Barriers to a more vibrant 24-hour economy include duplication between planning approvals and liquor licensing, outdated zoning, strategic plans to support mixed-use and entertainment precincts and conditions that restrict live music and cultural activity and poor alignment with late-night transport and safety measures.
When reports suggest Sydney’s struggling nighttime economy is the fault of the planning system, it is tempting to assume planners are to blame. That assumption is wrong.
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Planners operate within a system shaped by decades of successive government decisions. It’s a complex web of laws, regulations and rules. Every day, planners guide communities and businesses through this complexity and see first-hand where outdated provisions are holding the city back.
But only governments can fix the system, and they should do so with the expertise of planners at the table.
Planners are problem solvers
Planners work within the system to balance competing objectives: residents seeking amenity, businesses requiring flexibility, and communities striving for safe and vibrant neighbourhoods.
Planners are facilitators and problem solvers, who act in the public interest. We are not the barrier – we are the profession best placed to help resolve the barriers.
The planning system must work better
Businesses are right to be frustrated by duplicative approvals, drawn-out processes and high compliance costs. The Productivity Commission estimates duplication alone costs New South Wales more than $120 million annually. These inefficiencies hold back good ideas and stifle economic activity.
Planners experience these challenges daily and know that a holistic review of the system is needed.
The planning system should enable good planning
That is why the Planning Institute of Australia welcomes the NSW Productivity and Equality Commission’s report into barriers to a vibrant 24-hour economy.
Thriving night-time economies do not happen by chance – they are enabled by good planning. Good planning means:
- Balancing housing, nightlife and liveability
- Supporting vibrant precincts and cultural life
- Ensuring safe, reliable transport and quality public spaces
- Planning for diverse activities, from cultural venues and libraries to apartments, gyms and family-friendly spaces
- Using data and evidence to guide decisions
Planners are calling for reforms that deliver these outcomes – because good planning enables great communities, as well as faster processes. Good planning is the foundation of a vibrant 24-hour economy and reform should strengthen the planning system so planners can deliver communities that are both liveable and lively.
What planning reform is needed
Reform should draw on the expertise of planners; they are best placed to think strategically, identify challenges and propose solutions. Reform priorities for a night-time economy include:
- Removing duplication between planning approvals and liquor licensing
- Modernising zoning and updating strategic plans to support mixed-use and entertainment precincts
- Updating outdated conditions that restrict live music and cultural activity
- Aligning night-time precincts with late-night transport and safety measures
It’s time for a better planning system
NSW deserves a planning system that reflects today’s urban life. That means strong upfront strategic planning supported by streamlined and transparent assessment processes – frameworks that protect communities while also enabling cultural vitality and economic growth.
Planners stand ready to drive the reforms required to enable Sydney to grow as a safe, lively and globally competitive city.
