Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne
The news that much-loved local brewery Future Brewing has had to launch a fundraiser to help address the increasing financial burden from sustained complaints is concerning.
Everybody knows that too many venues in Sydney have gone out of business in recent years because of the cost of dealing with the over-regulation of live entertainment and a system that too heavily favours complaints.
Part of what makes the Inner West special is our vibrant hospitality scene. Locals and visitors love checking out cafes, bars and breweries. Alongside our parks and playgrounds, libraries and recreation spaces, famous sporting fields and more, these venues add to the community and identity of the Inner West.
Venues like Future Brewing contribute to our local cultural life and make our neighbourhoods a better place. That’s why we want to protect them.
This is exactly why we introduced our groundbreaking Good Neighbour policy. The policy prioritises mediation and dialogue over costly regulatory and legal battles, to encourage residents, local businesses and creative venues to coexist.
Residents complaining about venues are invited by Council to sit down with the venue operators to resolve problems through discussion over a coffee or a beer. This policy has proven highly successful in protecting the rights of both venues and residents.
The Inner West is proudly the national capital of craft brewing and we want to keep it that way. That’s why Council has supported the Inner West Ale Trail, which continues to draw in visitors from around Australia. We are also proudly home to seven Special Entertainment Precincts and a Purple Flag-accredited area.
Future Brewing is a valued part of our Inner West community. It employs local people, supports local businesses and contributes to the hospitality, live music and craft brewing culture that makes our area unique.
For media enquiries please contact Heath Gilmore, heath.gilmore@innerwest.nsw.gov.au