Brisbane City Council will forge ahead with controversial local law changes that will give council officers the power to fine large groups of people up to $5500 for gathering in parks without permits.
But the council's Parks and Environment Chairman Matthew Bourke insisted on Friday that informal gatherings such as children's birthdays, community events and impromptu sports matches would not be impacted, saying the permit system was designed largely for commercial operators.
"These changes will not impact the bulk of people who are using parks across the city," he said.
"It gives greater certainty and much more clarity around large events and more commercial activity.
"The main reason we have undertaken this review is that the old local law was the best part of 20 years old, so it did not provide flexibility."
The proposal prompted a public backlash when it was unveiled in September, largely in response to the plan to charge groups of more than 50 in excess of $300 in advance for a permit to use public parks and open spaces citywide.
After a five week public consultation period, the period of time to apply for the permit was reduced from 20 days to five days.
But the controversial permit requirement will remain.
Council Opposition Leader Milton Dick said the new law mired park use in unnecessary red tape and said the council had ignored community feedback.
"I have read the submissions and overwhelmingly the community hasn't backed these changes," he said.
"The council is refusing to listen to what the people of Brisbane want for their parklands and this is clearly nothing more than a revenue raiser
"Most people in their submissions were angered this was nothing more than bureaucracy."
Cr Bourke said 129 public submissions were received in the five-week consultation period and all were taken into consideration.
However, the only change to the draft proposal was the reduced timeframe for applications for permits.
"This change will allow for greater flexibility in organising major events," he said.
"As has always been the case, permits will continue to be free, unless they are for commercial activities or for the exclusive use of a designated park site."
The new Public Land and Council Asset Local Law will consolidate 11 local laws governing the use of public spaces citywide - some dating back to the 1970s - into one local law.
Cr Bourke said the move was a bid to balance the ever-increasing patronage of the city's parks with the noise concerns of nearby residents and the protection of its green spaces.
The proposal sparked a fiery debate in the council chamber in September, with Labor councillor Shayne Sutton attacking the fee or fine structure on the basis parks should be free for all.
The new law will also empower council officers to issue oral directions to anyone caught flouting the laws in parks, removing the current requirement to issue written notices.
Cr Bourke said that change would enable officers to better enforce existing laws that stemmed the impact of noise from groups participating in activities such as outdoor fitness classes.
But both Cr Sutton and fellow opposition councillor Kim Flesser raised concerns about how the new oral directive powers would be received by the large number of people who use the city's parks and have English as their second language.
If, as expected, the law is given council go ahead on Tuesday, it will then go to the State Government for the final tick of approval.
It is expected to be operational before the end of the year.
