The City of Sydney has decided to speed up the implementation of reforms to live music policies outlined in last month’s Live Music Matters Report, even though the plan is open for public comment for five more weeks.
“It is clear that the community strongly supports live music and performance,” said Mayor Clover Moore in her minutes from Monday’s council meeting. “While many recommendations in the Plan require community feedback before being adopted by Council, several can be easily and immediately progressed. I therefore propose that a number of the projects recommended within the Action Plan commence immediately.”
Mayor Clover Moore pushed for the speedy implementation of a number of policies, including allowing students to rehearse in council-owned properties, hosting more concerts in local venues, trialling free parking for musicians outside performance venues and establishing an free mediation process to deal with live music noise complaints.
A year ago the city set up the Live Music and Performance Taskforce to investigate the underlying reasons why live music in Sydney has been under increasing pressure. The violin-wielding SWAT team (that’s just how we picture them) made several recommendations for improving the future of Sydney’s live music scene in a draft action plan, revealed to the public last month.
The initial report also recommends examining changes to liquor licensing laws, including a simplification of the process for securing temporary liquor licensing and advocating for an increase in the capacity for venues with small bar licenses from 60 to 120 people, though these proposals may take longer to implement.
“Reviving Sydney’s live music scene is a challenge that will require long-term investment from all levels of government but the City is committed to taking immediate action wherever we can,” Mayor Clover Moore said in a statement. She also recommended a report back to Council via a CEO Update on the progress of these projects after six months.
The Action Plan is on public exhibition until 17th January. For more information or to have your say, visit sydneyyoursay.com.au
