The bold plan to enliven the heart of the city

As part of their pandemic community recovery strategy, the City of Sydney has unveiled plans to turn Sydney into a 24-hour alfresco city by November. Move over New York!

The 12-month plan would tear apart logistical red tape currently preventing small business owners from serving late-night customers and waive outdoor dining fees until March 2021. Given the hospitality industry is reeling at the moment, the proposal couldn’t have come at a better time.

Plan to open up city streets

One of the main complaints by food and drink vendors has been the lack of space for customers due to COVID-19 social-distancing restrictions.

It’s hoped that opening up reclaimed laneways, footpaths and underused parking areas for bars, restaurants and other cultural venues will boost dine-in capacity and inject some much-needed funds into business owner’s back pockets.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore described that these plans have been a long time coming.

“We need to allow and encourage businesses to operate outdoors, and we need to support our creative and cultural life to activate and draw people back to our city, safely,” she said.

Outdoor dining to drive city recovery

Currently, the areas being looked at, in conjunction with the state government, include dining hotspots in Sydney’s CBD as well as other late-night watering holes such as Crown Street.

This comes as an addition to the community recovery plan outlined in June and the $72.5 million support package released in April.

It’s expected more businesses will get on board with the new 24-hour schedule off the back of night-time diversification grants offered to help businesses extend their trading hours.

Other support packages offered to small businesses by the City of Sydney have also been extended to March 30, 2021. This includes providing additional rent support and waiving market permits.

This reactivation of Sydney’s cultural centres was put at the top of the to-do-list by the Lord Mayor after consultation with the wider Sydney community.

“Having brunch with friends, a wine after work or grabbing a quick bite and watching the world go by are some of the best moments of urban life. Encouraging outdoor dining makes it easier for us to enjoy those things and support local businesses while maintaining a safe physical distance.”