its credentials as a creative and artistic hub with 24-hour accessibility, to prevent it becoming a victim to domestic migration of Wollongong and Newcastle.”
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Suburb North Alexandria, “a precinct that doesn’t disrupt residents”, has been identified as a key area in a late-night trading development control plan, with City of Sydney’s Jess Scully noting its warehouse spaces make it an ideal location for an artistic hub in the future.
“The lockouts have been a real blow to our city but the repeal will breathe life back into Sydney,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore, said.
San Francisco’s Nightlife and Entertainment Sector Business Development Manager, Ben Van Houten, said: “It’s incumbent on cities to positively engage with nightlife. There’s an incredible knowledge gap between government and those who actually go out: there’s often a disconnect that we can resolve. Educating lawmakers on what nightlife and nightlife work actually looks like. Governments can’t plan for nighttime activity if they don’t understand it.”
Global Cities After Dark 2019 also took a close look at how best to approach drug education and harm minimisation at music events, with Former Federal Police Commissioner Mick Palmer, DanceWize CEO Mary Harrod, Drug Free Australia's Gary Christian, Australian Festivals Association's Adelle Robinson and more taking part in the conversation.
Head to the Global Cities After Dark website for more details.
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