We believe Manly can flourish as an exciting night-time destination for entertainment, dining, and culture, while ensuring the right balance between vibrancy, business success and community amenity.

Council recently announced it was seeking grant funding from the NSW Government's Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) Kickstart Grant Program to help establish an 18-month trial for a special entertainment precinct in Manly. Grant funds could vary between $50K to $200K. 

Under the trial, Council would protect residential amenity by preventing exposure to excessive entertainment noise meanwhile enhancing vibrancy in designated areas. This balance can be achieved by establishing maximum trading hours and sound controls for both unlicensed and licensed businesses.  

Aligning with the My Place: Manly place plan, the SEP would also enhance the area's cultural and economic vitality and support sustainable business growth. 

This isn’t just about licensed venues; imagine more gigs and cultural events, and more shops and services open later at night benefiting all ages and families. 

If successful, the trial is set to kick off in mid-2026. During this period, new tailored noise management controls and trading hours will be tested, ensuring businesses have the certainty they need to operate successfully, and residents can be confident that sound levels will be well-managed.

Quick facts on special entertainment precincts 

• Sound controls will be informed by acoustic testing and designed to suit the area’s context and promote more live music and performances. 
• Can increase the variety of night-time activities and attract different groups of people to the area, helping make the community more diverse.
• Both licensed and unlicensed businesses, including bookshops and cafes, can trade later without needing planning approval. 
• Venues that host live music and performances can receive an 80% reduction in liquor licence fees and additional liquor trading hours.
• New trading hours and sound controls override existing planning controls and conditions in liquor licenses and development approvals, with no reduction in a business’ approved trading hours.

Have your say

What do you think of the proposed precinct boundary? Which businesses and locations would you like to see participating in the SEP?

Before we submit the application, we want to hear from you. Visit Your Say to learn more and comment by Fri 11 April.

If the grant application is successful, a working group will be established to inform the preparation and implementation of the SEP trial. Participants will include a diverse group of representatives from the entertainment and live music industry, local businesses, community groups, NSW Police, NSW Liquor & Gaming and other key stakeholders.