A dispute has emerged between the City of Joondalup and the Western Australian Government over fees charged for using Mullaloo and Sorrento beaches for school swimming programs.

Since 2024, the City has charged the Department of Education venue hire fees for its VacSwim and in-term swimming programs, with the annual cost exceeding $20,000.

According to the City, fees for the programs amounted to more than $22,500 in 2026, equivalent to approximately $2.65 per enrolment.

The Department of Education requested that the charges be waived, arguing that public beaches had traditionally been available for school swimming lessons without venue hire fees.

However, at its September 2026 meeting, Joondalup council voted 11–1 against introducing a provision allowing government departments and educational providers to apply for exemptions.

Councillor John Chester was the only member to oppose the decision.

Mayor Daniel Kingston defended the charges, arguing that the Department of Education, rather than local ratepayers, should contribute towards the costs associated with maintaining public beaches and surrounding facilities.

He said the fees helped fund maintenance of footpaths, parklands, landscaping, car parks, changerooms, toilets and other public infrastructure.

The City also undertakes coastal monitoring and erosion management, which Kingston identified as another significant expense.

He rejected suggestions that the council was charging children directly, explaining that the fees were imposed on the State Government.

Education Minister Sabine Winton criticised the decision, stating that Joondalup was the only local government charging the Department of Education to use a beach for swimming programs.

She argued that swimming education was an important public safety service and that the Department had absorbed the additional costs to prevent them being passed on to families.

Winton estimated the annual charges at approximately $29,000 and questioned why the State Government should pay to use beaches that were otherwise freely accessible to the public.

Council officers also raised concerns about the possible consequences of granting exemptions to particular organisations.

They noted that more than 400 groups regularly hired community venues throughout Joondalup and warned that exempting one organisation could lead to similar requests from others.

Officers also acknowledged that other local governments could potentially introduce comparable charges.

Although councillors rejected the proposed exemption provision, they unanimously supported requesting a further report from the City's chief executive.

The report will examine the financial implications of retaining, reducing, capping or removing the fees currently charged for educational swimming programs.

As of October 2026, the existing charges remained in place while the council awaited the review.