Cronulla is becoming NSW’s latest Special Entertainment Precinct, bringing extended trading hours and new sound settings to support the area’s night-time economy.
The 12-month trial will commence on 4 September 2026 and cover bars, pubs, cafes, restaurants, clubs and shops within the Cronulla town centre.
The precinct is NSW’s first beachside Special Entertainment Precinct and brings the total number of established precincts across the state to 12.
Under the trial, eligible businesses will have access to more flexible trading arrangements, while entertainment-related sound will be managed through a dedicated Precinct Management Plan.
Maximum indoor trading hours will generally extend to midnight from Sunday to Thursday and 2am on Fridays, Saturdays and nights before public holidays, while outdoor trading can continue until 11pm.
The precinct follows community consultation on trading hours and sound settings and will operate as a 12-month trial, allowing Council, businesses and residents to monitor its impact before a decision is made on whether it should become permanent.
Sutherland Shire Council received $187,330 through the NSW Government’s Special Entertainment Precinct Kickstart Grant program to support acoustic studies, strategic planning, lighting assessments and community engagement for the Cronulla trial.
More than 20 other councils across NSW are also preparing Special Entertainment Precincts, including Parramatta, City of Sydney, Ryde, Hornsby, Northern Beaches, Waverley and Canterbury-Bankstown.
The Cronulla trial will run until 4 September 2027, after which Sutherland Shire Council will assess its operation and decide whether to make the precinct permanent.
Be the first to comment