Bosley said the increased financial challenges facing the sector had been highlighted by a string of recent business closures, including the Manly Boatshed and Sake Restaurant & Bar at Manly Wharf.
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“If bars and hotels are having to pay more for fees for policing [the reforms] will never take off because the venues will say it’s just too hard and too expensive,” he said.
“Half the venues have closed down in Manly in the last couple of years because the cost of running and operating hospitality is just too hard, and we don’t have any additional funds to put towards anything other than covering our overheads and making sure our staff are paid.”
Australian Hotels Association director of liquor and policing John Green said venues “already pay significant taxes, levies and licence fees” and additional amounts for policing “should not be borne by licensed premises”.
Northern Beaches Council’s night-time strategy, published in 2022, noted that, while public safety in Manly had “improved” since the early 2000s, antisocial behaviour and crime remained an issue around The Corso and the East Esplanade.
In January, about 40 youths were involved in an ugly brawl at Manly Wharf. The fracas erupted at 9pm on a Monday, as the area teemed with diners.
There were 25 recorded assaults at licensed venues in Manly in the 12 months to March, with 12 disorderly conduct incidents and three drug offences in licensed premises, according to data released by the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research this month.
Special Entertainment Precincts in NSW
- Burwood Council: Burwood town centre (proposed)
- Byron Shire Council: Byron Bay town centre (proposed)
- City of Sydney: 23 existing late night trading centres (proposed)
- Fairfield Council: Canley Heights and Canley Vale town centres (proposed)
- Hornsby Shire Council: Hornsby town centre (proposed)
- Inner West Council: Enmore Road, Balmain, Dulwich Hill, Leichhardt, Marrickville North, Marrickville Town Centre and Rozelle
- Northern Beaches Council: Manly town centre (proposed)
- Sutherland Shire Council: Cronulla town centre (proposed)
NSW Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner
In response to questions, NSW Police would not confirm if other commands had proposed user-pays models for their local special entertainment precincts.
Anna Pavoni, owner of Manly bar 55 North by Cibaria, argued the vibrancy reforms could boost public safety in Manly.
“The fact that the council is considering putting Manly as a special entertainment precinct highlights the work that’s been done to overhaul the culture in Manly,” she said, arguing the later opening times “would mean fewer people would be out in public drinking on the beach”.
“It would give somewhere for people to go at night,” she said.
Restaurateur Anna Pavoni believes the vibrancy reforms could boost public safety in Manly.Credit: Edwina Pickles
A year-long trial of the Manly special entertainment precinct will begin in mid-2026. It will include regular monitoring by Northern Beaches Council.
NSW Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham did not directly answer questions about whether he supported the police proposal, but said special entertainment precincts “are all about cutting costs and shredding red tape to allow business and activity to thrive at night, not to add more costs to doing business”.
He added that data from the original Enmore Road special entertainment precinct showed alcohol-related assaults had fallen in the area.
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