The Beagle
Oct 6, 2020
Summer is coming and outdoor spaces are being opened up for alfresco drinking and dining just in time for the warmer weather with the NSW Government slashing red tape to allow quicker approval times for venues.
The new measures mean cafés, bars, restaurants and hotels will be able to apply for an outdoor dining licence without needing to get planning approval, making things easier for business owners. They are set to be rolled out first in The Rocks from October 16 and in the city from November 1 for a 12-month pilot.
The Government has worked worked with the City of Sydney and Place Management NSW, the landowner for The Rocks, to condense what was previously a three-month process involving multiple agencies, into a single application that takes a week.
An amendment to the Liquor Regulation will also allow expanded liquor licence boundaries to be approved in as little as three days - a process that previously took up to 51 days.
Councils across the State including Eurobodalla Council are encouraged to examine how they can fast-track outdoor dining area approvals at their end while ensuring public amenity and safety.
The NSW Government is exploring further changes so that all councils can take advantage of the new arrangements and implement similar streamlined processes in time for summer.
To read more about the COVID Safe Summer Plan please click here.