A comprehensive and thorough action plan of 57 recommendations to foster live music in Sydney has been released by the city's Live Music Taskforce today.

After a year of consultation and development, the plan was launched at Sydney's GoodGod Small Club venue by Lord Mayor Clover Moore and the Taskforce's Chair and live music campaigner John Wardle. Addressing concerns regarding development, noise limits, liquor licensing and the Building Code of Australia, it is an articulate and thorough study into the live music sector.

• Calls to cut red tape, protect venues and establish live music roles
• Arguably the most thorough investigation into live music policy in a generation
• Musicians and fans urged to support recommendations

“This report investigates the biggest challenges that the small to medium performing arts sector has faced in a generation,” said Wardle this afternoon, “[and] faces them head on by describing the issues clearly and makes detailed policy recommendations.”

Commissioned in October 2012, the report identifies and addresses many of the barriers that have been constricting contemporary live music both in Sydney and around the country, and is arguably the most thorough policy investigation into the industry.

As well as the establishment of a live music and performance liaison within council to work with the sector, recommendations include simplifying the approval process for small low-risk events, investigate using unused hotel spaces for rehearsals, the establishment of a new outdoor event space and the inclusion of musicians and performers in affordable housing schemes.

“I really hope we've learnt our lesson… This is 20 years – or longer – of catch-up work”

Wardle argued today that the policy was already of national significance in the issues it addresses but also by providing a precedent for the method of engagement between the arts sector and government. He encouraged the community, both musicians and music lovers, to have their say on the report and subsequent bill.

“You've got to participate, if you don't participate we get rubbed out,” he said. “I really hope we've learnt our lesson that the sector has not engaged with policy development. This [report] is 20 years – or longer – of catch-up work. This is a lot of work that we're doing here.”

Lord Mayor Moore said that she hoped the development of live music would give punters a source of entertainment away from binge drinking.

“There's a lot of talk on the trouble we have in places like Kings Cross and George Street,” she said. “…An important lesson for us in doing our night time economy work is that young people want a range of things to do and if we can diversify the experience that people have in our city, and it's not just focused on alcohol, then people can have a much richer experience and the city can have a more civilised environment.”

“I'm fairly confident that this is going to fit… we will get a great result at the end”

The report is a heartening step for live music and its stakeholders and, with 57 recommendations, pundits are quietly confident that a number of those ideas will make it through the council and come to fruition.

Speaking to theMusic.com.au following the launch Wardle said, “We've really considered, very seriously, these policies. It took more time than we'd intended and they've been really workshopped very carefully. We've sought lots of advice and we've done a lot of analysis of the existing system. I'm fairly confident that this is going to fit right in to the existing framework and we will get a great result at the end.”

As well as Wardle the Taskforce feature Sounds Australia's National Live Music Coordinator Dr Ianto Ware, FBi Radio's General Manager Of Music Dan Zilber, APRA AMCOS' Head Of Corporate Services Dean Ormston, the developer of Brisbane's Fortitude Vallery precinct Frank Henry, 505 venue co-founder Kerri Glasscock and jazz musician Jonathan Zwartz, amongst others.

The action plan, and its recommendations, will be presented to committee next Monday ahead going before council in a fortnight.

The Key Recommendations

The report's recommendations largely exist to cut red tape, inform both council and the music sector and protect existing venues, but there are also proposals to ease the cost of living

• Appointment of a City Of Sydney live music and performance liaison officer to cut through red tape for venues and establishment of a mediation process
• A review of the Sydney Development Control Plan to protect areas with live music history
• Simplifying the approval process for small, low-risk events
• Pre-emptive advice on noise issues, rather than reactionary punishments
• Provide information on the Building Code Of Australia tailored to live music
• Grant program for venues and organisation wanting to hold all ages events with the City Of Sydney
• Proposal to make unused hotel spaces available for music rehearsals
• Establishment of a new major Sydney outdoor event space
• Advocate for musicians and performers to be included in affordable housing schemes

Download the full report here. It will soon be open for discussion here.

'Annandale Mayor' Welcomes Recommendations

Leichhardt Mayor Darcy Byrne welcomed the Taskforce's report shortly after it was announced this afternoon. Outspoken during the sale of iconic live music venue the Ananndale Hotel, earning him the 'Annandale Mayor' title, Labor member Byrne said today, “I congratulate the City and the Taskforce members for producing such a ground-breaking report on how to revitalise the live music industry. It's gratifying to see that the taskforce and Leichhardt Council are thinking along the same lines.”

Having vowed to implement a Live Music Precinct on Parramatta Road before the end of the year, he added, “We are determined to rezone sections of Parramatta road as Sydney's first live music and cultural precinct. The City's taskforce recommendations provide a blueprint for how this vision can be brought to life.

“Leichhardt Council has been working on this concept for over a year, with our Good Neighbour and Parramatta Road Live Music policies already in place.”