By ANNA USHER

Dog walkers, personal trainers and couples getting married are set to be charged to use North Sydney’s public parks – with a harbourside wedding at Blues Point Reserve costing up to $2,000 for three hours – as the controversial fee plan heads to a final council vote with a 1 July start date looming.

Mosman Collective revealed the draft fees in April. This week, the story went national, picked up by the ABC, Channel Nine and Sky News. Public consultation closed on 17 May.

Here is exactly what is proposed – and who pays.

What stays free?

Casual, everyday use of all North Sydney parks remains completely free. Families picnicking, individuals walking their dog, people exercising … none of that changes.
The fees apply only to commercial operators making money from public parks and to organised groups wanting to reserve a specific space.

Parks are divided into three tiers based on popularity and demand.

Category 1 (Sydney Harbour foreshore):
Blues Point Reserve, Bradfield Park (South), Cremorne Point Reserve (West), Dr Mary Booth Reserve, Clark Park, Quibaree Park, Captain Henry Waterhouse Reserve, Henry Lawson Reserve, Copes Lookout.

Category 2:
Anderson Park, Balls Head Reserve, Berry Island, Carradah Park, Hodgson’s Lookout, Kesterton Reserve, Kurraba Point Reserve, Milson Park, Sawmillers Reserve.

Category 3:
Forsyth Park, Smoothy Park, St Leonards Park, Ted Mack Reserve, Tunks Park.

Personal trainers

Annual permit: $300 (plus a one-off $50 application fee). Applies across all park categories.

Commercial dog walkers and dog trainers

Annual permit: $300 (plus a one-off $50 application fee). No per-session charge. Maximum four dogs per handler at any one time. Applies across all park categories.

Commercial picnic operators

Annual permit: $300 (plus a one-off $50 application fee). Applies to businesses that set up styling, catering and furniture in parks for paying clients.

Weddings, commitment ceremonies and gender reveal parties

Per booking (3-hour slot, maximum 100 attendees) plus a matching security bond.

Large private gatherings

Groups of up to 21 people with no reserved space remain free. A booking is only required if you want to reserve a specific area or if your group exceeds 21 people.

Non-government schools

Annual permit: $4,000. Plus $50 per hour per class of 40 students. Applies to regular programmed use of parks for sport, outdoor learning or recess.

The fees are the latest attempt by North Sydney Council to claw back revenue after the redevelopment of North Sydney Olympic Pool blew out from $56 million to $122 million.
In a bid to shore up the finances, the council sought an 87 per cent rate increase last year.

IPART knocked it back, ruling the case had not been made, and told the council to explore alternative revenue sources instead.

North Sydney Mayor Zoë Baker told the ABC the council was in a “fragile financial situation” and acknowledged the fees would not fix the problem on their own.

She said the new fees were projected to generate $200,000 per year in extra revenue – a sum she said did “not come close” to the current maintenance budget for North Sydney’s open spaces.

All feedback received during the exhibition period will be reviewed by council staff and reported back to councillors for a final decision.

The vote is expected in June. If the fees are endorsed, they commence on July 1.