By ANNA USHER

Mosman councillors have voted to place strict new conditions on the Balmoral Burn after this year’s event ripped up turf in public parks, damaged public art and left parts of Balmoral muddy and strewn with rubbish and plastic bottles.

The long-running charity fun run, hosted by the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, has been staged in Balmoral since 2001 and is considered one of Australia’s most popular fun runs. Over that time, it has raised $36.5 million for medical equipment and care for sick children in hospital.

This year’s event, held in May, attracted about 2000 runners and raised $1.6 million.

A detailed Mosman Council review of the 2025 event found “substantial turf damage” during the two-week set-up and pack-up period, including at the starting point of the race.

The entire turfed area connecting the Balmoral Promenade and the rear of Edwards Reserve had to be replaced at a cost of $16,882.80, funded by retaining the organiser’s $8,620 security deposit and invoicing the Humpty Dumpty Foundation for the remaining $8,262.80.

A custom public art piece forming part of the Mosman Art Trail at was also damaged by a large vehicle during pack-up and had to be replaced at a cost of $6,292.

Council’s assessment revealed a series of breaches, including sponsor cars without parking permits displayed on windscreens, and vehicles on grassed areas adjacent to Bathers’ Pavilion, which is not permitted.

A “significant” number plastic water bottles were also distributed at the 2025 event, in breach of the Sustainable Event Management Plan submitted to Council.

Residents lodged complaints about obstructions to footpaths, event equipment left “scattered” on walkways, muddy and potentially unsafe walkways and footpaths, and rubbish left in parkland during and after the event.

Mosman councillor Roy Bendall, who lives at Balmoral, said residents also objected to street closures and rubbish discarded in parkland.

Former Mayor Carolyn Corrigan said photos of the damage were “horrifying” but said she was hopeful the new conditions would avoid a repeat at future events.

Following the 2025 review, Council officers have recommended additional measures on top of the standard conditions of approval:

• Mandatory heavy-duty ground protection mats to be laid closely together over the bottom of Edwards Reserve as the first step in set-up, creating temporary protective flooring beneath vehicles and structures such as the temporary industrial kitchen used for the corporate dinner.
• A higher refundable security deposit in the form of a High Impact Events Refundable Security Deposit of $25,000, which Council says reflects the potential cost of re-turfing grassed areas and repairing damage to public assets such as Mosman Art Trail signage. The full amount would be refunded if no damage occurs.

In a statement, Humpty Dumpty Foundation chief executive Claire Reaney said she was aware of Mosman Council’s concerns and committed to working collaboratively with the council and residents during planning for the next event in 2026.

“We are reviewing all operational factors internally with our suppliers and in consultation with Mosman Council to ensure there is a shared understanding of the circumstances surrounding this year’s event,” she said.

“This includes considering and implementing any measures the council may request for future planning.”

Reaney said the impacts of this year’s Balmoral Burn were partly due to heavy rainfall in the weeks preceding the event.