Noosa wedding vendors urge council to cut soaring beach permit fees

Noosa Council requires a $799 non-refundable permit for a three-hour wedding on the Main Beach foreshore, a price that has risen fivefold since 2014. Couples such as Jodie O'Dea and Daryl Pilmore, who had to relocate their ceremony after heavy rain made the beach unusable, received no refund and incurred an extra $3,000 venue cost. Wedding photographer Lindy Yewen describes the charge as a “Noosa tax” that, together with expensive lodging, is driving couples away.

The not-for-profit Noosa Wedding Organisation reports a drop in local weddings from 781 in 2014 to 563 in 2025, equating to roughly $30 million less in tourist expenditure. Celebrant Jacqueline Gray notes cheaper alternatives exist in neighboring Sunshine Coast Council areas, where fees are as low as $83. Council property manager Hayley Jamieson says the fee reflects the higher management and presentation costs of the premium beach location and is reviewed annually.