Special Entertainment Precincts (SEPs) have been developed by the NSW Government as a tool for local councils to help unlock the potential of their night-time economies, encourage live performance and support vibrant going-out precincts.

The purpose of the Program is to encourage councils to take up and implement trial SEPs across NSW and integrate the Purple Flag principles for excellence in night-time precinct management into the creation of sustainable and successful SEPs. It will also support actions under the NSW 24-Hour Economy Strategy to foster collaboration and create vibrant, diverse and coordinated precincts.

The objectives of the Program are to:

• support councils to establish sustainable and successful SEPs
• support actions under the NSW 24-Hour Economy Strategy to foster collaboration and create vibrant, diverse and coordinated precincts
• support streamlined and strategically placed night-time economy growth
• support safe, accessible and well-managed night-life precincts.

A total of $1,250,000 (excluding GST) in FY 2025/26 has been committed for this Program.

The amount available for each eligible council is:

• $20,000 to $200,000 (excluding GST) for the purpose of establishing a SEP/s; and an additional
• $10,000 to $50,000 (excluding GST) for the purpose of investigating Purple Flag accreditation including the costs of preparing a Purple Flag self-assessment report (unless a council already has an existing Purple Flag accreditation that covers a boundary within the proposed SEP/s)

The Program will be open from 10 November 2025 to 13 April 2026, or may close earlier if the Program funding is fully exhausted prior to this date.

To be eligible for the Program, applicants must:

• be a local council in NSW who has not previously received funding from the NSW Government to establish a SEP; and
• have a Council resolution to:
  • establish the SEP/s, which must identify a specific location and boundary for the SEP/s; and 
  • commit to establishing a Special Entertainment Precinct Working Group (PWG); and
  • investigate Purple Flag accreditation for the same boundary as the proposed SEP/s in the project period; unless a council already has an existing Purple Flag accreditation that covers a boundary within the proposed SEP/s  and

To demonstrate that the SEP/s align with council's strategic policies, applicants must align with at least one of the following:

• an adopted Night-Time Economy strategy; or
• another strategic council document that references the night-time economy as a key objective, priority, pillar or action; or
• resolved to prepare a night-time economy strategy and have other demonstrated strategic context including a visitor economy strategy or plan or economic development strategy or plan.

• Email: SEPs@24houreconomy.nsw.gov.au