Minute by the Lord Mayor

To Council:

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is bringing together communities across Australia as we support our national team. In our area, more than half of our population have both parents born overseas. The FIFA World Cup unites the people of the more than 200 nations in our area.

Now that the Socceroos have progressed to the knockout Round of 32, residents, visitors and businesses are embracing the excitement and harmony these games create. SBS is broadcasting and streaming the FIFA World Cup to ensure all Australians have free, equitable access to one of the world's biggest sporting events. Businesses from convenience stores to barbers are streaming the games while open for business.

For licensed venues, the NSW Government granted extended trading under section 13 of the Liquor Act 2007 for FIFA World Cup games.

Given the early morning games, non-licensed businesses should also be able to trade early mornings to provide food and other services to people out watching the games.

In 2026, the Sydney Marathon will be held on 30 August 2026 and begin at 6.15am. The marathon attracts around 50,000 runners and even more spectators to our city. Participants and visitors alike should be able to visit retail, food and other services before and during the marathon. The route travels through Sydney, Pyrmont, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills and Paddington.

Special event extended trading, introduced in 2025 under section 2.132A of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (Codes SEPP), allows councils to declare extended trading hours for unlicensed premises, but only until midnight for events of regional, state or national significance.

As currently drafted, this section does not enable venues to open early for special events, such as the FIFA World Cup and the Sydney Marathon.

On 7 April 2026, I wrote to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces requesting that the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure make the necessary changes to the Codes SEPP to allow Councils to set any hours for extended trading during special events, rather than limiting it to midnight. We hope this change can be made with urgency.

The City of Sydney has flagged with the Minister for Planning and Public Space's office the need for an urgent amendment to the SEPP to amend this section to enable greater flexibility for non-licensed venues.

I propose that Council endorse the granting of additional trading hours for the remaining FIFA World Cup games, starting with Australia vs Egypt which will kick off at 4am on 4 July 2026. Should the NSW Government make the required amendments to the Codes SEPP, this resolution will automatically enable the extended trading hours to apply to eligible venues. Venues already able to trade beyond the extended hours can trade as usual.

Eligible venues include community facilities, entertainment facilities, restaurants, cafés, shops, and takeaway food and drink premises. Home occupations (sex services), restricted premises and sex services premises are excluded.

I am recommending that Council declare the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2026 Sydney Marathon special events to allow extended trading for unlicensed premises, supporting local businesses and contributing to a lively economy.

The areas to which the extended hours will apply will be:

(a)       For the 2026 FIFA World Cup - the City of Sydney Local Government area; and

(b)       For the Sydney Marathon - the suburbs of Sydney, Pyrmont, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills and Paddington (in the City of Sydney Local Government Area).

THE RT HON CLOVER MOORE AO

Lord Mayor of Sydney

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

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         on 23 February 2026, Council declared the 2026 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade weekend as a special event to enable extended opening hours;

(ii)        that an amendment is required to section 2.132A of the Codes SEPP by the NSW Government to enable Council to grant extended opening hours early in the morning;

(iii)      in March 2026, following a Resolution of Council, the Chief Executive Officer wrote to the Secretary of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure requesting amendments to the Codes SEPP to councils to grant extended trading hours beyond midnight; and

(iv)      in April 2026, the Lord Mayor wrote to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces to request the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure make the necessary changes to the Codes SEPP to allow Councils to set any hours for extended trading during special events, rather than limiting it to midnight;

(B)      subject to the amendment of the Codes SEPP, the FIFA World Cup games to be held on 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19 and 20 July 2026, and the Sydney Marathon to be held on 30 August 2026 are declared special events as per the definition in 2.132A of the SEPP (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008;

(C)      subject to the amendment of the Codes SEPP, on 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 19 and 20 July 2026, extended trading hours will apply to eligible premises in the City of Sydney Local Government Area in accordance with the following times:

(i)         trading permissible from 3am on Saturday 4 July 2026;

(ii)        trading permissible from 2am on Sunday 5 July 2026;

(iii)      trading permissible from 5am on Monday 6 July 2026;

(iv)      trading permissible from 4am on Tuesday 7 July 2026;

(v)       trading permissible from 1am on Wednesday 8 July 2026;

(vi)      trading permissible from 5am on Friday 10 July 2026;

(vii)     trading permissible from 4am on Saturday 11 July 2026;

(viii)    trading permissible from 12:01am on Sunday 12 July 2026;

(ix)      trading permissible from 4am on Wednesday 15 July 2026;

(x)       trading permissible from 4am on Thursday 16 July 2026;

(xi)      trading permissible from 6am on Sunday 19 July 2026;

(xii)     trading permissible from 4am on Monday 20 July 2026; and

(D)      Subject to the amendment of the Codes SEPP on 30 August 2026, extended trading hours will apply to eligible premises in the suburbs of Sydney, Pyrmont, Darlinghurst, Surry Hills and Paddington (in the City of Sydney Local Government Area) in accordance with the following times:

(i)         trading permissible from 4am on Sunday 30 August 2026.

Carried unanimously.

S051491