The City of Ryde suburb of Eastwood is on track to join nine formally established Special Entertainment Precincts (SEP) in NSW after the Council won a $250,000 State Government grant to progress its plans.
Already renowned as one of Sydney’s leading foodie destinations, the SEP Kickstart Grant will support Council with the strategic planning, community consultation and acoustic studies required to set trading hours and sound settings in Eastwood as it transitions into a leading Sydney nightlife hub.
The SEP designation will help Eastwood become a go-to after-dark destination for live music, outdoor dining, and shopping.
Mayor, Trenton Brown said Eastwood was already a Sydney destination suburb and the grant will act as a wonderful boost to its night-time economy and attractiveness to both local and international visitors.
“Eastwood – which hosts our famous Granny Smith and Lunar New Year Festivals and is also home of Sydney’s best ‘Koreatown’ and Ryde’s first 24/7 library trial – is already a vibrant, thriving town centre, reflecting our city’s wonderful and enviable diversity,” he said.
“This SEP Kickstart Grant will further enhance our booming night-time economy, and we look forward to hosting locals and visitors from all over Sydney and the world who will be able to enjoy a fantastic array of dining, live music, night markets and shopping experiences.”
Recently, the NSW Government announced it would seek to increase the range of activities available to councils and operators in SEPs including rooftop bars and dining and utilising town halls, car parks and commercial buildings for entertainment.
As well as the SEP designation, the Council is seeking the accompanying Purple Flag accreditation, an international program which recognises precincts that achieve high standards of excellence in managing their night-time economy.
As part of these initiatives, Council is committed to establishing the Eastwood Special Entertainment Precinct Working Group (PWG) to support the creation, ongoing operation and monitoring of the Eastwood SEP and Purple Flag accreditation.
For more details about the Eastwood SEP, click here.
