Project background
The City of Canada Bay is seeking early feedback from the community to guide the potential establishment of Special Entertainment Precincts (SEPs). Learn more and share your feedback by Wednesday, 25 February 2026.
About Special Entertainment Precincts
Special Entertainment Precincts (SEPs) are part of the NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms and allow councils to designate areas where businesses can operate under tailored trading hours and entertainment-related sound controls.
SEPs are designed to support a local 24-hour economy, by creating vibrant, diverse, and safe nighttime activities and adding social and economic value to town centres. More information about SEPs is available on the NSW Government website.
Ideal areas for SEPs have good access to transport and a strong retail/commercial function. Both the Five Dock Town Centre and the Bakehouse Quarter in North Strathfield have been identified as potential spaces to trial a SEP.
SEPs are managed through a Precinct Management Plan. These plans are developed by councils and establish the SEP area as well as set trading hours and sound conditions for local businesses.
Precinct Management Plans contain:
- Sound criteria for businesses, based on acoustic testing and feedback from venues, businesses and the community, with the aim of ensuring that neighbours are not exposed to unreasonable sound levels.
- Maximum permitted trading hours for both licensed and unlicensed premises. Councils can set standard trading hours across a SEP or provide varied trading hours for different areas and business types.
- Incentives for venues that host live performances, under certain conditions.
We're currently seeking early feedback from the community to guide the potential establishment of SEPS in the Canada Bay area. Feedback closes on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.
All feedback will be reviewed and a report will be taken to Council on 17 March 2026 for consideration. If a decision is made to progress the establishment of SEPs in the Canada Bay area, further consultation with the community and local businesses will take place.
