<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>City of Sydney Council is rolling back divisive changes to the busking code, including </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-buskers-city-new-busking-rules-ula-music-tiktok-exclusive/051d7911-8bdc-48ca-9bcb-58506b036a31" rel="" target="_blank" title="busking bans"><span>busking bans</span></a><span> across much of George Street, just months after they were implemented.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hordes of Sydney buskers hit back at the "crazy" restrictions, including singer Ula Venckus, who goes by Ūla.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Venckus built her career busking in the CBD and feared the sweeping overhauls would cripple buskers financially and professionally.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/victorians-warned-to-brace-for-a-soaking-with-thunderstorms-flash-flooding-forecast/f1ec6a48-d4a2-4ae8-acfc-f4a86ae802a8" target="_blank"><strong><span>Melbourne hit with flood warnings as 70mm forecast in Victoria</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"There are a lot of older musicians and buskers in the Sydney CBD and this is genuinely the only thing they do, this is their livelihood," Venckus told nine.com.au at the time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is basically like being fired with no warning and no explanation."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Have you got a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter Maddison Leach at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:mleach@nine.com.au" target="_blank" title="mleach@nine.com.au"><strong><em><span>mleach@nine.com.au</span></em></strong></a></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-busking-ban-overhaul-rolled-back/18c68de9-b739-41a6-834f-3cb9378a5b64" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Today, the City of Sydney has responded to buskers' complaints with a </span><a href="https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/policy-planning-changes/share-your-ideas-updated-busking-policy-code" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="new draft of the Sydney Busking Code."><span>new draft of the Sydney Busking Code.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The updated code proposal was developed in consultation with buskers and includes several major changes, like rolling back the ban on busking along much of George Street in Sydney's CBD.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/sydney-busking-rule-changes-back-track/c70e1702-0cc3-4cf9-b2cf-6230d09cc636" rel="" target="" title="A major overhaul of the code introduced in October"><span>A major overhaul of the code introduced in October</span></a><span> last year included rules that restricted buskers to just six "special busking sites" on George Street.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The sites could be used between 11am and 10pm, reduced from the previous 8am to 10pm hours, and performances were limited to one hour.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Venckus issued a plea to the City to reconsider the George Street rules.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I built my career and my entire life off of busking on those George Street corners," she said at the time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Without having the opportunity to do that, I honestly would not be anywhere near where I am right now."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Busking within five metres of intersections, pedestrian crossings, or light rail tracks was also banned and the number of busking sites at Pitt Street Mall was cut.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/analogue-bag-trend-explainer/5a9e8263-9dec-40ad-88de-a6be2a9ba15c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Analogue bags are the unlikely new trend that has Millennials Gen Zs putting down their phones</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Now, many of the unpopular rules laid out in October have been scrapped or revised.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In the new draft code, busking is permitted on George Street except for three locations which have raised safety concerns or impacts for residents.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Those locations are:</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><span>the intersection of George Street and Hay Street</span></li><li><span>either side of George Street between Goulburn and Liverpool Streets</span></li><li><span>outside KFC on the corner of the intersection of George Street and Bathurst Street</span></li></ul></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Low impact acts" may busk for two hours per day on George Street and "extended duration acts" can perform for up to eight hours.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two busking pitches have also been reinstated in Pitt Street Mall for low-impact acts, and the five-metre rule has been rolled back.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Buskers must only ensure their pitch and audience "does not block access" to the entry or exit of any building, street, pedestrian crossing, public transport node, carpark or thoroughfare.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They are advised to perform at least five metres from light rail tracks for safety reasons.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/trump-tower-on-gold-coast-australia-petitions-launched-in-response/83f92312-b767-4d78-8530-7c6e87046dc0" target="_blank"><strong><span>Eric Trump unveils design for six-star Trump resort as Gold Coast locals fiercely oppose plans</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The updated code is open for public feedback from today until April 7 and is expected to be back with council for formal adoption in May.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Having heard loudly and clearly buskers want more space and flexibility, we flipped the script so buskers can perform wherever they want," Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With a few exceptions we're asking they respectfully avoid."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Moore also said council is working with the NSW government to bring state government busking rules in line with the city's new approach.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The City of Sydney is also developing an online, interactive version of the busking code buskers will be able to access on their phones.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 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