Effective for applications made from 06 February 2025
These Terms and Conditions of Hire, including associated approvals and fees, help Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA) to maintain the amenity, environment and custodianship of Sydney Olympic Park (the ‘Park’) for all.
These Terms and Conditions apply to Wedding and Special Occasion Photography Permits, here onward referred to as “Photography Permits”.
“Parklands Officer” are SOPA staff who supervise the Sydney Olympic Park parklands.
“Photography” includes stills and videos.
“Permit Holder” means the person or organisation with a confirmed and valid Photography Permit.
“Park User” means any person using the park, including Permit Holders.
What is this Permit for?
If a photographer is taking photos as a business for a client’s personal use (such as for celebrations or portraits), they need a Photography Permit. This applies regardless of the photographer’s business status (e.g. for-profit, not-for-profit, educational).
This permit is not for projects such as movies, documentaries, advertisements, promotions, or TV shows. For these, check SOPA’s Filming policies https://www.sydneyolympicpark.nsw.gov.au/filming.
A Photography Permit is included with purchase of an “Arc of Pines” wedding booking. Separate Terms & Conditions apply to the hire and use of the Arc of Pines.
1. Approved activities
A Permit Holder is approved to conduct such photography as specified in the Photography Permit confirmation on the date and times specified, in publicly accessible outdoor spaces at Sydney Olympic Park.
2. Non-exclusive use of Park areas
A Photography Permit does not provide exclusive use of any park area, or access to enclosed areas or buildings. Areas cannot be blocked off, and public access must be maintained at all times. Running cables are not permitted.
Park facilities (such as BBQs, car parks, roads, paths, playgrounds, and toilets) are shared and cannot be reserved.
Permit Holders acknowledge that other unrelated activities (including events, site works, and road or area closures) may occur at the Park at the same time as Photography Permit dates, and may involve temporary closure or disruption to use of shared park facilities.
3. Photography in Ecologically Sensitive Areas
The Permit Holder is to manage the group size of their photography activity.
Photography group sizes are limited to five (5) persons in sensitive habitat areas including all wetlands (indicated in Blue in attached Parklands map).
4. Insurance
The Permit Holder is required to have, and warrants that they have, current broadform liability insurance covering each claim for not less than $20 million per occurrence and in the aggregate, in connection with or arising out of their activity.
The Permit Holder must provide a copy of the insurance Certificate of Currency to SOPA if requested by SOPA.
5. Payment & Confirmation
Photography Permits are not approved until full payment is made to SOPA and a confirmation is sent to the applicant. Enquiries, tentative applications, and applications in progress, do not guarantee approval of a Photography Permit.
SOPA staff may request proof of the Permit Holder and confirmation of the Photography Permit.
6. Cancellations, refunds, rescheduling
By the Permit Holder
Permit Holders acknowledge the outdoor setting of Sydney Olympic Park.
Refunds are not payable for cancellations by the Permit Holder, including for weather conditions.
Permit Holders making a cancellation can receive a customer credit in the form of a promotional discount code (‘Promo Code’) under the following conditions:
| Cancellation conditions | Value of Promo Code |
|---|---|
| Cancel one (1) day or more before the Photography Permit date. | 100% of original fee. |
No cancellations are available on the Photography Permit date, or after the Photography Permit date. If a Photography Permit was purchased as part of an Arc of Pines Wedding booking, the cancellation policy of the Arc of Pines Wedding booking applies. | |
All changes to the Photography Permit date by the Permit Holder are to be made as a cancellation of the original application, and a new application made with any Promo Code supplied.
Promo Codes expire 12 months after issue. New applications are subject to the terms, conditions, fees and availabilities at the time of making a new application. The value of a Promo Code may not match the cost of a future application.
By SOPA
SOPA reserves the right to cancel a Photography Permit at any time with notice to the Permit Holder.
In the case of a cancellation of a Photography Permit by SOPA, and where a customer credit is not acceptable to the Permit Holder, payment will be refunded in full. No further compensation will be payable.
7. Vehicles
Motor vehicles, including motorbikes and trailers, may not travel beyond public roads and carparks.
A Photography Permit does not include reservations for parking. All Permit Holders and Park Users must observe signposted parking conditions. Sydney Olympic Park is a Restricted Parking Area – vehicles must park in marked bays only.
