Draft Fees and Charges Schedule 2026-27

As part of Council's ongoing work to strengthen financial sustainability, the proposed schedule has been reviewed to ensure fees are more closely aligned with the actual cost of delivering services, updated to reflect market conditions, and applied more consistently across different user groups.

This approach aims to reduce reliance on rate increases while ensuring that those who use specific services contribute appropriately to their cost.

Your feedback will help Council understand community views on the proposed changes and inform the final Fees and Charges Schedule to be adopted.

The draft fees and charges schedule 2026-2027 outlines:

proposed increases to some existing fees
new fees where services are currently under-recovered
removal of outdated or duplicated fees

Most fees are proposed to increase by around 3.7%, in line with inflation.

Some fees may be higher if they:

have not kept pace with the cost of delivering services
need to better reflect market rates
involve more complex or resource-intensive services

This approach helps Council to reduce reliance on rate increases while ensuring that those who use specific services contribute appropriately to the cost of those services. It also supports Council's long-term financial sustainability.

Key changes at a glance

54 new fees are proposed
42 fees are proposed to be discontinued
Some fees have been updated above CPI to address historical under-reocovery

All proposed fees and charges have been reviewed in line with Council's Revenue Policy.

What won't change

Some fees will continue to be subsidised where there is a broader community benefit
Statutory fees (set by legislation) will be updated separately when confirmed

We want to hear your feedback. Have your say by 13th May 2026.

North Sydney Olympic Pool DRAFT Fees & Charges (2025/26)

The following table details the proposed new fees

Category	Fee and Charge	Reason for introduction
Parks and Reserve	Hourly Fee for Inspection (minimum 1 hour charge)	To recover turf repair costs from event hirers following the conclusion of events, ensuring parks are restored to their original condition following events
Parks and Reserve	Infrastructure Bond
Parks and Reserve	Turf Replacement - includes stripping, cultivation, supply and lay turf and 6 weeks establishment - Kikuyu (per m2)
Parks and Reserve	Turf Replacement - includes stripping, cultivation, supply and lay turf, and 6 weeks establishment - Couch (per m2)
Parks and Reserve	Turf Renovation - includes aeration, decompaction, and topdressing Couch (per m2)
Parks and Reserve	Garden Bed Rectification - includes clearing of damaged area, tidy up existing planting, levelling of area with new soil, supply and install new mulch and initial watering (per m2, supply and installation of new plants charged separately)
Parks and Reserve	Hourly Fee for Irrigation Repairs (minimum 4-hour charge, materials used charged separately)
Tree Application	Request for Tree Removal or Pruning	Comparable to other Councils’ Fees and Charges
North Sydney Oval	External Food Vendor Fee	Comparable to other Councils’ Fees and Charges
Footpath Permit	Daily Occupation fee footpath closure (pedestrians detoured or forced to cross the street)	Replace old fees
Footpath Permit	Daily Occupation fee footpath partial closure (safe direct access maintained)	Replace old fees
Public Event	High Impact Event Permit Fee (Not-for-Profit)	Current fee was set incorrectly and does not reflect actual level of assessment and impact associated with a medium impact event. The revised fee correctly aligns the medium impact event at 50% of the currently established high impact (complex) event fee ensuring consistency, fairness, and cost recovery. As per Local Gov. Filming Protocol June 2025
Public Event	Bump-in & Bump-out / High Impact Event
Public Event	Bump-in & Bump-out / High Impact Event (Not-for-Profit)
Public Event	Medium Impact Event Permit Fee (Not-for-Profit)
