All applications for commercial and non-commercial events undergo detailed assessment. This may include consultation with specialists in DBCA, local community groups, traditional owners and other government departments or vesting bodies. DBCA has a duty of care to all visitors, including spectators, and must manage any potential environmental impacts from events in a sustainable manner.  

Issues DBCA may take into consideration when assessing a commercial event application include but are not limited to: 

• the appropriateness of the event to the reserves' values and purpose and if the proposed activities are in line with the area's management plan
• the risks and likelihood of spreading pathogens and weeds between reserves and management options to reduce the risk
• waste collection and removal including litter and toilet waste
• impacts on threatened species and ecological communities and management options to reduce impacts 
• participant, spectator and support crew vehicle management and impacts
• if DBCA operations such as prescribed burning could significantly impact on or cause the cancellation of an approved event
• that an organised activity/event could endanger or otherwise significantly impact on or disadvantage other user groups
• if the activity or event could result in a significant or unacceptable level of environmental damage if not properly managed/controlled
• if the marketing and promotional material is appropriate
• if there are other alternative sites outside DBCA-managed land

EventsCorp's Resources for event holders provides useful resources for event holders, including funding for major and regional events. 

When applying for a licence, please ensure that your application is submitted at least 3 months prior to the event to allow enough time for processing. Additional time may be required for complex applications. Operations on lands and waters managed by DBCA cannot be conducted or advertised until the licence has been granted. 

If approved, the licence will be granted for a specified time only. It may also include conditions such as safety standards, removal of litter and waste, and access restrictions. Operators are required to adhere to the conditions on the licence and in the Commercial Operator Handbook, including Section 7.1 Commercial events. 

Should you require a commercial operations licence to conduct a commercial event, please apply online using the Commercial Operator Licensing System. A user guide to using the system to apply can be downloaded at the bottom of this page. 

To assist DBCA complete the assessment process, please provide as much detail with your application as possible. Information and documentation required includes but is not limited to: 

• a detailed itinerary and map of the event location and/or event route including information on parking and staging locations, spectator points and camping sites, and any mustering, changeover, aid station or transition points
• public liability insurance covering the areas and operations (activities) included in the licence for the value of at least A$10 million per event throughout the period of the licence
• an event management plan detailing strategies for rubbish and waste removal, reducing the spread of weeds and pathogens (such as dieback), and communicating the areas natural values to participants and spectators
• a risk management plan
• an emergency response plan including an emergency evacuation plan
• a traffic management plan that has been prepared and approved by an accredited body in line with Mainroads WA - Traffic Management for Events Code of Practice
• a contact person for DBCA-related matters. 

Application Fee

There is a non-refundable application fee of $117 payable on submission of a commercial event licence application.

Application fee waiver

If an organisation submits multiple online commercial event applications for events that commence within the same calendar year, only one application fee for the year will be charged. This waiver will be automatically applied through the Commercial Operations Licensing System (COLS) when an application is submitted that meets the waiver criteria.

Please note, this waiver is applied at the discretion of the department and will be reviewed annually.

Licence charge

A $7.00 per participant licence charge is payable by operators for each approved commercial event conducted on CALM Act land.

Please note the licence charge is not payable for child participants aged 16 years or under. Where an event involves teams, the per participant licence charge is payable in respect of each participant on the team.

The licence charge assists in the recovery of costs involved in assessing and licensing commercial events and contributes towards the management and maintenance of park facilities and the environment impacted by these events.

A guide on how to pay the licence charge is downloadable below.

Other fees and charges

Other fees such as park entry, camping and attraction fees may apply.

A daily park entry fee is payable by commercial event operators for each passenger on its vehicle/s or commercial tours accessing a park with entry fees. If applicable, park entry fees can be paid by completing the cash payment docket (available for download at the bottom of this page) and submitting to the park gatekeeper or honour box, or directly to the local DBCA office. The local DBCA office can also be contacted prior to an event, to arrange payment of other fees and charges as applicable.

Public drinking water sources must be protected from contamination. Water sources used for drinking water supply are referred to collectively as public drinking water source areas (PDWSAs) and are protected by government policy and legislation. 

To check if your proposed event is in a PDWSA, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) provides an interactive atlas (available for download from the DWER website). Alternatively, email DWER at drinkingwater@water.wa.gov.au. 

To protect drinking water quality, events need to comply with DWER's Operational Policy 13 Recreation in public water source areas on crown land (available for download from the WA.gov.au website).

If your proposed event takes place in a PDWSA, approval is required from both DBCA and DWER for the event to proceed.