Proposed Cronulla Special Entertainment Precinct

Promoting a thriving, vibrant and safe night-time economy

We’re proposing a Special Entertainment Precinct (SEP) in Cronulla, supporting a long-term vision for a thriving, vibrant and safe night-time economy in Cronulla Town Centre.

SEP’s are part of the NSW Government’s Vibrancy Reforms designed to encourage live music, outdoor dining and cultural activity across the state. The Cronulla SEP has been proudly funded by the NSW Government.

In late 2024, we consulted with our community about the opportunity for a SEP in Cronulla and received strong levels of support. We also heard that safety, reducing anti-social behaviour, and providing the right amenities to support night-time trading are important to the community.

Your feedback has helped shape the next stage of the proposed SEP for Cronulla.

To support the proposal, we've done expert acoustic, sound and lighting studies and completed significant public domain upgrades in the town centre. We are establishing a Precinct Working Group (PWG) made up of key stakeholders and community members to help guide the next stages of the project. You can find out more about our PWG on our website.

Proposed SEP

The proposed Special Entertainment Precinct for Cronulla represents a new way to encourage additional live music, hospitality and cultural activity, while protecting and enhancing the quality of life of nearby residents. It’s all set out in a Precinct Management Plan (PMP) which provides a clear framework for businesses and resident amenity. Key features of the proposal include:

• Flexible trading hours —businesses are more easily able to extend their operating hours when they comply with entertainment-related activity sound limits.
• Entertainment sound controls — all venues must stay within set sound limits, and new developments are required to consider the need for sound‑insulated design.
• Precinct management — the PMP outlines roles and responsibilities for stakeholders, including how issues and complaints will be managed, along with clear sound controls and trading hours.
• Venue obligations — venues are expected to follow clear ‘good neighbour’ practices to prevent impacts on nearby residents and resolve concerns quickly.
• 12‑month trial period — the precinct will run as a one‑year trial so Council can assess its performance before deciding on the next steps.

We’re seeking feedback on the Planning Proposal, which includes the Precinct Management Plan and expert studies.

Next steps

Following community consultation, we will review and consider all feedback received. If Council decides to proceed with the proposal, a 12-month trial period will be implemented to evaluate the successes of a SEP. We expect a trial to start from mid-2026. This will also include updating relevant Planning Certificates to state whether a property is located within the SEP boundary.