Public Event	Bump-in & Bump-out / Medium Impact Event
Public Event	Bump-in & Bump-out / Medium Impact Event (Not-for-Profit)
Public Event	Low Impact Event Permit Fee
Public Event	Low Impact Event Permit Fee (Not-for-Profit)
Public Event	Bump-in & Bump-out / Low Impact Event
Public Event	Bump-in & Bump-out / Low Impact Event (Not-for-Profit)
Public Event	Very Low Impact Event Permit Fee
Public Event	Very Low Impact Event Permit Fee (Not-for-Profit)
Public Event	Bump-in & Bump-out / Very Low Impact Event
Public Event	Event Assessment Fee
Public Event	Use of Council utilities e.g., water & electricity
Public Event	Very Low Impact Event Permit Fee
Public Event	External Food Vendor Fee
Public Event	Target Hardening
Filming in public area	Assessment of Parking Management Plan Parking Area (Mud Map)/Traffic Lane (TGS)	As per Local Gov. Filming Protocol June 2025
Filming in public area (low impact)	Processing Fee on Approval
Filming in public area (low impact)	Late Application Fee (submitted within the recommended minimum assessment period)
Filming in public area (medium impact)	Processing Fee on Approval
Filming in public area (medium impact)	Late Application Fee (submitted within the recommended minimum assessment period)
Filming in public area (high impact)	Processing Fee on Approval
Filming in public area (high impact)	Late Application Fee (submitted within the recommended minimum assessment period)
Filming in public area (high impact)	Traffic Management Plans Assessment (No Road Closure)
Environmental Volunteer	Adopt a Plot (full fee)	New fees introduced for consistency and transparency. The AaP program has been operating since 2005 but the participant payment was previously considered a "donation" & therefore not included in the published F&Cs.
Environmental Volunteer	Adopt a Plot (maintenance)
Environmental Volunteer	Corporate Volunteering (up to 10 people)
Environmental Volunteer	Corporate Volunteering (up to 15 people)
Environmental Volunteer	Corporate Volunteering (up to 20 people)
Post Approval Development Fee	Consultancy Fee- Post Approval Input by Council for SSD Applications	Replace old fee, change wording
Pre-Development Application	Development with an estimated cost up to $500,000	Simplification of existing fee structure based on anticipated attendees. The proposed fee structure is based on cost of works which often reflects complexity of the proposal. New fee to recover the cost of the task, and to align with other Councils
Pre-Development Application	Development with an estimated cost between $500,001 - $2,000,000
Pre-Development Application	Development with an estimated cost between $2,000,001 - $5,000,000	Development with an estimated cost between $$5000,001 - $20,000,000
Pre-Development Application	Development with an estimated cost between $5000,001 - $20,000,000	Simplification of existing fee structure based on anticipated attendees. The proposed fee structure is based on cost of works which often reflects complexity of the proposal. New fee to recover the cost of the task, and to align with other Councils
Pre-Development Application	Development with an estimated cost more than $20,000,001
Pre-Development Application	Additional Fee if development site is within Heritage Conservation Area, or is a Heritage Item
Pre Development Application	Additional Referral to Design Excellence Panel Pre Application
Food Inspection Fee	Notification of Food Business	New fee to recover the cost of the task and to align with other Councils
Construction Certificate	Preparation of Fee Proposal for Certification Work (Building)	New fee to recover the cost of the task and to align with other Councils
Subdivision Certificate	Complying Development Certificate Application - Notification Fee (if required)	New fee structure will replace existing fees, assigning specific certification fees to each heading and type
Subdivision Certificate	Administration Fee - Missed Critical Stage Inspection (subdivision)
Subdivision Certificate	Written Directions Notice

