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Liquor Freeze

On Thursday 25 June 2009, former Premier Rees announced a 12 month freeze on liquor licences in three areas of the City of Sydney: Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, Kings Cross and CBD South. The freeze was extended for a further 12 months until Friday 24 June 2011 by former Premier Keneally.

On Thursday 23 June 2011, the Premier announced a further 12 month extension of the liquor licence freeze in Oxford Street, Kings Cross and CBD South until Sunday 24 June 2012.

The aim of the freeze is to halt the growth in patron numbers in these precincts and to prevent a further deterioration of safety and amenity, while longer-term, integrated, evidence-based and sustainable solutions are developed and implemented.

The freeze applies to:

  • Liquor licences lodged after Thursday 25 June 2009
  • Development applications   to increase venue capacity or hours of operation lodged after Thursday 3 September 2009; and
  • Footway applications lodged after Monday 21 September 2009.

The freeze is in effect until Sunday 24 June 2012.

You can download the freeze provisions in the Liquor Act 2007 from the NSW Legislation website.

On Monday 21 September 2009, Council endorsed the freeze on outdoor footway applications in the three freeze areas.  This applies to footways areas that are licensed.  On Monday 27 June 2011, Council extended the freeze on outdoor footway application in the three freeze areas until Sunday 24 June 2012. You can download the Lord Mayor's Minute about the footway freeze. 

On Monday 7 December 2009, Council endorsed the Late Night Management Precincts Research.  This research is one of the key projects identified by the Sydney Liquor Taskforce to improve long term safety in the City's freeze areas and in late night management areas generally.  You can download the Lord Mayor's Minute about the research.

On Friday 19 March 2010, the Premier announced the launch of Hassle Free Nights. You can download the NSW Government's Hassle Free Nights and find out more about other measures proposed at http://www.nsw.gov.au/hassle-free-nights.

On Thursday 23 June 2011, the Premier announced a further 12 month extension of the liquor licence freeze until Sunday 24 June 2012. You can download the Liquor Amendment (Freeze on Certain Liquor Licences) Regulation 2011 (the Regulation). The Regulation extends the freeze period for restrictions on the granting of liquor licences, various other liquor-related applications and development consents in respect of premises in Oxford Street, Kings Cross and CBD South.

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Freeze Locations

You can download maps of the Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, Kings Cross and Southern CBD Precinct Freeze areas as PDF documents.

Oxford Street, Darlinghurst Precinct

1. Oxford Street from Whitlam Square to the Flinders Street intersection (at Taylor Square)
2. Flinders Street from Oxford Street to Short Street
3. Numbers 10-20 Oxford Square
4.

All streets and laneways enclosed by the following streets

  • Crown Street from Oxford Street to the Campbell Street
  • Campbell Street from Crown Street to Bourke Street
  • Patterson Lane from Bourke Street to Flinders Street

Download

Kings Cross Precinct

1. Darlinghurst Road from William Street to the start of Macleay Street
2. Bayswater Road from Darlinghurst Road to the Ward Avenue intersection

Download

Southern CBD Precinct

1. George Street from Park Street to Hay Street
2. Liverpool Street from George Street to Castlereagh Street
3. Goulburn Street from George Street to Castlereagh Street

Download

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Freeze Licence Categories

The freeze on certain categories of liquor licences is effective from Thursday 25 June 2009 until Sunday 24 June 2012.  Liquor licence applications lodged before Thursday 25 June 2009 are not affected by the freeze.

The following licence categories are included in the freeze for new licences and for extended trading applications:

  • Hotel licence (including general hotel licences  / small bars)
  • Club licence
  • On-premises licence that relates to a public entertainment venue (such as restaurants)
  • Packaged liquor licence (ie: liquor stores)
  • Producer/wholesaler licence
  • Authorisations for on-premises licences for venues other than those providing public entertainment (including for restaurants) are also included in the freeze if they:
    • increase the patron capacity of the premises; or
    • increase the number of people able to enter the freeze precinct.

The Freeze also restricts the granting of extended hours, the variation or revocation of certain liquor licence conditions, the issue of “primary service authorisations” (allowing the service of alcohol without an accompanying meal) and restricts the ability to change the boundaries of licensed premises.

You can download the freeze provisions in the Liquor Act 2007 from the NSW Legislation website.

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Development Application (DA) Freeze

The freeze on development approvals to increase venue capacity or hours of operation is effective from the date of the Bill's introduction into Parliament on Thursday 3 September 2009 until Sunday 24 June 2012. Development applications lodged before Thursday 3 September 2009 are not affected by the freeze.

The Freeze requires that the consent authority, the City of Sydney, must not grant development consent to premises subject to the liquor licence freeze, located in the freeze areas. This includes DAs for:

  • New premises
  • Premises seeking to increase patron capacity via trading hours
  • Premises seeking to increase patron capacity via expansion of the size of their premises.

There is no right of appeal to the Land and Environment Court for a deemed refusal for these types of applications during the freeze period.

You can download the freeze provisions in the Liquor Act 2007 from the NSW Legislation website.

You can also download the Liquor Amendment (Freeze on Certain Liquor Licences) Regulation 2011. The Regulation extends by a further 12 months the freeze period for restrictions on the granting of liquor licences, various other liquor-related applications and development consents in respect of premises in the freeze precincts.

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Footway Freeze

An extension of the freeze on new and extended footway seating areas for licensed premises in the liquor freeze areas was endorsed by Council on Monday 27 June 2011.  The footway freeze is effective from Monday 27 June 2011 – Sunday 24 June 2012.  You can download the Lord Mayor's Minute about the footway freeze.

Footway approvals will not be granted to licensed premises in the freeze areas if they:

  • Increase the patron capacity of the premises
  • Increase the number of people likely to enter the freeze precinct principally to consume alcohol.

This includes new venues and for venues with existing footway areas seeking to extend trading hours or increase capacity.

Footway dining approvals will still be assessed in accordance with the City's ordinary processes for licensed venues outside of the freeze area, and will still be considered for non-licensed premises within the freeze areas (such as cafés).

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Late Night Management Precincts Research

On Monday 7 December 2009, Council endorsed new research into our late night management precincts.  This research is a key priority and aims identified by the Sydney Liquor Taskforce to underpin longer term licensing reform in NSW.  You can download the Lord Mayor's Minute about the research.

The research will provide information about pedestrian volume and activity, land use diversity and environmental factors late at night in Oxford Street, Kings Cross and the Southern CBD over four nights in early 2010 and again in winter 2010.  You can download the research methodology.

The data from the research will guide the City about the type, location and level of infrastructure we need to service these areas, particularly on a Friday and Saturday night when large numbers of people visit our late night management areas. 
The research will be used as a benchmark to measure changes in pedestrian activity and land uses over time and will give the City a better understanding of what exists in our late night economy.

Downloads

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Last Updated: Wednesday 6 July, 2011

Please Note:
While care is taken to ensure accuracy, the City of Sydney cannot guarantee that information expressed here is correct and recommends that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use. The City of Sydney makes no warranty or undertaking, whether expressed or implied, nor does it assume any legal liability, whether direct or indirect.