Venue and Event Application

Whether you're planning an event, hiring a venue for a one-off activity, or booking a space regularly, all bookings for Murray River Council venues and public spaces must be submitted through our Venue & Event Application Form.

This page explains the different types of bookings and what to expect once you apply.

All applications are reviewed by Council to ensure the space is available, the activity is appropriate for the location, and any safety or operational requirements are met.

Once submitted, your application will be assessed by the relevant Council team and we will contact you if further information is required.

Choose your booking type

Select the option below that best describes your activity to see the process and expected timeframes.

Venue / Casual Hire

One-off bookings such as meetings, community gatherings, private functions, training sessions, or small activities.

Processing time:
Up to 1 week (Approximately)

Step 1.1. Submit an application

Complete the Venue & Event Application Form and provide any required supporting documents.

Complete the form here

Step 2.2. Council review

Customer Service will review your application and confirm venue or space availability within 5 business days.

Step 3.3. Confirmation and invoice

If approved, you will receive confirmation of your booking and an invoice (if applicable) for hire of the space.

Events

An advertised, ticketed or open to the public event including festivals, concerts, fundraisers, sporting competitions, fairs, car shows or displays. Events generally involve contractors, food or alcohol, temporary infrastructure like marquees or portable toilets, and can impact traffic, roads, footpaths or parking.

Processing time:

Small / Low-Risk Events (e.g. small picnics, community BBQs) – up to 1 month
Medium / Large Events (e.g. festivals, events with food or alcohol) – up to 3 months
High-Impact / Major Events (e.g. road closures, traffic management, amusements) – up to 6 months

Step 1.1. Review the Event Guide

Make sure you review our Event Guide prior to completing the application to ensure you are familiar with the requirements of running an event in the Murray River Council region.

Step 2.2. Submit an Application

Complete the Venue & Event Application Form below and upload the following mandatory documents:

Public Liability Insurance Certificate of Currency (minimum $20 million)
Risk Management Plan
Site Plan

Note: Additional documentation may be required depending on the activities taking place. Please refer to the Event Requirements Checklist for all activity specific requirements.

Complete the form here

Step 3.3. Council Review

Council’s Economic Development team will review your application and confirm venue or space availability within 5 business days.

Step 4.4. Assessment

Your application will be assessed, and additional documentation will be requested (if required) based on the activities taking place.

Step 5.5. Approval

Once assessment is complete, you will receive confirmation of approval along with any event conditions that must be met as well as an invoice (if applicable) for the hire of the space, if a council owned facility.

Regular Users

Clubs, organisations or groups that use a council venue on a regular basis such as weekly meetings, training sessions, sporting activities or seasonal activities.

Step 1.1. Existing Users

Are you a regular user? If you have an existing agreement with council and are a regular user of a council sporting venue or space, please visit our information page.

Visit the 'hire a sporting venue' page

Step 2.2. New Users

For new groups or clubs seeking regular use, please contact the Parks & Open Spaces team.

Email the team

Do I need approval to use a Council venue or park?

Yes. All use of Council venues, facilities, and public spaces requires an approved application.

How long does approval take?

Casual venue hire: Up to 1 week
Regular user bookings: Up to 1 week
Events: Typically, 4–8 weeks, depending on complexity. Large scale, high-impact events can take 3-6 months so we recommend applying early and engaging with Council’s Economic Development team to confirm the requirements.

When should I apply for an event?

We recommend submitting your event application at least 6–8 weeks before the event date to allow enough time for assessment and approvals. Our standard processing times are:

Small / Low-Risk Events (e.g. small picnics, community BBQs) – up to 1 month
Medium / Large Events (e.g. festivals, events with food or alcohol) – up to 3 months
High-Impact / Major Events (e.g. road closures, traffic management, amusements) – up to 6 months

What documents might be required?

All events, regardless of size or scale will be required to provide:

Public Liability Insurance – minimum f $20 million cover
Risk Management Plan
Site Plan

Additional documentation may be required, depending on the activities taking place. Please refer to the Event Requirements Checklist for a breakdown of the activity specific requirements. Once Council has assessed your application, we will let you know what additional documents you need to provide. Common documents include:

Food Vendor Lists & Public Liability Insurance for each vendor
Liquor License
Traffic Management Plan

Not every event needs all of these documents, we will only request what is relevant to your specific event.

Do I need a separate planning permit or approval?

If your event involves any of the following, you will need to apply for a Development Application in addition to the Venue & Event Application form.

In residential areas: total marquee/tent floor space is over 200m2
In other areas: total marquee/tent floor space is over 300m2
Staging exceeds 50m2 or is more than 2 metres high
Commercial event on private property

Please refer to the ‘Do I need approval? Decision Tree for further information.

If you’re event includes any of the above you must submit a Development Application through the NSW Planning Portal. You’ll need to create an account and start your application online. A full list of Development Application fees is available on the NSW Planning Portal Service Fees page.

What happens after I submit my application?

Your application will be reviewed by the relevant Council team. If further information is required, we will contact you before progressing the application.