Place of Public Entertainment (PoPE)

What is a Place of Public Entertainment Approval?

Under the new amendments to the Sydney Olympic Park Regulation 2001, the Authority now has the responsibility for issuing approvals relating to the use of a building or temporary structure as a Place of Public Entertainment (PoPE).

A PoPE is regulated under the provisions of section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993, Part 2 of the Local Government (Approvals) Regulation 1999 and certain Parts of the Building Code of Australia.

What is a Place of Public Entertainment?

Under the Dictionary of the Local Government Act, the following definitions apply:

public entertainment;

(a) means entertainment to which admission may ordinarily be gained by members of the public on payment of money, or other consideration, as the price or condition of admission and an entertainment does not cease to be a public entertainment merely because,

(i) some (but not all) persons may be admitted to the entertainment otherwise than on payment of money, or other consideration, as the price or condition of admission; or

(ii) such payment, or other consideration, is demanded as the charge for a meal or other refreshment, or for any other service or thing, before admission to the entertainment is granted or as the charge for the entertainment after admission to the entertainment has been granted; and

(b) includes a public meeting

place of public entertainment means;

(a) a drive-in theatre; or

(b) an open air theatre; or

(c) a theatre or public hall; or

(d) licensed premises

Why is a PoPE approval required?

The main purpose of approving PoPE venues is to enable the venue operator and the approval Authority to ensure the health, safety and welfare of members of the public who are attending these venues.

Places of Public Entertainment can potentially represent a risk to public safety in the event of fire or other emergency. Traditionally these premises can be crowded, noisy, dark and may often have alcohol affected patrons. These factors or a combination of these factors, may affect a patron's decision-making ability in the event of an emergency situation. As such PoPE venues have to comply with reasonably stringent fire and life safety requirements.

How is my PoPE application assessed?

• An initial application to the Authority must be made for the commencement of the operation of the public entertainment area within the venue. The application must include a plan of the public entertainment area in relation to the overall building, a description of the nature of the entertainment to be provided and include copies of relevant current Fire Safety Statements (identifying each essential fire safety measure)
• The application is to be signed by the applicant and the owner of the land
• The Authority will consider all applications with due regard to fire and life safety, egress and emergency evacuation, adequate sanitary facilities for males/females and persons with a disability as well as the fire detection, suppression and prevention measures existing within the building
• Once all details as identified on the application form are submitted, the Authority will seek to assess the application within a period of thirty (30) days or less. This assessment may include inspection/s of the premises by officers of the Authority's Building Approvals Unit
• The Authority may impose conditions of approval such as the alteration of the design or layout, hours of operation, the maximum number of people to be accommodated, maintenance regime of fire safety measures or provisions for pedestrian and vehicle access
• After the initial approval is granted, it will be the responsibility of the venue operator to make ongoing applications for a Place of Public Entertainment approval to the Authority on an annual basis

Download an Application for use of Premises as a Place of Public Entertainment (PDF - 70k)

How much will a PoPE approval cost?

The annual fee is determined on the basis of the maximum capacity of persons able to be accommodated in a PoPE venue. A Tax Invoice will be sent to the applicant after the PoPE Approval has been issued.

Download Place of Public Entertainment Fee Schedule (PDF - 54k)

Any Enquiries?

If you have any further enquiries relating to PoPE's, please do not hesitate to contact the Building Approvals Unit of the Sydney Olympic Park Authority:

David Middlemiss, Manager Building Approvals - 02 9714 7131

Bryan Hardman, Director Building Approvals - 02 9714 7357