Sydney council backflips on divisive busking 'ban' after artists' complaints

City of Sydney Council is rolling back divisive changes to the busking code, including busking bans across much of George Street, just months after they were implemented.

Hordes of Sydney buskers hit back at the "crazy" restrictions, including singer Ula Venckus, who goes by Ūla.

Venckus built her career busking in the CBD and feared the sweeping overhauls would cripple buskers financially and professionally.

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"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.

"This is basically like being fired with no warning and no explanation."

Have you got a story? Contact reporter Maddison Leach at mleach@nine.com.au

Today, the City of Sydney has responded to buskers' complaints with a new draft of the Sydney Busking Code.

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.

A major overhaul of the code introduced in October last year included rules that restricted buskers to just six "special busking sites" on George Street.

The sites could be used between 11am and 10pm, reduced from the previous 8am to 10pm hours, and performances were limited to one hour.

Venckus issued a plea to the City to reconsider the George Street rules.

"I built my career and my entire life off of busking on those George Street corners," she said at the time.

"Without having the opportunity to do that, I honestly would not be anywhere near where I am right now."

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.

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Now, many of the unpopular rules laid out in October have been scrapped or revised.

In the new draft code, busking is permitted on George Street except for three locations which have raised safety concerns or impacts for residents.

Those locations are:

• the intersection of George Street and Hay Street
• either side of George Street between Goulburn and Liverpool Streets
• outside KFC on the corner of the intersection of George Street and Bathurst Street

"Low impact acts" may busk for two hours per day on George Street and "extended duration acts" can perform for up to eight hours.

Two busking pitches have also been reinstated in Pitt Street Mall for low-impact acts, and the five-metre rule has been rolled back.

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.

They are advised to perform at least five metres from light rail tracks for safety reasons.

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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.

"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.

"With a few exceptions we're asking they respectfully avoid."

Moore also said council is working with the NSW government to bring state government busking rules in line with the city's new approach.

The City of Sydney is also developing an online, interactive version of the busking code buskers will be able to access on their phones.

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