Council Agrees To Sydney Live Music Precinct

Sydney's Leichhardt Council have voted unanimously to investigate the possibility of a live music precinct in Sydney's inner west.

The result of action taking following the Annandale Hotel's financial woes, Leichhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne is claiming victory this morning and told theMusic.com.au he'll be calling Marrickville's Mayor Victor Macri and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore today, “seeking their cooperation and I hope and expect to get it.”

Byrne wants to rejuvenate a stretch of Parramatta Road, from Sydney Uni to Taverners Hill, with a late-night culture built around live music, but also including small bars and comedy. As part of last night's adoption of the proposal, during a meeting which was attended by the public and at which Sounds Australia's Ianto Ware and Music NSW's Kirsty Brown both spoke, council will now move to investigate the relevant policies and programs.

That includes a live music development control plan, which will include protections for live music such as sound insulation increases for residential and commercial developments, increased noise allowances and extended trading hours for venues, a quicker approval process for venues and “possibly” rate concessions.

“I think the key message is that the momentum for a revival of Sydney's live music scene is becoming unstoppable as more and more young people stand up and speak out,” Byrne told theMusic. “Thanks to the huge number of young people and music lovers who turned up to demand support.”

As previously indicated to theMusic, Leichhardt Council will also contact Brisbane City Council to apply lessons from the Fortitude Valley area for the potential Sydney live music hub.

The Mayor said he was “determined” to have the planning controls adopted in 2013 but QMusic's Denise Foley warned theMusic today that The Valley took a lot longer to develop.

“We understand that Sydney are looking to Brisbane's experience and we do have the best working model here. There are still challenges for live music venues that often relate to [them] being tenants and not owner occupiers and the vulnerability that brings for security of tenure… We do think other states can learn from the experience.”

“The Valley required a lot of work to reach that solution and commitment from many stakeholders and the process took about three years.”