A new chapter for an iconic Wollongong drawcard
Key points:
- Council is formally seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced operators to continue and enhance the skydiving experience currently operating from Stuart Park.
- The proposed licence and lease period is for 10 years and includes a licence for the primary landing area within Stuart Park, a secondary landing area within Stuart Park, and a further designated landing area at Thomas Dalton Park.
- The EOI/tender also includes the lease of the former caretaker’s cottage in Stuart Park.
Skydiving over the golden sands of North Wollongong Beach is a unique and iconically ‘Wollongong’ experience that’s been enjoyed by countless residents and visitors from all over the world for more than two decades.
Wollongong City Council is progressing plans to ensure it remains a jewel in our region’s tourism crown, with a new multi-stage tender process now underway.
Council is formally seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from suitably qualified and experienced operators to continue and enhance the skydiving tourism operations currently operating from Stuart Park. Prospective operators must demonstrate appropriate industry accreditation, regulatory compliance, and experience delivering commercial skydiving operations within Australia.
The operation includes a licence for the primary landing area within Stuart Park, a secondary landing area within Stuart Park, and a further designated landing area at Thomas Dalton Park. The EOI/tender also includes the lease of the former caretaker’s cottage in Stuart Park.
The proposed licence and lease period is for 10 years, with applicants requiring demonstrated experience managing commercial operations on public land and an understanding of heritage asset management to occupy the caretaker’s cottage in accordance with heritage conservation principles.
“The opportunity to skydive the beach is an experience synonymous with Wollongong and a long-standing attraction that helps showcase our city to the world,” Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said.
“It’s something a lot of residents have enjoyed over the years but, crucially, it also brings countless visitors to our region each year. We have ambitious goals when it comes to boosting our tourism and visitor economy and offering memorable experiences that draw on and enhance our city’s natural assets, like our beautiful beaches and foreshore, is essential to those plans.
“It also aligns with our broader vision for the Wollongong Foreshore, ensuring it continues to serve our community as a recreational, social, and cultural hub for a diverse range of activities and purposes.
“It is an important and complex tender, which is why we’re ensuring due diligence through a two-stage process that begins through an EOI. The successful operator will need to deliver a safe, high-quality experience, but also make sure public and heritage assets are properly managed and looked after.
“We look forward to seeing some exciting proposals through this process and to the continuation of this important tourism offering for our city.”
The EOI process is now open and will run until 24 November 2026.
Skydiving at North Wollongong FAQs
How long has skydiving been happening at North Wollongong?
Council first approved commercial skydiving operations at Stuart Park in December 1998, on a 12-month trial basis. Following a successful trial period, the development consent was modified in 1999 and 2000 allowing the continued operation of commercial skydiving activities from Stuart Park.
In 2009, a new development application was lodged to provide a contemporary planning approval framework for the ongoing operation. This consent continues to regulate commercial skydiving activities at Stuart Park. The proposed new licence will operate in accordance with the existing development consent.
How long will the proposed new licence/lease run for?
The proposed licence for skydiving operations and lease of the caretaker’s cottage is for 10 years. While they are part of the same EOI/Tender, the licence relates to skydiving activities and the designated primary and secondary landing areas, while the lease applies to the cottage premises.
Why is an EOI process being undertaken prior to the tender?
The skydiving operations at Stuart Park are complex given the breadth of experience, capability, resources and expertise required to safely manage and operate a skydiving business utilising public land and assets. The EOI process will allow for an informed assessment of applicants’ capabilities in meeting these obligations ahead of a formal tender process.
Will the current provider continue to operate through the EOI and Tender process?
Yes. The current provider continues to operate under holdover provisions following the expiry of the lease and licence in 2014. The holdover arrangement has enabled the continuation of skydiving activities at Stuart Park while Council progressed strategic planning for the Wollongong Foreshore and considered the future management of the site.
Why is Council going to EOI & Tender now?
In 2016 the NSW Government introduced new legislation that required councils to prepare new Plans of Management for all public land, including Council land and Council-managed Crown Land. This was a significant undertaking as we worked through the development of Plans of Management for the use various locations across our city.
The renewal of existing lease and license arrangements on an annual basis ensured Wollongong could continue offering this iconic tourist attraction as we developed a new Wollongong Foreshore Plan of Management (PoM). Now that a new PoM (2025) has been endorsed and approved, Council has commenced a competitive market process to determine the future operation of the activity through an Expression of Interest and subsequent selective tender process.
