Well-managed, commercial use of parks make a positive contribution when they provide a benefit to the community.
Individuals or organisations can apply to conduct commercial activities within our parks. Our goal is to balance community use with well managed commercial use.
What is commercial use?
A park activity is commercial if it:
- involves the exchange of goods or services for payment or another consideration, or
- is carried out for marketing, promotional or other commercial reasons.
This could include:
- playgroups
- school holiday program activities
- corporate promotional activities
- private sport coaching.
Why you need approval
Approval is necessary to perform a commercial activity in a City managed park. This includes those carried out by a community or not-for-profit organisation to raise money. Under Local Law 9 (Parks and Reserves) 2008, the City controls commercial operations on public parks and open space. We do this to:
- maximise benefits to locals and tourists
- protect the public’s health, safety, and amenity.
It is important that your business or organisation obtains City approval to use the park and any other licenses needed to operate. We may take enforcement action against you if you conduct a commercial activity in a City managed park without permission from us.
We assess each application based on specific criteria. Terms and conditions of use apply to every approval.
Approval criteria
- Mandatory criteria
- Local benefits
- Site impact and suitability
- Professionalism and capability
- Community contribution and social benefit
- Risk management and safety processes
To better understand the requirements for running a commercial activity in a park, please review our Commercial use of parks application guide(PDF, 340KB)
How to apply
You will need to complete an online booking application to conduct a commercial activity in a park.
Please prepare your documentation. With every application, applicants must submit the following information:
- Relevant qualification or certifications
- CPR certification
- First aid certificate
- Public liability insurance certificate of currency for at least AUD20 million
- Risk management plan
- Site plan
Make a booking enquiry
Use our online form to apply to book a park for an organised sport, recreational or commercial activity.
Submit online form
Fees
No fees are required at the time of application. If approved, you will be issued a notice to pay with an associated application fee. Please note the application fee is non-refundable.
Community/major events
When does your commercial activity in parks become an event?
- If the activity/event is open to the public
- If the activity/event is a once-off activity/event
- If the activity/event has extra infrastructure (e.g. portable toilets, bins, marquees, jumping castle)
- If the activity/event may cause nuisance (e.g. traffic, noise, traffic congestion, road closures)
Please submit a Deliver an event on public land form
Permits for park activities
The following permits are available for other commercial activities in parks. For more information, select the activity you are interested in from the list below: