BREAKING: The City of Sydney has just announced a groundbreaking $20 million initiative to make outdoor dining a permanent feature on its streets, aiming to enhance the city’s al fresco dining experience. This plan arrives five years after temporary outdoor dining areas emerged during the pandemic, signalling a major shift in how Sydney’s urban landscape will evolve.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore stated that the council intends to “flip the script to supercharge outdoor dining.” The initiative replaces concrete barriers with attractive footpath extensions, aiming to transform the dining experience for patrons and businesses alike.
The draft changes, revealed on Wednesday, include significant revisions to existing outdoor dining guidelines. Notably, these changes will reverse the ban on live entertainment and eliminate outdated restrictions that required patrons to sit or stand at tables while eating or drinking outside.
Moore emphasized the council’s commitment to easing regulations for businesses, stating, “We don’t want any red tape holding you back.” This move is aimed at fostering a vibrant outdoor dining scene where businesses can thrive without unnecessary constraints.
The proposed guidelines also include five-year outdoor dining approvals, a streamlined application process, and relaxed rules for installing planter boxes and large pots on footpaths. These changes are expected to facilitate a more enjoyable and accessible atmosphere for diners across the city.
Since the start of 2023, the council has permanently waived all footpath and on-road outdoor dining fees, further encouraging the expansion of outdoor spaces. With nearly 1,000 applications approved since 2020, approximately 13,000 square metres of new outdoor dining space has been created across Sydney, with 48 of the 175 approved on-street dining areas already made permanent.
The initiative has received positive feedback from local business owners. Alfredo Perez, owner of Mrs Palmer Sandwich on Stanley Street, shared his enthusiasm, stating, “The best part is giving diners the choice: enjoy the full restaurant vibe inside, or relax outside in the open air.”
Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou commented on the potential impact of these changes, stating they would boost the 24-hour economy and enhance the city’s vibrancy. “Enabling operators to obtain five-year approvals is a great step forward,” he remarked.
If endorsed by councillors later this month, the updated guidelines will go on public exhibition in January 2024. Moore envisions the permanent outdoor dining spaces as not just functional but transformative, stating they will “change not just the face of our city but how we experience it.”
As the council prepares to implement these changes, Sydney residents and business owners alike are poised to experience a significant shift in the urban dining landscape, making this an exciting development to watch in the coming months.
