Local businesses are addressing the lack of a nighttime economy by petitioning for an entertainment precinct for Kiama.

Kiama traders, community advocates and the labour representative, Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine, met in front of the Central Perk Cafe to announce a community initiative to start an entertainment precinct in the heart of Kiama.

The petition comes after numerous attempts from local businesses to encourage live music and extended trading at their respective venues.

Morgan Lewis, owner of local music venue Fillmore’s, is no stranger to these fruitless endeavours. “We’ve constantly been under threat because we offer entertainment, it’s a real sticking point,” Lewis said. 

Fillmore’s, one of the few establishments within the town centre offering a space for local and visiting artists, provides an accessible venue for everyone to enjoy live music. 

Special entertainment precincts are an NSW Government initiative, which empowers local councils to support live entertainment through extended trading hours and favourable noise controls.

Enmore Road in Sydney recently became the first established entertainment precinct for NSW. After a two-year trial, the results have been overwhelmingly positive. 

Two hundred and seventy visitors were surveyed, and 91 per cent of punters called for the entertainment precinct to be finalised. Participating venues noted that they had experienced an increase in patronage as a result of the precinct plans.

The drive to petition for an entertainment precinct in Kiama started with community advocate Katelin McInerney.

“As a live music-loving teen and young person in Kiama in the 90s and 00s, I've been saddened to see that the venues and opportunities I had growing up really haven't grown in our town since then.”

The Hon. Dr Sarah Kaine supports the initiative, recognising the lack of dedicated spaces and protections for Kiama businesses to offer year-round events and performances.

“This initiative promises not only to enhance the local cultural vibrancy, but also holds tremendous potential for job creation and economic development,” Kaine said.

The initiative hopes to reduce the barriers for local businesses wanting to offer local performances and hold extended trading hours, to grow the culture and arts sector within the town, and to boost employment and revenue within the industry.

Members of the community can sign the petition at:

• Central Perk Cafe, 84 Terralong Street Kiama.
• Fillmore’s Cafe, Unit 2/38-40 Manning St, Kiama.

For more information, including updates on locations where you can sign the petition, visit the Kiama Entertainment Precinct.