A cost cutting initiative from the Minns Labor Government and the local council has saved Lakemba Nights stallholders an average of $20,000, putting Australia’s largest cultural festival on a more sustainable financial footing.
For Lakemba Nights a NSW Government program allowed the City of Canterbury Bankstown to change the stallholder fee model, purchase portable meridian safety barriers, consultation for traffic planning, pop-up marquees for food stalls, storage solutions at the council depot and festoon lighting.
The Permit/Plug/Play pilot program was introduced in 2024 to deal with the rising costs that are threatening much loved community street events. The pilot program has supported Canterbury Bankstown and 16 other councils to reduce road closure costs by an average of two-thirds.
These savings included traffic management and vehicle mitigation measures that slashed costs by around 70 per cent. Development approval times were cut by one-third, and 300 permanent reforms were implemented including power outlets, water, storage, traffic management and event infrastructure.
Around 1.2 million people attended 17 program-funded events, with participating businesses at street event locations reporting turnover upticks of up to 75 per cent. More than 1700 local jobs have been supported as a result of the pilot program.
Building on the success of the pilot program, a new round of Permit/Plug/Play is offering up to $500,000 in grant funding to 24 local councils.
Recipients include the Cumberland Council, which will use the funding for ‘Granville: Ready, Set, Activate,’ a community event to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Granville Train Disaster. The same improvements, approvals and reusable infrastructure will then be used for its Easter celebrations, making community gatherings easier and more cost effective.
The Transport for NSW Permit/Plug/Play program runs in combination with its Open Streets Program which is supporting 46 councils to deliver 57 recurring event series across NSW over three years. In previous Open Streets rounds, local businesses reported an approximate 60 per cent average increase in sales turnover during events.
The full list of councils receiving Permit/Plug/Play grants, and their projects, can be found here.
Minister for Transport, Minister for the Arts and the Night-Time Economy, John Graham said:
“After covid cancellations and escalating costs, it was touch-and-go for Australia’s largest cultural festival, but we’ve been able to help Lakemba Nights thrive for years to come.
“Anywhere we can systematically cut event costs is a huge win in the current cost of living crisis.
“These structural cost reductions will flow on for years into the future and my hope is that operators will pass those savings on to festival goers at the cash register.
“When I first came to office, I was briefed that it was costing up to $122,000 to close a street for a community event. I couldn’t believe it. I’m very happy we’re fixing this so we can have more street events that bring communities together and stimulate local economies.
Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:
“Lakemba Nights is one of the great success stories of NSW, bringing people together through culture, food and community while showcasing the diversity that makes our state so vibrant.
“The Minns Labor Government is proud to support Lakemba Nights, helping the council and local community deliver a bigger and better event while reducing costs and cutting red tape.
“By cutting red tape and lowering expenses for stallholders, we are supporting the long-term sustainability of the festival, we’re backing local businesses, and we are ensuring this iconic event continues to thrive for years to come.”
Member for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis said:
“Our amazing Lakemba Nights during Ramadan is Australia’s second-biggest street event behind Vivid and it means so much to the community.
“I’m thrilled the NSW Government is reducing the cost and complexity of holding these kinds of events.”
Member for Bankstown, Jihad Dib said:
“Lakemba Nights, originally known as Ramadan Nights, has become such a source of pride for the community over its nearly 20 year run and it is great to see it has become a destination for visitors from across Sydney and beyond.
“Lakemba Nights shows how culture and community can unite people and I’m pleased we will continue to see thousands of people gather to share food and experiences during Ramadan.”
Mayor Bilal El-Hayek, Mayor of City of Canterbury Bankstown said:
“With the ever-increasing costs to hold events, it’s just not possible for Council to deliver them without the support and funding from the NSW Government.
“The grant assisted Council in providing traffic safety installations for Lakemba Nights and also means we can reduce costs by reuse these installations at other events.
“We have a huge multicultural community living in our City and it’s great to see the Government working with Council to ensure we can continue to deliver events which bring people together.”
Stallholder at Lakemba Nights Mohammed Zarqa said:
“These festivals are very important to my business. We need this government support because it is very expensive for councils to hold them. This is a much better system.
“Lakemba Nights is a festival all about unity. People come from all over NSW – from the Northern Beaches and Eastern Suburbs – and from all over the world to see our Ramadan market.
“I love to keep the vibes and make people happy.”
Mayor Ola Hamed, Mayor of Cumberland Council said:
“This infrastructure is essential to supporting growing visitation and ensuring safe, accessible participation in one of our community’s most significant annual events – the commemoration of the Granville Train Disaster.
“This occasion brings residents, families and visitors together to honour those affected and reflect on the lasting impact of the tragedy.
“By strengthening and improving access to the area, we can accommodate larger numbers of people comfortably and safely, preserving the dignity of the event. These proposed interventions will help ensure the day remains a respectful commemoration and a meaningful gathering for the wider community.”