The following table details the proposed fees that will be discontinued

Category	Fee and Charge	Rationale for discontinuing
Sporting Fields Hirer - Senior	Hourly Hire Fee – Additional Lighting (200 Lux)	Both 200 lux items to be discontinued as no 200-lux option in any other sports field except Cammeray which is captured separately
Sporting Fields Hirer - Junior/School	Hourly Hire Fee – Additional Lighting (200 Lux)	Both 200 lux items to be discontinued as no 200-lux option in any other sports field except Cammeray which is captured separately
Parking Permits	Hourly Park & Swim scheme (10:00 am to midnight)	Will be replaced by NSOP parking fees
Footpath Permit - Skip Bin less than 5 cubic metres	Rate – 1st Week	New consolidated Footpath/Road Occupancy Permit fee replaces skip bin permit fees
Footpath Permit - Skip Bin less than 5 cubic metres	Rate – 2nd Week
Footpath Permit - Skip Bin less than 5 cubic metres	Rate – 3rd Week
Footpath Permit - Skip Bin less than 5 cubic metres	Rate – 4th and subsequent weeks
Footpath Permit - Skip Bin 5-10 cubic meter	Rate – 1st Week	New consolidated Footpath/Road Occupancy Permit fee replaces skip bin permit fees
Footpath Permit - Skip Bin 5-10 cubic meter	Rate – 2nd Week
Footpath Permit - Skip Bin 5-10 cubic meter	Rate – 3rd Week
Footpath Permit - Skip Bin 5-10 cubic meter	Rate – 4th and subsequent weeks
Footpath Permit - Skip Bin 10-20 cubic meter	Rate – 1st Week	New consolidated Footpath/Road Occupancy Permit fee replaces the skip bin permit fees
Footpath Permit - Skip Bin 10-20 cubic meter	Rate – 2nd Week
Footpath Permit - Skip Bin 10-20 cubic meter	Rate – 3rd Week
Footpath Permit - Skip Bin 10-20 cubic meter	Rate – 4th and subsequent weeks
Temporary Road Closure	Daily Occupation fee (non-metered space)	Fee retained from previous structure and had not been deleted
Temporary Road Closure	Daily Occupation fee (metered space, per day or part thereof	Fee retained from previous structure and had not been deleted
Library Services	Late Fee – Fast Reads/Fast Flicks Service (per item per day)	Item no longer available
Public Event	Complex Events Permit – Application Fee	Replaced with application fee
Public Event	Complex Event Permit Fee – Premium Park	Replaced with high impact fee
Public Event	Detailed Events Permit - Application Fee	Replaced with application fee
Public Event	Daily Detailed Event Permit Fee – Neighbourhood Park	Replaced with medium impact fee
Public Event	Simple Event Permit Fee – Neighbourhood Park & Premium Park	New fee created to replace this fee
Customer & Communication	Install 5G Infrastructure on Multi-Purpose Pole	No demand since fee introduced
Filming in public area	Operational staff cost recovery – film site	New fee structures created as per The Local Gov. Filming Protocol, old fees obsolete
Filming in public area	Technical staff cost recovery – film site, liaise with external bodies, & review of weight restrictions
Filming in public area	Professional staff cost recovery – film site, liaise with external bodies & review of weight restrictions
Filming in public area	Temporary road closure – Full closure
Filming in public area	Temporary road closure – Partial closure for parking
Filming in public area	Permit parking – unrestricted zone
Filming in public area	Inspection fee – Parks & Reserves
Pre Development Fee	Consultancy Fee	Council receives no compensation for its input into State Significant Development Applications. Many things are left to be resolved post-approval by Council such as infrastructure, landscape, and public art. A lump sum fee would cover Council’s costs for related consultation and approvals.
Pre DA Application Consultation	Consultation Fee – Small scale single dwellings & duplexes	Replaced by new fees
Pre DA Application Consultation	Consultation Fee – Residential flat buildings, Commercial alterations & additions only
Pre DA Application Consultation	Consultation Fee – Large scale developments for mixed use, new RFB
Pre DA Application Consultation	Consultation Fee – Strategic issues	Applicants generally going down HDA pathway in instances where there may have previously been a desire to meet with staff to discuss issues.
Food Inspection Fee	Inspection & Administration Fee – Category 3 (Venues with 2 food service areas plus bars)	Discontinued due to State Government introducing new fee structure
Food Inspection Fee	Inspection & Administration Fee – Category 4 (Venues / Hotels / bars with 1 food service area plus unlimited bars)
Food Inspection Fee	Inspection & Administration Fee – Category 5 (Venues / Hotels / bars with 1 food service area plus 1 bar)
Food Inspection Fee	Inspection & Administration Fee – Category 6 (Convenience Stores / Service Stations / kiosks)
Food Inspection Fee	Re-Inspection Fee – Category 1 – 4 (over 10 minutes and/or non-compliant)
Food Inspection Fee	Re-Inspection Fee – Bar Only
Fire Safety	Assessment of proposed Performance Solution	Consolidation of fees, removing duplication

Public events
A new fee structure is proposed for events held in parks and public spaces. Fees would better reflect the size and impact of events and help cover the cost of assessment, site management and restoring grassed areas after events. Discounts would continue to apply for not‑for‑profit and lower‑impact events.

Pre‑Development Application consultations
Pre‑DA consultation fees are proposed to be simplified by basing them on the estimated cost of development works. This would better reflect the scale and complexity of different proposals and improve consistency and transparency.

Parking stations
Most parking station fees are not proposed to increase for 2026–2027, reflecting lower parking demand following the Metro and changes in travel behaviour.

Residential parking permits
A moderate increase to residential parking permit fees is proposed. This would better reflect the value of public space and support Council’s goals for sustainable transport.

The Coal Loader
Hire fees at The Coal Loader are proposed to increase to better reflect market value and demand, particularly for commercial users. Concessional rates would continue for community use.

