By ANNA USHER

Children’s parties, family gatherings, and picnics in most North Sydney parks could soon come with a council bill under a policy voted on Monday.

From July, groups of more than 21 people will require approval to use the vast majority of the LGAs parks and reserves.

Fees have not yet been set. They will be developed, publicly exhibited, and adopted prior to the policy’s start date in July, before the new financial year begins.

The policy applies across three tiers that determine the amount payable once costs are set, with the most popular locations attracting the highest charges and general suburban parks the lowest.

Premium (Category 1) parks include Blues Point Reserve, Quibaree Park (Lavender Bay), Bradfield Park (South), Clark Park, Cremorne Point Reserve (West), Dr Mary Booth Reserve, Henry Lawson Reserve and Capt. Henry Waterhouse Reserve.

Harbour reserves in the middle tier (Category 2) include Anderson Park, Balls Head Reserve, Berry Island, Cremorne Point Reserve (East), Kurraba Point Reserve, Kesterton Reserve, Sawmillers Reserve and Hodgson’s Lookout.

General neighbourhood parks (Category 3) include St Leonards Park, Forsyth Park, Smoothy Park, Ted Mack Reserve and Tunks Park Foreshore.

The nine parks that stay free

Nine parks are exempt. Groups of up to 60 people can still gather at Anzac Park, Brennan Park, Green Park, Primrose Park, Milson Park, St Thomas Rest Park, Tunks Park (excluding the foreshore), Warringah Park and Waverton Park without a permit.

Several smaller pocket parks across the LGA will also remain unrestricted.

Why it happened

Council said it currently had “no formalised policies in place to effectively manage and balance the use of our limited public open space areas between commercial operators, large groups and casual users.”

North Sydney has just 10.53 square metres of open space per resident (one of the lowest figures in Sydney), with the deficit projected to grow from 58.7 hectares to 69.95 hectares by 2036.

Council spends approximately $7.3 million a year on maintenance, including turf management, cleaning, mowing, weed control, irrigation, lighting, and structural maintenance.

The report says North Sydney has received “increasing” resident complaints about fitness trainers, kayak users, dog walkers, organised commercial picnics, weddings, and other uses in open space areas.

“Complaints range from ‘hogging’ space, ropes tied to assets/trees for resistance exercises, loud music, monopolising pathways and stairs, inappropriate use of the war memorial, blocking off parking spaces, and other issues,” Council said.

Is the 21-person threshold too strict or fair? Share your view: [email protected]