Councils Look to Charge Beach Businesses

Sunshine Coast Council has called for tenders for commercial businesses to operate on community-owned land, including beaches, foreshores, parks and reserves.
With Councils in Australiaâs metropolitan areas having introduced permits and licensing fees for fitness groups and personal trainers who use public parks, reserves and beaches, Sunshine Coast Council is joining a number of east coast Councils looking to licence, charge and, in some cases, restrict commercial activities on its beaches.
The Sunshine Coast Councilâs proposed system will require commercial businesses to buy a permit to conduct business in four activities areas: surf based, snacks and drinks, beach equipment hire and miscellaneous. For surf based activities, permits are expected to cost thousands of dollars for specific locations.
While welcoming the introduction of rules to prevent rogue operators, surf school operators fear that the new charges may force them out of business and put lives in danger.
As Chris Kendal of the Coolum Surfing School explains âwe have been looking forward to more regulation but there is some worrying aspects of the tender document.�?
Maroochy Surf School operator Grant Thomas said he had serious concerns about the new system, stating âwhat is not clear is whether more than one surf school can have a permit for a particular beach.
âIf only one operator can have a permit for Mooloolaba that would lead to a ridiculous bidding war.
âAnd could one operator buy up Alexandra Headland, Maroochydore and Mooloolaba?�?
XL Surfing Academy owner Robbie Sherwell said if that was the case, the new system was fraught with danger, adding that if an operator âcould only afford a Maroochydore (beach) permit, there would weeks when Maroochydore is not appropriate for beginners.
â(This) could force some operators to work in conditions they wouldnât normally.�?
In NSW, the variety of aquatic activities including surfers, boardriders, kite surfers, kayakers, divers, swimmers and surf skiers, is place increasingly heavy demands on popular beaches.
Earlier this year, Kiama Municipal Council sought to separate surf schools at Seven Mile Beach, Gerroa, from recreational users attracted to the mouth of the Crooked River on the South Coast.
Meanwhile Byron Shire Council has introduced licences to indicate which areas of Shireâs beaches could be used for commercial activity, in order to separate the groups using the beach for what Shire Director of Planning Ray Darney described as âsafety reasons.�?