It was timely that Ms Karen McKeown OAM, Member for Penrith hosted The Hon. John Graham MLC, Minister for Music and the Night-Time Economy in Penrith for a roundtable with a good cross section of local businesses and operators.

Minister Graham spoke about NSW Government’s night-time economy reforms, programs, and grants.
Despite the recent regulation changes around noise, planning and liquor licensing having been streamlined, updated, and simplified through the NSW Government's 24-Hour Economy Legislation local Penrith businesses are still struggling.

It was also suggested that for Penrith’s High Street, we could explore the special entertainment precincts initiative to support live entertainment through extended trading hours for live music venues, and favourable noise controls that provide operational certainty for venues, neighbouring residents, and businesses.

The discussion was diverse from local opportunities and challenges in the pursuit of a thriving night-time economy to the issue of ‘too much red tape’ to navigate for a small business.

State Member for Penrith Karen McKeown said:
‘It is important that the State Government regularly sits down and listens to our Penrith community, they need to know they have been heard.’

NSW Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, John Graham MLC said:
‘We are confident that there are programs on the way to help the Penrith community come alive and thrive.’