Council to license beach businesses

Up to four commercial sporting businesses will be licensed to operate from Umina and Ocean Beaches under a system being prepared by Gosford Council.

The council is to develop an accreditation system for the operators.

Under the new licensing plan, operators of businesses such as surf schools and fitness training services have to apply for a licence to conduct activities on the beach.

Currently they only have to have written permission from Council.

Council has set the rate for licensing as $2000 a year for a two-year licence and has also set safety and insurance requirements for users.

They plan to issue 10 licences all together for beaches across the coast.

Umina and Ocean Beaches will be allocated four of these licences, two for surf schools and two for fitness training.

Terrigal-Wamberal will be the same and Avoca-North Avoca has been issue two licences for two surf schools.

A report by staff from Gosford Council stated that the system was being developed due to increasing demand for commercial operations on the beach.

"This does not give new operators the opportunity to compete for the locations of the existing operator," it stated.

"While this system has been sufficient for low numbers of commercial operators, increasing demand for commercial operations on the beach requires that the system be reviewed."

"Failure to appropriately manage commercial operators using Gosford beaches has the potential to result in conflict between recreational and commercial use of the beaches and conflict between existing and potential commercial operators," it stated.

Council Agenda CS.026, July 27