Byron Bay has been selected as the first regional town to trial the “Special Entertainment Precinct”. The SEP is a community-curated nighttime economy in Byron Bay, aiming to foster safe, culturally rich after-dark activities without replicating a late-night party scene. This sounds good and desirable, but opponents argue that it will merely revive the late-night, binge-drinking mayhem we experienced years ago.
Many locals have indeed deserted visiting or shopping in Byron Bay, especially at night. Many businesses are struggling, and the town is adapting further to cater to the needs of tourists and visitors. Mayor Sarah Ndyaie is backing the proposed SEP and the accompanying subsidies. But in true Byron Bay fashion, there are detractors.
Last Drinks
The background to this issue was the introduction of lockout laws in Sydney in 2014. It experienced a spate of anti-social behaviour and drunken violence. The state government introduced a raft of lockout restrictions known as Last Drinks. Violent behaviour decreased, but so did the vibrant nightlife. It was repealed in 2020, just in time for the COVID-19 pandemic, so the time economy has not had a good run.
The Special Entertainment Precincts were introduced in Sydney to revive the nighttime economy. They are not alone, as many cities around the world have been introducing night mayors – a paid position to oversee the nighttime economy. Sydney has had some success since restrictions were eased. Enmore Road (pictured) was recently voted “One of the Coolest locations in the World” after the SEP took off.
Byron Is Special
Byron Bay will be the first regional area chosen to be a test case to roll it out. It comes with a $162,000 grant to help establish it. The proposed zone will be the length of Jonson Street, bordered by Middleton and Boundary Streets. It will allow for more relaxed rules for outdoor dining and the use of open space, promote live music and live performances, and end the ability of noise complaints to shut down venues. You can view the council’s proposal and provide feedback here, or read more about the complete outline here.
Opponents to the plan were energised by reports that a drunken gang set upon an individual on a recent Friday night. The unprovoked attack in the railway line car park at 3 AM in the centre of town was witnessed by a few horrified onlookers. They also say that Byron now has 127 licensed venues compared to 75 a decade ago, and we have enough boozey behaviour.
The counterargument is that we are no longer a backpacker party town, and the stats show that Gen X and Y are drinking less. Something does need to be done to encourage more cultural activity and community interaction in Byron at night. But will a few more well-lit areas, buskers, and outdoor dining be enough to pull it off?