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A contentious plan to charge private schools, fitness trainers, dog walkers and wedding parties to use some of Sydney’s most popular harbourside parks has been watered down after strong community opposition, with critics accusing a local council of treating public green space as a “cash cow”.
North Sydney Council’s proposed permit system, covering 23 parks and reserves including Blues Point Reserve and Bradfield Park, has sparked months of debate over who should pay to use public land, pitting concerns about commercial overcrowding against fears that rising fees will price residents out of spaces already funded through council rates.
Originally forecast to raise about $200,000 a year, the policy was framed by the council as a way to ensure businesses profiting from public parkland contribute to its upkeep.
Instead, it has become a lightning rod in a broader debate about cost-of-living pressures and council finances, unfolding as North Sydney ratepayers prepare for a 53 per cent rates increase over three years and the troubled North Sydney Olympic Pool redevelopment continues to draw scrutiny after its cost ballooned from $56 million to $122 million.
Faced with dozens of submissions during public consultation, council officers have recommended substantial reductions to several of the proposed charges while retaining the broader framework of the scheme.
Under the changes, wedding ceremony fees would be capped at $1600, down from $2000, personal trainer permit fees would be halved from $50 to $25 per session, while charges for private gatherings of more than 21 people would fall from as much as $500 to a maximum of $200.
Some fees remain unchanged. Commercial dog walkers would still pay an annual permit fee of $300, while non-government schools would face a $4000 annual permit, plus a $50 hourly charge for groups of 40 students using parks covered by the policy.
Despite the concessions, opponents argue the proposal still goes too far and risks driving small operators elsewhere.
Milsons Point wedding celebrant Ange Tuelon said the policy threatened the affordability of harbourside ceremonies at a time when many couples were already struggling with rising living costs. Under the revised policy, ceremonies involving more than 15 guests at premium waterfront locations would still attract fees of $800.
“We’re a small operator. We charge $350 for weddings and there’s no way we can absorb the sorts of increases the council wants to impose,” Tuelon said.
“If these fees stay, operators will go elsewhere, the council will lose the revenue and the flow-on benefits to other businesses. It will be a complete own goal.”
Beau McHenery, founder of dog walking and training business Stellar Paws, questioned the rationale for targeting commercial dog walkers, arguing operators did not require exclusive use of public space or additional council resources.
“All this does is squeeze the little guys and add another layer of cost and regulation for small businesses already dealing with rising expenses,” he said.
North Sydney Mayor Zoe Baker defended the proposal, arguing it was a necessary response to growing pressure on limited open space and increasing complaints about the commercial occupation of prime foreshore locations.
“Since COVID, there’s been a huge increase in weddings and commercial picnics setting up tables, chairs, rugs and tents – the concern is not only the occupation of public space but also how those spaces are left afterwards,” she said.
Baker added that businesses using public land enjoyed commercial advantages not available to operators paying rent for physical brick-and-mortar premises.
“In that context, these fees are relatively modest. It’s simply a cost of doing business,” she said.
Across Sydney, councils charge varying fees for the commercial use of parks and public reserves. For weddings, North Sydney’s proposed fees remain among the highest, with the City of Sydney charging up to $855, Mosman up to $718 and Northern Beaches Council $483 for a three-hour booking.
Commercial dog walking attracts annual fees of up to $2400 in Lane Cove and $1410 in Ryde’s fenced dog parks, while several councils, including the City of Sydney and Canada Bay, remain free.
A North Sydney Council report shows that while some residents supported requiring commercial operators to contribute to park maintenance costs, the majority opposed the proposal with one resident describing it as a “blatant cash grab”.
Fitness trainers warned additional costs would be likely to be passed on to clients, while parents and school communities objected to charging students to use public parks for sport and recreation.
One submission described the proposal as “absolutely ridiculous and horrifying”, arguing children should not face financial barriers to outdoor exercise.
The council says any revenue generated would be used solely to maintain and improve parks. It has proposed delaying the booking system until October, with fees commencing in January 2027 and compliance enforced by council rangers.
Councillors are due to consider the revised policy on Monday.
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David Barwell is an urban affairs reporter for The Sydney Morning HeraldConnect via email.From our partners
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