Decision details

Moved by Councillor Arkins, seconded by the Chair (the Lord Mayor) –

It is resolved that:

(A)        Council note:

(i)           the significant success of the City’s outdoor dining program, which has activated our streets, supported local businesses, and created vibrant spaces for the community to come together;

(ii)         the extension of outdoor dining across the city has been warmly embraced by residents and visitors, strengthening Sydney’s reputation as a global dining destination;

(iii)        feedback from diners and businesses highlights that while outdoor dining has been a success, the experience can be diminished by the intensity and cool whiteness of the City’s LED street lights directly above outdoor dining areas;

(iv)        warmer-toned, dimmed lighting is generally recognised as more pleasant and welcoming for social dining, enhancing amenity and street life; and

(v)         in 2024, the City started a major upgrade to replace its ageing streets lights with a new generation of energy-saving LEDs featuring smart controls. These new lights can be dimmed, brightened or switched on and off and fault monitored remotely, and they’re expected to cut energy use by a further 30%;

(B)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to investigate whether there are any City-controlled street lights above approved outdoor dining locations that could be dimmed and/or adjusted to a warmer tone during evening hours; and

(C)        the Chief Executive Officer be requested to write to the Chief Executive Officer of Ausgrid seeking collaboration with the City’s Chief Executive Officer to identify the street lights above approved outdoor dining locations, to be dimmed and/or adjusted to a warmer tone during permitted operating hours.

Carried unanimously.

X113758