Operating your business on Council land
Businesses in Port Stephens may lease Council managed land for commercial purposes. Our parks, foreshores, beaches and bushland reserves can be leased to businesses for recreational activities, tourism and educational purposes.
We offer the use of water-based or land-based sites for businesses purposes.
These need to be in accordance with our Commercial Operators Policy and Guidelines.
Site Locations
See here to download Commercial Operators Site Locations
How to apply for an available site
Review the relevant guidelines and policy:
Select a location from the Site Locations list or identify an alternative site.
View pages 21 to 24 of our fees and charges (PDF 3MB) or search our online portal at fees.portstephens.nsw.gov.au
Complete the relevant application form:
Complete the supporting documentation. We've provided templates below:
If you have questions, require assistance or support please email commercialoperators@portstephens.nsw.gov.au
Applications will be assessed by an internal review panel, and successful applicants will be notified by email.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, ALL existing commercial operators will need to apply for any sites they would like to operate from as of 1 July 2026 including currently approved sites and new sites.
Up to three (3) sites per operator.
Yes the licence fee is payable per site, the administration fee is payable per licence (so long as one application is received) in accordance with Councils Fees and Charges. These can be viewed on Councils website.
We will assess all applications in accordance with Councils Commercial Operators Policy and Guidelines. Only complete applications with all the supporting documents will be processed.
We will assess each application on merit, taking numerous factors into consideration such as Experience and professionalism in the proposed activity, qualifications and suitability of the proposed activity for the requested site.
Licences are issued per financial year, 1 July to 30 June.
The Expression Of Interest (EOI) is open between 16 February and 16 March 2026. The application form and details of supporting documents is on Councils website.
Only fully completed applications with ALL supporting documents will be processed. If you submit an incomplete application you will be advised within 7 days and will need to resubmit a fully completed application and all supporting documents. If the 7 days falls after the closing date your new application won’t be processed until after the process has been completed. This may mean that your requested site may no longer be available.
Any applications received after the closure date won’t be assessed until after the EOI process has been completed. This may mean that your requested site is no longer available.
Please review website and the Commercial Operators Policy and Guidelines.
Please review website and the Commercial Operators Policy and Guidelines.
Yes your public liability insurance must be for a minimum of $20million and include PSC as an interested party on the Certificate Of Currency.
We will aim to have applications approved as soon as possible upon receipt of completed applications. We intend on notifying all approved operated by Mid June 2026.
Please review website and the Commercial Operators Policy and Guidelines
Our current operators
If you would like to add or change a listing, please email communications@portstephens.nsw.gov.au.
Location:
- Neil Carol Park, Nelson Bay
Dates:
- First and third Sunday of each month from 6am
Links:
Locations:
- One Mile and Birubi Beach, Anna Bay
- Dutchman's Beach Reserve, Nelson Bay
- Fingal Bay Foreshore Reserve, Fingal Bay
Links: