Key Information

Waverley Council delivers and hosts a range of sustainable and inclusive events that contribute to the vibrant and diverse cultural life of the Waverley community.

Events make a valuable contribution to Waverley’s culture, economy, the local area and its people’s connection to place.

Council last updated and adopted its Event Policy in June 2023 and it is now due for renewal.

The purpose of the Events Policy is to:

  • Provide principles, strategies, actions and controls for delivering events on Waverley Council land and in Waverley Council owned or managed buildings (Council Facility)
  • Ensure that events meet best practice safety, security, environmental and social sustainability standards.
  • Classify events in terms of their impact
  • Ensure that events comply with relevant Council policies, legislation and regulations, industry codes and event industry best practice
  • Minimise any negative impacts of events on the non‐event community and the environment
  • Ensure that events achieve applicable goals as detailed in Waverley Council’s Community Strategic Plan.

At its meeting on Tuesday, 17 June 2025, Council agreed to:

1. Publicly exhibit the Draft Events Policy for 28 days.
2. Have officers prepare a report to Council following the exhibition period.

Summary of Proposed Key Changes

Improvements to where the policy ‘does not apply’ in this section:

  • Strengthened environmental clean ups to limit commercial association
  • Further clarity on ‘commercial fitness training’
  • Clarification that repeat/regular activity events also fall out of scope.

Community:

  • Specific reference to event application fees and site supervision to manage event applicant expectation, support officers in assessing and approving applications, and provide authority to apply Council’s fees, minimising complaints.

Not-for-profit:

  • Reference to new not-for-profit charity and awareness campaign event fees added
  • Added words specifying the requirement for public liability insurance that is appropriate and fit for purpose. At times, some inexperienced event organisers will provide public liability insurance that covers for their office work environment and does not cover them for outdoor events activities. The addition of Council being noted as an interested party is for the benefit of doubt for the event organiser and to adhere to Council’s insurer’s recommendation for all event applicants

New commercial activation classification.

High Impact 1 events:

  • Clearer language regarding the process for approval of High Impact events.

High Impact 2 events:

  • Application fee requirement for assessment
  • Clearer language for the process for approval of High Impact events.

New section added to manage unauthorised and non-compliant activities including:

  • Protection of local amenity and Council intellectual property
  • Inhibition of unauthorised commercial activities exploiting iconic notoriety and popularity of Bondi Beach
  • Retrospective invoicing capability for event permit holders who deliberately breach the terms and conditions of their permit.
  • Please see the Document Library for the full draft policy with proposed changes.