Watercraft

• You will be contacted annually to pay the required fee.
• Failure to pay your watercraft fee, will result in your watercraft being impounded, and an impounding fee will be applied.
• Watercraft is stored entirely at your risk and Council will not accept any responsibility for any damage caused to the watercraft.
• Council has the right at any time and for any reason to terminate an agreement.
• If you do not remove the watercraft or other equipment if your agreement is terminated, the items will be removed and may be disposed of.
• You must advise Council in writing if you no longer require the use of the watercraft storage area by emailing watercraft@innerwest.nsw.gov.au
• You cannot “on-sell” or transfer the agreement under any circumstances.
• You must give Council immediate notice of any damage, defect or deterioration affecting the watercraft storage area.
• Use of the facility is for private purposes only. Any commercial use of the facility will render the license agreement immediately null and void.

Council grants a temporary 12 month licence (from 1 January to 31 December) to the applicant herein after referred to as the licensee for the use of the allocated storage bay at Council's nominated storage facility on the following terms and conditions:

1. The licensee must be the legal owner of the watercraft stored in Council's storage bay.
2. The licensee must ensure the watercraft does not exceed the maximum permissible dimensions of width 1.5 metres and length 3.5 metres.
3. The licensee must:
   1. Ensure only one watercraft is stored in the allocated bay;
   2. Display the permit sticker in a prominent position.
   3. Ensure the storage bay is only used for private purposes; and
   4. Ensure the watercraft is in an operable condition.
4. The licensee must not:
   1. Damage or misuse the storage bay or public land surrounding the storage bay; or
   2. Undertake any maintenance ore repair of the watercraft on public land surrounding the storage bay.
5. The licensee must notify Council in writing within 7 days of any change or address or contact phone numbers.
6. The licensee must notify Council in writing within 7 days of disposal of the watercraft.
7. The licensee must notify Council in writing when the storage bay is no longer required.
8. The licensee acknowledges the licensee’s property stored in the storage bay is at the licensee’s risk at all times.
9. Council may terminate this licence in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever, including breaches of these terms and conditions after giving the licensee 7 days' written notice.

In the event this licence is terminated, Council may treat the licensee's property as abandoned and deal with it in any way Council sees fit, at the licensee's expense, if the licensee fails to remove its property within 21 days after notice is given by Council.

Note

• First preference is provided to those who have a mooring. Proof of your mooring must be provided.
• Contacting council requesting a bay does not guarantee that a storage bay at the location will become available or allocated.
• Council will update our webpages as storage bays become available.

If you no longer require your bay and wish to relinquish it, please advise Council in writing with the location, bay number, your details and Council's Booking Number (if known).

No refunds will be offered for bays relinquished throughout the year.  

Council charges an annual fee from 1 January to 31 December each calendar year.

View Council's fees and charges here

Moorings are managed by Transport for NSW.

A mooring licence is required for private and commercial/club moorings on NSW waterways. You can lodge an application for a mooring licence at any registry or service centre.

Visit the NSW Government's moorings web page for more information

Location: Maliyawul Street, Lilyfield or Le Montage

Parking: Available along waterfront/the Bay Run.

Capacity: 54 bays

Availability: No bays currently available. 

Location: 26 Manning Street, Rozelle

Watercraft storage can be accessed by walking towards the water and turning right and walking along the path that runs along the water's edge.

Parking: Available at the King George Park sports ground.

Capacity: 49 bays

Availability: We are currently undertaking an audit of available spaces for 2026.

Location: 6 Fitzroy Avenue Balmain

Watercraft storage can be located by walking to the end of Fitzroy Ave towards Punch Street. Turn towards the water and follow the stairway/walkway alongside the buildings towards the water. NOTE: Steep steps are required to be navigated to access Watercraft Storage location.

Parking: Available along Fitzroy Avenue.

Capacity: 33 bays

Availability: No bays currently available.

Location: 32 Hart Street, Balmain

Watercraft storage can be accessed by walking into the park and turning left, following the waters edge. Watercraft storage located under trees beside Colgate building, before jetty.

Parking: Street parking only and availability is limited.

Capacity: 13 bays

Availability: No bays currently available. 

Location: Cove Street (corner Louisa Road and Cove Street), Birchgrove

Watercraft storage can be accessed by walking towards the end of Cove Street (towards River Street) and walking down the ramp towards the water. NOTE: Steep and uneven steps are required to be navigated to access watercraft storage location.

Parking: Street parking only and availability is limited.

Capacity: 20 bays

Availability: No bays currently available. 

Location: 32 Yeend Street, Birchgrove

Watercraft storage can be accessed by walking down Yeend Street towards the wharf. Watercraft Storage is located behind trees near the water's edge on right hand side.

Parking: Limited parking available at end of Yeend Street. Keep driving down Yeend Street, towards Ronald Street.

Capacity: 18 bays

Availability: No bays currently available. 

Under the provisions of the Impounding Act 1993, Council is authorised to remove any vessel that is abandoned, derelict or illegally stored on the foreshore areas. Any boats stored in Council storage facilities that do not comply with the above conditions of storage may also be removed. Council routinely checks the foreshore areas and storage facilities. Impounded watercraft are held at a Council facility and if not claimed will be sold at auction. Proof of ownership and payment of a fee is required for release of any impounded boat.

Download NSW Government – New rules for personal items (PDF, 215.45KB)

Q. How do I apply for a watercraft bay? 
A. Please check the availability on our webpage and send an email to watercraft@innerwest.nsw.gov.au and you will be contacted by a Council Officer.

Q. What happens if there are no bays at my preferred watercraft storage facility?

A.  Council bays are in high demand. We update our webpage when a bay becomes available at a location.

Q. I do not need my watercraft bay anymore. What do I do?
A. Please email us at: watercraft@innerwest.nsw.gov.au 

Q. I do not need my watercraft bay anymore and already paid for it. Do I receive a refund of paid fees.
A. Council does not provide refunds for watercraft bays. 

Q. I need a new sticker for my watercraft. How do I get one?
A. Provided that you have paid your Watercraft storage fees, a sticker can be sent to you. 

Q. I need to update my contact details, how do I do this?
A. Please email watercraft@innerwest.nsw.gov.au and advise your watercraft bay location and we will update your details for you. Once an invoice has been issued, we are unable to re-issue it with any corrections. Any necessary amendments or updates will be reflected in the subsequent year's invoice. 

Q. Can I store 2x watercraft in my Bay? 
A. No you cannot because your permit is per watercraft bay.

Q. My watercraft has been lost, damaged or stolen. Does Council refund or cover costs for this?
A. No Council does not cover the cost of damaged, lost or stolen items. Watercraft is stored at our storage facilities at the owner's own risk. 

Q. I cannot move my watercraft out of its bay because of another watercraft blocking it. What do I do?
A. Please contact watercraft@innerwest.nsw.gov.au and Council can initiate an impounding process to remove the watercraft. 

Q. I want to keep my watercraft bay and transfer it to my son/daughter or family member? How do I do this?
A. Please note that Watercraft Bays are non-transferable. If you have any inquiries or require further assistance, please feel free to reach out to us at 02 9392 5000 or email watercraft@innerwest.nsw.gov.au.