In PAE, you'll find many large open spaces and facilities that are ideal locations to hold all sorts of different kinds of events.
To assist with your event planning, we have designed the Public Event Guidelines and Private Reserve Hire Guidelines to set out the things you need to consider to host a successful, safe event and get the relevant licences and permits. All events whether public or private that involve 101+ people, requires substantial infrastructure and/or involves the operation of more than one business requires an event permit.
If your event is private and less than 101 people but involves infrastructure or the operation of commercial businesses, a reserve permit may be required. You can check what is required under the FAQs found here.
What is a public event? - The event is promoted to all members of the public to attend either through free admission or ticket sales.
What is a private event? - An event which is not open for members of the general public to attend such as a family gathering, organisational or work social gatherings.
If you are wishing to host your event at Semaphore Foreshore, additional consideration must be made in line with the Semaphore Foreshore Guidelines.
It is also important that you make sure you have booked the space for your event. This is separate to your event permit. We have recently launched a new booking system where you can browse the listings, find out what's available and make payment for your booking online.
*It is important that all required documentation is provided at the time of lodgement as permits can take up to 6 weeks to process.
Fee type | Rate of charge | Fee amount |
Public event – hire of a reserve (less than 500 people) | Per day | $340 |
Public event – hire of a reserve (more than 500 people) | Per day | $565 |
Bond – Less than 500 people (dependent on level of risk) | Per event | $330 |
Bond – 500 to 1,000 people (dependent on level of risk) | Per event | $550 |
Bond – 1,000 people or more (dependent on level of risk) | Per event | $1,000 |
Bond – Commercial event (dependent on level of risk) | Per event | Maximum $11,000 |
Further information
The Special Events Information Kit also provides additional information and useful resources.
You will need to write to businesses and residents impacted by your event to let them know about it if:
- The event requires traffic management and/or a road closure
- Access to business or residential premises are restricted due to the public event
- There will be amplified music playing at the event
You'll need to distribute this notification within a radius of at least 500m of the Authorised Area at least 7 days and no more than 14 days before the event. Your notification should include:
- The date of the event
- The time of the event
- The location of the event
- A description of the event
- A map showing the traffic management plan/and or road closure (if applicable)
- Contact details for the event organiser, including an after-hours number
You can make an application online or in person. You may need to submit the following documents as part of your application:
- A Certificate of Currency of your Public Liability Insurance with a minimum cover of $20 million, noting the City of Port Adelaide Enfield as an interested party
- A site plan showing how furniture/infrastructure will be placed.
- A risk management plan – you can use this editable template
- A copy of the amusement operator’s Certificate of Currency of your Public Liability Insurance with a minimum cover of $20 million, noting the City of Port Adelaide Enfield as an interested party and the SafeWork SA registration certificate for the amusement structure (if applicable)
- A copy of the inflatable amusement operator’s Certificate of Currency of your Public Liability Insurance with a minimum cover of $20 million, noting the City of Port Adelaide Enfield as an interested party (if applicable)
- A copy of the notification letter that you will be sending to impacted stakeholders, along with a map of the area and the date when you will be distributing this (if applicable)
Your public event application will take 4 to 6 weeks for us to process.
If you can't provide the full details of the food and drinks stalls that will be part of your event when you submit your application, you can provide this information separately using the Special Events Food Safety Notification Form. You will need to submit this form at least two weeks before the event.
Our Environmental Health Team have also developed a Food Event Checklist and Guidelines for Temporary Food Events to assist in your planning for events that include food stalls.
The below assessment fees apply to the event organiser:
- Small events (less than 10 food vendors): $76.50
- Large events (more than 10 food vendors): $192
Food markets, festivals, fetes, shows and other events that are operated as non for profit will not be charged a fee.
A dry zone/area is a designated area where the consumption and possession of alcohol in unsealed containers is prohibited under the Liquor Licensing Act 1997.
There are dry areas across PAE located in the following areas:
- Jack Watkins Reserve, located on Churchill Road, Kilburn (next to Costco)
- Port Canal Reserve and Joyce Snadden Reserve in Port Adelaide
- Semaphore Foreshore, including the northern car park from South Terrace to Derby Street
- Time Ball Tower, located on the corner of Semaphore Road and the Esplanade
A temporary dry area also exists along Semaphore Road from Causeway Road to the Esplanade on New Year's Eve and Australia Day. Read more about Dry zones.
If you would like to apply for a grant or sponsorship of your event, please contact us for help and support before submitting your application by calling us on 8405 6972 or emailing us at grants@cityofpae.sa.gov.au
We can arrange to close a road temporarily if it's necessary to keep the event safe for people attending the event, as well as for the general public.
As part of this process, we may ask you to inform the Department of Infrastructure and Planning, SAPOL, emergency services and neighboring local councils if the road closure will impact their infrastructure or services. We will let you know if this is necessary once we have received your application.
We may need to place a notice in a newspaper as part of the road closure notification process. If so, the cost of the advertisement will be charged to the event organiser.
If you want to use the Port Adelaide Waterfront Precinct as the location for your event, you will need to contact Renewal SA.
The precinct includes the public areas of Hart’s Mill, Hart’s Mill Flour Shed, Cruickshanks Corner, Black Diamond (Lighthouse) Square and Lartelare Park.
You can make a submission for your event to be included in Port Adelaide Enfield’s What’s On page.
If you'd like us to consider promoting your event more broadly, please email the details of your event through to communications@cityofpae.sa.gov.au
If your event has received council funding, please invite a representative from the council (usually the Mayor) to attend. If you would like the Mayor or another representative to make a speech at the event, please complete the Elected Member Attendance and Speech Protocol Application.
Because the Port River is protected under the Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary Act 2005, you'll need to liaise with a range of river stakeholders as part of your event planning:
- Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (Marine Safety Division)
- City of Port Adelaide Enfield
- Department for Environment & Heritage – Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary
- Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
- Renewal SA (if you will be using the Port Adelaide wharf/pontoons)
