Special Entertainment Precincts

Under current rules, businesses can host live music, but strict conditions can make it hard.

A Special Entertainment Precinct changes this. It is an area set aside as a great place to go out at night. In these areas, Council can set planning rules about:

• How late shops, cafes and entertainment venues can stay open
• How much sound is allowed from live music and other entertainment
• How activities like dining, shopping and cultural events can operate together

By setting these planning rules upfront, Special Entertainment Precincts give certainty to residents and businesses. Everyone knows what to expect, helping create safe, lively and welcoming places to enjoy after dark.

Council plans to introduce Special Entertainment Precincts in parts of Bankstown and Campsie. You can check the maps for Bankstown and Campsie with the exact areas the precincts cover.  

Property planning certificates will also show if a property is located within a Special Entertainment Precinct.

We are planning to trial the Special Entertainment Precincts from late 2026 to mid-2027. After the trial, Council will decide whether the precincts should become permanent.

1. Council decides to create a Special Entertainment Precinct based on priorities in the Night-Time Economy Action plan and precinct master plans.
2. The NSW 24‑Hour Economy Commissioner supports the process with a grant and Guidelines that Council must follow.
3. Council prepares the planning rules and a Precinct Management Plan, setting trading hours, sound limits and how entertainment will be managed.
4. Council officers submit the planning proposal to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure with a request for Gateway Determination (permission to exhibit), and arrange public exhibition, submission review and document updates.
5. The draft planning rules are put on public exhibition for the community and businesses to review and provide feedback.
6. If approved by the NSW Government and Council, the Precincts begin a trial period (up to 12‑months). Council monitors how things are working and gathers feedback from residents and businesses.
7. After the trial, Council reviews all feedback and decides whether to make the precincts permanent, adjust the rules or discontinue them.

Trading hours

Most businesses in a Special Entertainment Precinct can trade later. Licensed venues that register as live music or performance venues can access extra trading hours when they host regular performances:

• They can get two extra hours of trading on nights when they provide at least 45 minutes of live music performance or other arts and cultural event from 6pm weekdays and from 12 noon weekends
• They can get one extra hour of trading on other nights of the week where certain criteria is met

For more information, please visit the Liquor and Gambling NSW website.

Existing approvals

Older, stricter noise and trading conditions no longer apply if venues follow the new planning rules. Businesses do not need to change their development approval to match Special Entertainment Precinct trading hours, they automatically align with the Precinct Management Plan.

Precinct Management Plan

We will set noise limits and trading hours in a Precinct Management Plan, which will be published on our website once complete. The noise limits are specific to things like music, performances and general venue activity, such as people arriving or leaving, talking, singing or setting up equipment. It does not include noise from construction, waste collection or machinery, which are managed separately.

Soundproofing new buildings

New homes and other sensitive buildings in or near a Special Entertainment Precinct will be encouraged to include soundproofing to protect residents and support a night‑time economy.

You can still make a noise complaint in a Special Entertainment Precinct, but it is only valid if the noise goes above the limits in the Precinct Management Plan and is unreasonable.

Different agencies manage different types of noise:

• Liquor & Gaming NSW manages entertainment from licensed venues like pubs, bars and pubs
• Council manages entertainment noise from unlicensed venues such as cafes and restaurants that do not have a liquor licence
• NSW Police can step in if urgent action is needed

You can learn more about Special Entertainment Precincts on the NSW 24‑Hour Economy Commissioner’s website. 

Some other helpful resources include: 

Information Sheet for Businesses

Information Sheet for Communities

Council Report – Ordinary Meeting of 26 August 2025 [ PDF, 2.22 MB]

NSW Government media release – 18 February 2026