Dog walkers, pop-up picnic vendors, and parents-to-be planning gender reveal parties will soon face steep charges to use public parks in a cash-strapped local council in Sydney, Australia. The North Sydney Council has adopted a new policy introducing a range of fees for commercial and group uses of public open spaces, affecting more than 20 parks and reserves.
New Fees and Charges
The proposed fees include a £150 annual permit for dog walkers. Weddings and gender reveals that require structured use of public space for a defined purpose could cost £1,000 per three-hour block. Social gatherings of more than 21 people will be charged up to £25, while groups of up to 100 people face a fee of up to £250. The fee structure will be voted on in July after a public consultation period ended last week.
Council's Financial Motive
The council is attempting to recover debts after spending £64.4 million on redeveloping the North Sydney Olympic Pool, originally budgeted at £29.5 million. An earlier attempt to increase rates by 87% was rejected by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal in 2025. The council also explored charging for New Year's Eve fireworks vantage points and encouraging private schools to pay rates on land they own.
Public Backlash
Dog walker Chris Hanwell told the ABC the new fees were "not great timing" amid the cost-of-living crisis. He already pays between £250 and £1,000 for permits in other areas. Small business owner Vicki Ryvchin, who runs pop-up picnics, said she learned about the fees in a group chat and warned they could "kill an entire industry." She would need to pay £40 per three hours plus a £150 annual permit. "We're happy to pay a higher annual fee... but it's the per-event charges that are completely unreasonable and unjustified," she said.
Mayor's Response
North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker said feedback on the proposed fees had been mostly positive, though some commercial operators and residents expressed confusion. The council aims to balance budget shortfalls while maintaining public access to green spaces.
