The Balmain peninsula will soon see 24-hour public transport, with buses running the length of Darling Street at least every hour on Friday and Saturday nights, Transport for NSW (TFNSW) has confirmed.
The introduction of 24-hour public transport to the peninsula supports the Inner West Council’s recent announcement that Balmain Darling Street will become a Special Entertainment Precinct, where live music, performances and cultural activities can flourish, and outdoor dining is permitted until 11pm, TFNSW said in a statement.
The new 24-hour routes include the 433 from Balmain Gladstone Park, which travels to Central via North Annandale, Forest Lodge and Glebe, and route 442 which connects Balmain East Wharf to the QVB. These services will also be upgraded to run every 10 minutes or better between 6:30am and 8:30pm on weekdays and every 20 minutes or better between 5:30am and 6:30am, and 8:30pm and 12:30am.
“24 hour buses to Balmain could the the shot in the arm needed to bring our famous pub culture back to life,” said Inner West Mayor, Darcy Byrne.
“With the White Bay Power Station pumping, new 24 hour buses and the Darling Street special entertainment precinct opening in 2025, this could be the renaissance of Australia’s oldest and best pub culture.”
The Inner West bus timetable changes start on Sunday 8 December and are being implemented to support improved bus connections and service reliability, giving passengers the connections they need for seamless connections to other transport options, TFNSW said in a statement.
“Transport for NSW is working with schools, community and business groups to ensure people have the information they need to plan their trips. Further timetable adjustments are planned for early 2025 in Blacktown, Hills District, South East Sydney and the Northern Beaches,” it stated.
“We are always looking at ways to improve frequency and reliability of our bus network, which means providing more services on some of our popular routes and reducing them were the demand isn’t there,” said Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen.
“These timetable changes will help passengers take advantage of the new City Metro line and support Southwest Link operations during the final Metro conversion of the Bankstown Line.”
Council was recently given the green light from the State Government to proceed with its planning proposal to establish Special Entertainment Precincts in Balmain, Dulwich Hill, Leichhardt, Rozelle and two areas in Marrickville.
Mayor Byrne said the Inner West continues to position itself as the leading entertainment and live music destination in Australia.
“We were the first Council in NSW to deliver a Special Entertainment Precinct, now we are building on that success with 6 more,” he said.
“These new Special Entertainment Precincts will build on the success of Enmore Road and create more opportunities for performing artists, as well as boost local businesses and add to the vibrancy and nightlife of our neighbourhoods.
“Rewarding venues that host gigs with an hour later trading creates a real incentive to rely on cultural activity instead of poker machines.
“For Marrickville Road, which is already going gangbusters, this will be an extra boost. For Darling Street Balmain and Norton Street Leichhardt these new precincts can be the shot in the arm they need to bounce back to life.
“Earlier engagement this year for these new precincts received great community support, so we know this is something local people are enthusiastic about.”
The Mayor said the six new Special Entertainment Precincts will create real incentives for venues to host live performances and artistic activity through:
- Allowing businesses in Special Entertainment Precincts an extra hour of trade;
- Permitting all main street premises to host small scale live performances without needing a development application;
- Extending footpath dining until 11pm;
- Reducing the number of government agencies that police and regulate sound in the precinct to just one (Liquor and Gaming NSW);
- Mandating the sound-proofing of new, nearby developments to reduce sound impacts.
The planning proposal will be on public exhibition for community feedback from February 2025.