Other Material Changes (other than mentioned above)

Category	Fee and Charge	Pg No:	% Increase	$ Increase
NSC Oval	Daily Hire Fee (Seniors) – Turf Wicket	1.11	22.71%	$ 288.00
Parraween Street Parking	Rate Per calendar month – residential users	1.16	25.00%	$ 22.00
Parking Meter & Sensor Adjustments	Parking Meter Height Adjustment or Straighten (result of change to pavement level) – per meter	1.19	45.63%	$ 470.00
Works Zone Permit	North Sydney Council Construction Notice Board	1.20	33.33%	$ 50.00
Footpath Permit	Change of Date Fee	1.22	150.00%	$ 180.00
Library Room Hire	Daily Conference Room Hire Fee – Weekends (10:00 am to 5:00 pm)	1.30	13.64%	$ 30.00
Food Inspection	Inspection Fee (Per Hour, Minimum Charge of Half Hour) (Statutory inspection fee as per Food Regulation 2025)	1.61	273.74%	$ 271.00
Food Inspection	Inspection Fee – New Food premises (Pre-opening)	1.61	21.31%	$ 65.00
Building Information Certificate	Reinspection Fee (per inspection)	1.62	138.74%	$ 154.00
Building Information Certificate	Building Information Certificate - Class 1 or 10 (sale of property)	1.62	1.62	$ 590.00
Fire Safety	Annual Fire Safety Statement - Registration	1.64	16.67%	$ 25.00
Fire Safety	Reissue a Fire Safety Schedule	1.64	22.49%	$ 101.00
Subdivision Certification	Administration fee - Termination of strata scheme	1.64	87.14%	$ 244.00

Provide Feedback

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Documents

Report to Council

Draft Fees and Charges Schedule 2026-27

Draft Fees and Charges Schedule

Draft Fees and Charges Schedule 2026-27

FAQs

Council is asking for feedback on the Draft Fees and Charges Schedule 2026–27, which lists proposed fees for Council services for the next financial year starting 1 July 2026.

Before fees and charges are finalised, Council wants to hear from residents, businesses and organisations about the proposed changes. Community feedback helps Council understand impacts and consider improvements before making a final decision.

All submissions will be reviewed and summarised in a report to Council. Councillors will consider feedback before deciding whether to adopt the final Fees and Charges Schedule.

Fees and charges are payments for specific Council services, facilities or approvals, such as:

parking permits
venue and facility hire
development and planning services
public events and filming activities

They are different from rates, which fund general Council services.

Council is required by law to review fees and charges each year. Regular reviews help ensure fees:

reflect the cost of delivering services
are fair and transparent
keep pace with inflation and market conditions
do not unfairly burden ratepayers who do not use specific services

If adopted by Council, the final Fees and Charges Schedule 2026–27 will come into effect from 1 July 2026.

Many fees are proposed to increase by 3.7%, which is broadly in line with inflation. This helps Council manage rising costs such as staff, materials and maintenance, while continuing to deliver services.

Not all fees are increasing, and some have been changed or removed.

Some new fees are proposed where:

costs were not previously fully recovered
services have changed or expanded
clearer and more consistent pricing is needed

This helps improve transparency and fairness across services.

Council is proposing to remove fees that are outdated, duplicated or no longer needed. This helps simplify the fee schedule and make it easier to understand.

Some fees have been underpriced for a number of years.

In these cases, updates are proposed to better reflect:

the cost of providing the service
the level of demand
market conditions

Council is proposing an impact‑based approach to event and filming fees. Fees would vary depending on things like:

the size of the event
how long it runs
the level of impact on public spaces
the resources needed to manage the activity

Yes. Discounted fees are proposed for not‑for‑profit organisations and lower‑impact events, while higher‑impact events may attract higher fees to reflect additional costs.

Some events can cause wear and tear to grass, turf or infrastructure. Reinstatement fees help ensure parks are returned to a good condition for everyone and that repair costs are not paid by general ratepayers.

Pre‑DA fees are proposed to be based on the estimated cost of works, rather than staff attendance time.

This aims to:

better reflect the complexity of proposals
improve consistency and transparency
allow Council to resource assessments appropriately

No. Fees set by State legislation will be updated separately when they are published and reported to Council.

Moderate increases are proposed for resident parking permits to better reflect:

demand for limited on‑street parking
the value of public space
Council’s transport and sustainability objectives

Yes. This draft does not include:

fees for the North Sydney Olympic Pool
fees linked to the proposed Commercial and Group Use of Public Open Space Policy

These matters will be considered separately.

Draft Fees and Charges Schedule 2026-27

Full Width Content

North Sydney Olympic Pool DRAFT Fees & Charges (2025/26)

The following table details the proposed new fees

The following table details the proposed fees that will be discontinued

Documents

Report to Council

Draft Fees and Charges Schedule

FAQs