Community Guidelines-

Use of Council Parks

Brisbane's public open spaces make our city one of Australia's best places to live and work. Our parks and
open spaces provide valued visual, ecological, recreational, heritage and cultural amenity to benefit the
people of Brisbane.

Brisbane City Council (Council) cares for and manages over 2000 parks for the use and enjoyment of
residents and visitors to share in a safe and friendly environment.

The Public Land and Council Assets Local Law 2014 (PLACA) addresses park use and provides
clear guidelines and simple processes to enable residents to enjoy these great assets.

While most everyday activities in parks will not need the consent of Council, some activities will
require a park use consent or are prohibited. Activities requiring a consent will only incur a fee for
activities requiring the exclusive use of a designated park site or for some commercial purposes. All
other consents will be free.

The following information relates to park use consents. The activity examples shown are not all-
inclusive and park users should contact Council if clarification is needed for activities not listed.

Activities permitted in parks

The following activities do not require
a Park Use Consent
Picnicking or barbecuing (including
BYO BBQs)
Private gatherings and celebrations
Playing (playgrounds, nature play
areas)
The following activities can be done in certain
locations unless they involve large groups
Abseiling, rock climbing, bouldering
Flying fox or ropes courses
Mountain biking
Horse trail riding

Swimming, wading, paddling where Slacklining

signed as allowed
Where a large group is involved in the above
Ball skills and games (casual) e.g. activities a park use consent will be required.
football, basketball, cricket, bocce
A large group is defined as more than:
Unrestricted fireworks, such as bon
20 people in a natural area reserve or
bons, party poppers, as defined in the
Explosives Regulation 2003 bushland; or
50 people in all other parks.
Orienteering, Rogaining, Geocaching
For example: Parts of the Kangaroo Point Cliffs are
Busking (without amplifiers) designated for rock climbing. Climbers in a group of 50
or less will not require a park use consent.
Fishing, net casting or bait catching
(in tidal areas and for recreational
purposes only), except where signed
as prohibited

For example: Holding a childrens birthday

party or family gathering in a park will not
require a Park Use Consent.

NOTE: Where any activity meets one or more of the standard consent criteria a consent is
required refer to section below.
The following activities do not require The following activities can be done in certain
a Park Use Consent locations unless they involve large groups

Park use consents

Council has a responsibility to protect our parks, allow fair use and accessibility to all, and to provide
certainty to people wanting to use park space for a specific purpose.

While residents are generally free to use Council Parks some activities require a Park Use Consent or are
prohibited because of their potential to impact others or park facilities. A set of standard consent criteria
set out the circumstances where a consent is required regardless of the activity. These are listed in the left
hand column of the table below.

With the exception of consents that grant exclusive use, or involve a commercial activity, all consents are
free. All Council consents will be available online or through the Council Contact Centre on (07) 3403
8888. Consents for Commercial activities can be arranged through Councils Business Hotline on 133 BNE.

Examples of activities that require a consent or are prohibited are listed below. The examples shown
are not all-inclusive and park users should contact Council if clarification is needed for activities not
listed.

The following activities require the The following activities are

consent of Council (a consent)
Where any activity meets one or more of the
following standard consent criteria:
Commercial activity
Exclusive use (designated area)
Erecting or placing any temporary
structure covering more than 15m, or
bringing in equipment such as
generators, portable toilets etc
Access to and use of Council power or
other utility
Sale of food and drinks
Sale of alcohol
prohibited in parks
Collecting driftwood or firewood
Picking flowers or taking cutting of plants,
unless otherwise signed
Motor bike or trail bike riding
Bungee jumping
Paintball
Lighting of fires, except in designated fire
pits or fire places, or as allowed by Council
For example: Paintball is a high impact activity that
is not suitable in a Council park as it has the
potential to harm others and damage park
infrastructure.

Involving animals, other than domestic

pets

Affecting or involving native vegetation or

wildlife

Driving or parking a vehicle in a park,

other than on internal roads or car parks

Involving over 2000 participants

Distributing or affixing or posting notices,

literature, placards or similar promotional
materials
For example: The following will require a Park
Use Consent - Weddings, Markets, Fetes,
Festivals, Carnivals, Concerts

Note: A range of other community sport and recreation activities (such as soccer or scouts) are allowed and managed in
Council parks under lease or licence agreements.