City of Newcastle is committed to creating a safe and vibrant night-time economy. Newcastle After Dark 2018-2022 is Newcastle's first specific strategy for guiding the development of the city's night-time economy. The strategy identifies six priority areas including strategic alcohol management, night-time economic development and cultural participation and activation.

The NSW Government is expanding the trial to ease liquor restrictions in specific areas of Newcastle.

The NSW Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello announced on the 31 March that following the successful evaluation of the stage 1 trial, which related to low impact venues in Newcastle, the State Government would be initiating a stage 2 trial (statement of regulatory intent). The stage 2 trial would run for a period of 12 months and will include relaxation of;

• Lockout conditions, so patrons can enter pubs after 1am until closing time;
• Liquor trading hours to be extended from 3am to 3.30am, provided development consent is in place to allow the venue to stay open; and
• Restrictions to be lifted on the types of drinks that may be served, allowing higher strength cocktails, neat spirits and shooters.

A total of 21 venues have signed up for the State-led trial.

To support the community and local business through the phase 2 trial, the City of Newcastle has reviewed its Newcastle After Dark Strategy, along with the Community Survey conducted in 2020, and identified a range of support projects to implement in support of the trial.

CN is undertaking to deliver the following projects :

• Safe Streets Program: Revised program in partnership with Not-for-Profit Organisations to ensure proactive harm minimisation and support for nightlife participants.
• Community Consultation: CN will conduct the Newcastle After Dark Survey, City Centre Resident Survey and In-Venue data collection via the Patron Survey as part of the continued surveying of participant and general community to understand sentiment and behaviour.
• Walk Smart Network: A revised map for pedestrian mobility routes and integration into the City of Newcastle App designed to ensure that community can move around the city at night in a safe and effective manner.
• Night-time Activations: Interactive infrastructure and performance activations in key public space locations within the Walk Smart Network to provide active surveillance.
• Pick Up Drop Off Zones (PUDOs): Designated pick up/drop off points for private vehicle and rideshare services within 50m of Trial venues.

To align with the Night Time Licence Premises Trial Stage 2, the introduction of designated Pick Up Drop Off (PUDO) zones has been implemented at the following venues:

PUDO restrictions will not affect day-time trade and the zones have been planned to operate in support of activity associated with the late-night economy (after 12am) to avoid impact on the surrounding businesses that contribute to the earlier evening economy.

PUDO Signage