8. Other Business Activities
Permit Holders are to supply their photography service to their client(s) only. Selling, soliciting or advertising to other members of the public while at the Park is not permitted.
Additional third-party suppliers, vendors, businesses or organisations (who are not the Permit Holder) are not permitted to be ‘added on’ to the Photography Permit and must obtain their own separate permits to operate within the Park.
9. Reporting incidents
Permit Holders are requested to report any hazards, damage or litter to Parklands Officers on duty or via the contact details provided in the Permit confirmation. Any incidents or accidents in the Park should also be reported as soon as possible to Parklands Officers.
10. Electricity
Electricity is not available for use in the Park. Fuelled generators are not permitted.
11. Waste disposal
All rubbish (including but not limited to food waste, decorations, cigarette butts), must be removed. Hot coals must be disposed of in dedicated hot coal bins and must not be left on the ground. Hot water, oil, fat, ice and dry ice must be removed from the Park and not disposed of within the Park.
12. Use of the Park
Permits Holders accept that they are using the Park at their own risk.
13. Damage to Park areas
Permit Holders warrant to SOPA that they will not damage any Park area.
If, due to the Permit Holder’s activity, an area is damaged or not restored to the original condition, the Permit Holder agrees to pay all reasonable costs to SOPA to clean, repair, or undertake any other action to revert the damaged area to its original condition.
14. Rules and regulations
Permit Holders are responsible for complying with all laws relevant to their activity, including but not limited to privacy, child protection, and intellectual property laws.
Except where expressly approved in these Terms and Conditions or by SOPA through a permit or license, all Park rules continue to apply.
Permit Holders are to be aware:
Permitted with conditions
These items and activities are permitted in the Park:
Equipment and Structures
Picnic furniture, play equipment, portable shades/umbrellas that are designed for consumer/domestic use. Each item must not occupy an area larger than 3 metres by 3 metres. All items, especially shades/umbrellas, must be properly weighted. If using more than one shade/umbrella, they must also be at least 6 metres apart. Digging into the ground, including with pegs or stakes, is not permitted.
SOPA staff may give direction for an item to be dismantled if conditions in the Park (such as high winds) cause an item to be a potential hazard.
Any items may be directed to be relocated if they interfere with other Park Users.
Decorations
Decorations may be put on park shelters (if not in use by other Park Users) using only soft string or cord, and must be fully removed by the Permit Holder before departing. Attaching decorations using any other method (glue, tape, adhesives, nails, or pins) is not permitted.
Domestic animals
Dogs must be on leash or in designated off-leash areas, and not brought into prohibited areas such as Newington Armory, mangroves, wetlands and waters. All other animals are not permitted, with the exception of assistance animals.
Not permitted
These items and activities are not permitted in the Park:
- Use or flying of drones.
- Any activity that obstructs or interferes with the general use and enjoyment of public facilities and spaces.
- Animal-based amusements including petting zoos and pony rides.
- Inflatable amusements, jumping castles, and mechanical rides.
- Releasing or throwing of confetti, bio-confetti, rice, flower petals, balloons, paint dyes, powders.
- Releasing or feeding of birds, fish, butterflies or other animals. Wildlife may choose to gather or nest at a location, or be attracted to human food. Do not feed or disturb. Contact Parklands Officers for assistance.
- Furniture, equipment, decorations or items deemed by SOPA to be a risk of hazard to people or the environment.
- Sound which disturbs others or impacts wildlife, or which is excessive compared to background noise.
- Using party ‘poppers’, smoke cannons, fireworks, candles, bamboo torches, sparklers.
- Attaching any items to trees, shrubs, Park equipment, or Park structures (except as decorations of a shelter).
- Digging or putting objects into the ground, including pegs or stakes.
15. Failure to Comply
Failure to comply with any of the Terms and Conditions, Park rules, or any reasonable direction by a SOPA representative, may result in immediate cancellation of the Permit Holder’s Photography Permit booking and the Permit Holder’s group may be directed to leave the Park.
If the Permit Holder’s Photography Permit is cancelled because of the Permit Holder failing to comply, all fees will be forfeited, and no refunds are payable. In addition, penalties can apply for breaches under the Sydney Olympic Park Authority Act 2001 (NSW) and other relevant laws.
16. Parklands map
