The NSW Government has laid out its plans for Sydney’s future with the 24-hour Economy Strategy, which has seen Government agencies working industry associations, advisory groups and councils to shape the city’s night-time economy.
The strategy sets out three key measures that will help bring the actions under the strategy to fruition, these are:
- A Coordinator General for the 24-hour Economy
- The 24-hour Economy Acceleration Program
- The Neon Grid
The strategy says that a Coordinator General will be appointed to be the central coordinator for the Strategy’s implementation, the key point of contact for its many stakeholders, and a champion for a vibrant, diverse, inclusive and safe 24-hour economy throughout Sydney.
The Coordinator General will work closely with the Minister responsible for the 24-hour economy, the Premier, other relevant ministers. The Coordinator General will also liaise closely with industry and councils to ensure they remain at the heart of this Strategy’s implementation.
In detailing the 24-hour economy acceleration program, the strategy states this will help Councils activate 24-hour economy hubs that reflect the unique needs and identities of their local communities.
The Program will be designed to support the activation of specific actions under the Strategy, through such activities as the provision of policy guidance, advice and Government support for specific activations. The Program will be managed and implemented by the Coordinator General with the support of a multi-stakeholder governance framework.
And finally the Neon Grid will enable Government, industry and councils to map, benchmark and plan the growth of Greater Sydney’s 24-hour economy as one interconnected whole.
Ultimately it will also be a tool that will connect local and international consumers of Sydney’s night-economy, as well as businesses and entrepreneurs, to the best that Greater Sydney has to offer.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the plan would make Sydney the best place to live and work as well as setting the State up for dynamic recovery following COVID-19.
“There is no denying Sydney is one of the best cities in the world, but we need to continue to do everything we can to ensure the jewel in our crown continues to shine both day and night,” Perrottet said.
“This strategy aims to drive investment, create jobs and attract more businesses to the CBD and surrounding suburbs, laying the ground-work for our State’s economic recovery so we can keep more businesses in business and people in jobs.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the Strategy was led by industry and aims to grow and support jobs in hospitality, tourism, retail and the arts.
“When we started planning this Strategy our goal was to take advantage of the $16 bn economic uplift from realising the potential of non-traditional work hours. Now, with the job losses resulting from the pandemic, that goal is more important than ever.”
“Sydneysiders deserve a global city that’s thriving 24-hours a day, and the world wants a 24-hour Sydney. We are going to turbocharge Sydney by working closely with industry and councils to implement the 39 actions across the Strategy’s five strategic pillars so the productivity of the night can rival that of the day to create more employment opportunities in arts, entertainment and cultural events throughout the evening.
“COVID-19 has hit the tourism, hospitality and the arts sectors hard. This Strategy sets out a pathway to activate home-grown events that create safe opportunities for people to enjoy across Greater Sydney,” Ayres said.
The NSW Government will work closely with industry and councils to identify and accelerate local 24-hour economy hubs across Sydney. The strategy has been widely welcomed by associations and industry, as you can read here.