City ramps up after-dark revolution

In wake of approving detailed plans to reinvigorate Sydney’s nightlife, the City of Sydney Council is urging retailers in the CBD to extend their daily trading hours.

The new retail action plan was released to the public last week as part of Council’s new ‘Open Strategy’, which aims to revitalise Sydney’s night-time economy.

Suzie Matthews, Manager of the Late Night Economy for the City of Sydney, said later trading hours would be a smart decision that appealed to a new demographic of late-night shoppers.

“People have told us they want to go shopping, hit the gym or grab a haircut later into the evening. This presents new opportunities for retail businesses,” she said.

“It’s not about making businesses change their trading hours, it’s about helping them to manage costs and creating an environment where staying open later makes good business sense.”

Executive Director of the Australian Retailers Association, Russell Zimmerman, said the new late-night initiative may be seen as a costly venture for already struggling businesses.

“I applaud the City of Sydney Council for this initiative, but retailers aren’t going to open their doors after hours, and pay their employees penalty rates, if the trade isn’t justified,” he said.

However, Mr Zimmerman is encouraging retailers to pursue later trading agreements and believes the possible resurgence of industry is worth the risk.

“If retailers trade longer, there will be more money spent in the economy – it is a spiraling up-cycle. I am hopeful for it to work, and would encourage retailers to dip their toes in the water,” he said.

Council’s initiative aims to spike employment in the retail industry.

22-year-old Kenneth Sunga has worked in Sydney retail for the past three years. He said despite the extra working hours’ appeal to employees, the risks associated with late-night trading remain concerning.

“It could be pretty dangerous. Some customers might take advantage of the late opening hours, and enter the store drunk on weekends. I’d be concerned about equipment or items being damaged,” Mr Sunga said.

The reliability of public transport will be tested should retail hours be permanently extended. Mr Sunga said it is hard enough returning home after a normal Thursday late night.

“Sometimes stores can get pretty messy and we have to stay back for hours. It’d be good for someone who works close to the city. But for people like me who live out of the city, there would be so many issues with public transport,” he said.

The City of Sydney has acknowledged the problems that could be associated with public transport, and agreed to liaise with the State Government on the matter.

By Steph Nash