North Sydney Council Slashes Park Fees after Backlash but Wedding Celebrants and Dog Walkers Say the Damage Is Already Done

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It was supposed to be a fair way to manage North Sydney's overused parks. Instead, it sparked fury and a furious backdown.

North Sydney Council's plan to charge hundreds of dollars for weddings, commercial picnics, and even gatherings of more than 21 people in its most prized harbourside parks has been significantly slashed after the community pushed back. But for wedding celebrants and dog walkers, the damage is already done.

The revised proposal, which will go to council on Monday, caps wedding ceremony fees at $1,600 down from a jaw-dropping $2,000 for premium locations like Blues Point Reserve and Bradfield Park. But for a small operator like Milsons Point celebrant Ange Tuelon, who charges just $350 for a wedding, the fee is still a knockout blow.

"We're a small operator," Tuelon said. "We charge $350 for weddings and there's no way we can absorb the sorts of increases the council wants to impose. If these fees stay, operators will go elsewhere, the council will lose the revenue and the flow-on benefits to other businesses. It will be a complete own goal."

Beau McHenery, founder of dog walking business Stellar Paws, questioned why commercial dog walkers were still being hit with a $300 annual permit fee. "All this does is squeeze the little guys and add another layer of cost and regulation for small businesses already dealing with rising expenses," he said.

Here is the question every small business owner and ratepayer should be asking today. North Sydney Council is staring down a 53 per cent rates hike over three years and a pool redevelopment that ballooned from $56 million to $122 million. The council forecasts the park fees will raise just $200,000 a year a drop in the ocean against its budget crisis. If this is about fixing the books, why is it the little guys paying the price, not the big-ticket projects?

Pop-up picnic operator Vicki Ryvchin, who runs events for baby showers and proposals, said the per-event charges were "completely unreasonable and unjustified". She faces up to $70 for a two-person picnic and $200 for a group of ten in premium locations.

The council has defended the plan as necessary to manage conflicts between users and prevent "privatisation" of public space. But the new charges come as ratepayers prepare for a 53 per cent rates increase over three years a move that has already drawn sharp criticism.

Mayor Zoë Baker acknowledged the concerns but said the fees were "relatively modest" compared to the commercial advantage of using public land for free. "In that context, these fees are relatively modest. It's simply a cost of doing business," she said.

The council originally forecast the new system would raise about $200,000 annually, but revenue would still fall well short of what is needed to maintain North Sydney's open spaces. Some fees remain unchanged: non-government schools face a $4,000 annual permit plus $50 an hour, while private gatherings of more than 21 people still attract fees up to $200.

As North Sydney Council slashes proposed park fees after community backlash, The Silicon Review asks a final question. When a council facing $122 million in cost blowouts targets dog walkers and celebrants instead of fixing the projects that broke the bank, who is really paying for poor financial management?

FAQ:

Q: What did North Sydney Council's original park fee proposal include?
A: The original proposal included fees of up to $2,000 for weddings in premium parks, $300 annual permits for dog walkers, and charges for private gatherings of more than 21 people.

Q: How much were the North Sydney park fees reduced after the backlash?
A: Wedding ceremony fees were capped at $1,600 (down from $2,000), personal trainer fees were halved to $25 per session, and private gathering fees were reduced to a maximum of $200.

Q: Do dog walkers still have to pay a fee in North Sydney parks?
A: Yes, commercial dog walkers still face a $300 annual permit fee under the revised North Sydney Council proposal.

Q: What is a commercial dog walker?
A: A commercial dog walker is a professional dog walking business that uses public parks as part of their service.

Q: How much revenue is North Sydney Council expecting to raise from the park fees?
A: The council forecasts the new park fees will raise approximately $200,000 annually, though this falls well short of the amount needed to maintain public open spaces.

Q: What is North Sydney Council's broader financial situation?
A: North Sydney ratepayers face a 53 per cent rates increase over three years, and the North Sydney Olympic Pool redevelopment has blown out from $56 million to $122 million.