The Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001 and the Harbour Trust’s Comprehensive Plan and site Management Plans form the cornerstone of our planning framework. Scroll to learn more about how to apply for a planning permit (development approval), or a permit for a food business, commercial activity, liquor, commercial or filming photography. Additionally, you will also find information about current Harbour Trust tenders and expression of interest (EOI) campaigns.
The Harbour Trust’s statutory plans articulate the vision for its protected sites and outline how this vision will be implemented. Established in accordance with the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001, the Harbour Trust’s Comprehensive Plan is a broad strategic plan that sets out the vision for its sites and provides a framework for their ongoing use.
The Comprehensive Plan is supported by more detailed Management Plans that prescribe desired outcomes for specific sites or buildings, including suitable uses and how each site’s heritage values are proposed to be interpreted.
Whilst not a statutory requirement, master plans put forward a future vision of place. Proposals for implementing master plans must be consistent with the statutory plans and are subject to a detailed planning assessment.
Due to the heritage significance of the Harbour Trust’s lands, prior written approval is required for all works including building fitouts and repairs, landscaping, signage installation, changes of use and major events. In most cases, the Harbour Trust is the Approval Authority for proposed works; however, the Minister for the Environment may assume this role in exceptional circumstances. Planning approval or a development consent from Council or the NSW Government is not required for works or activities on Harbour Trust land.
Information about permissible works and land uses are found in our Comprehensive and Management Plans. Planning applications are examined for consistency with our Strategic Plans, the Objects of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001 and how environmental and heritage values that are protected under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 will be conserved or enhanced.
Prior to undertaking any works or commencing any activities, review the documents below, including the Planning Guide and Schedule of Fees, and complete an Application for a Planning Permit. For further information about planning applications, call (02) 8969 2100 or email planning@harbourtrust.gov.au.
Planning Guide
Application forms
Schedule of fees
Individuals or organisations seeking to use Harbour Trust land for an activity that is commercial in nature must secure the approval of the Harbour Trust.
A commercial activity includes (but is not limited to) an activity where the primary purpose is to make a profit; an activity where an individual (e.g. a sports coach, tour guide) is remunerated for providing a service; and free-of-charge activities, tours, courses or transport offered in conjunction with a commercial product or service.
Examples of commercial activities can include orienteering, bike riding tours or lessons, creative and performing art classes, team building exercises and sports activity.
To apply for a permit or license in regard to a commercial activity, please consult the Venue Use Guidelines (available below) and complete the relevant application or enquiry form.
The Venue Use Guidelines outlines the criteria for obtaining a permit and helps applicants determine whether their proposed activity will be deemed a low, medium, or high impact undertaking. It also provides guidance on every step of the application process – from submitting a venue hire enquiry through to the approval and delivery of an event or activation.
[Note: Receipt of an application by the Harbour Trust does not constitute a confirmed booking. A booking will not be confirmed in the Harbour Trust calendar until the application has been fully assessed and approval granted.]
The Harbour Trust offers low-impact and student filming and photography permits to shoot on Harbour Trust land. Our land is also available for wedding photography, media shoots, and medium to high impact filming and photography, including feature films, TV series, commercial and fashion shoots.
For further information, see: Filming and photography
The Harbour Trust is the authority responsible for ensuring food businesses operate safely and hygienically on Harbour Trust land. The documents below provide information about how to apply to operate a food business, and the Harbour Trust's processes for enforcing compliance with the ANZ Food Standards Code, the NSW Food Act 2003 and NSW Food Regulation 2015.
The Harbour Trust is the authority responsible for issuing permits for the sale or supply of alcohol on our land, and we are committed to ensuring that Responsible Service of Alcohol principles are followed at all times.
The documents below provide information about how to apply for a liquor permit, and the Harbour Trust’s processes for enforcing compliance with licence conditions and Responsible Service of Alcohol principles.
[Note: The Harbour Trust uses the term "liquor permit" to avoid confusion between area licences issued by the Harbour Trust, and liquor licences issued by other Australian jurisdictions.]
The Harbour Trust is an agency within the portfolio of the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW). A range of work on our lands is undertaken by individuals and organisations that have been successful in submitting Australian Government tenders.
Details of any key projects likely to be tendered this year will be compiled in AusTender’s Annual Procurement Plan List. For more information about our current tenders and expressions of interest (EOI) campaigns, visit the AusTender website.
Tenderers and suppliers are required to abide by the Harbour Trust’s Supplier Code of Conduct.
The Harbour Trust receives many requests to install memorials on the land that it manages – please see below for information about how such requests are handled.
If you are interested in the Harbour Trust's statutory plans and application processes, you may find the below links useful.
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