Northern Beaches Council is seeking community input on the boundary for the Manly Special Entertainment Precinct trial.
Northern Beaches Council is inviting the community and businesses to have their say on the proposed boundary of a Special Entertainment Precinct trial in Manly as part of the NSW Government’s SEP Kickstart Grant Program.
If Council is successful, the grant will enable Council to undertake acoustic testing and work with the community to create new trading hours and entertainment sound controls to support live music and cultural events while balancing the needs of residents, businesses and visitors. The 18-month trial will start in mid-2026.
Northern Beaches Council conducted a community consultation on the Manly Place Plan, and feedback was that “Manly’s nightlife needs a broader variety of activities, entertainment, events, shops, restaurants, bars and cultural experiences for people of all ages.”
“To build on this sentiment and to deliver on actions endorsed in the Manly Place Plan, Northern Beaches Council in February 2025, resolved to seek grant funding from the NSW Government to commission acoustic studies to inform the establishment of a Special Entertainment Precinct trial for the Manly commercial centre. If the grant application is successful, the trial will start in mid-2026.”
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins encouraged the community to share their views on where the SEP boundary should be established.
“We want to hear from everyone – whether you’re a resident, business owner, performer or venue operator. Your feedback will help shape the precinct boundaries and ensure we strike the right balance between supporting entertainment and maintaining neighbourhood amenity,” the Mayor says.
“Local businesses and residents called for a vibrant and diverse entertainment scene to boost the area’s nightlife as part of the Manly Place Plan. The SEP trial is a step in the right direction, providing dedicated spaces where live music and entertainment can blossom. It also simplifies and reduces costs for businesses, such as bookshops and cafés, to extend trading hours.
“Establishing SEP boundaries would help create a thriving cultural hub with planning controls that better support venues, performers and a safe, sustainable nighttime economy and cultural scene. Vigorous acoustic testing would ensure appropriate sound controls are in place to allow the precinct to operate without significantly disturbing nearby residents. Community feedback will play a key role in determining the most suitable area for the SEP and ensuring the trial meets the broader community’s needs.”
Council is now seeking submissions on the proposed precinct boundary. The proposal can be reviewed and commented on via Council’s Your Say page until 11 April 2025.
For more information visit our Your Say page.
Main Image ©-Karen-Watson via Northern Beaches Council.
