In short
Venue North is an independent advisory practice run by Paul Brownrigg that helps operators of trampoline parks, climbing centres, ninja courses, indoor play centres and adventure venues in Melbourne and Victoria with safety, compliance and operations. Paul has no equipment to sell and takes no supplier commissions, so his recommendations are based only on what the venue needs. He works across Australia and supports Victorian operators with WorkSafe Victoria obligations, planning and building approvals, and day to day operational readiness.
What goes wrong for venues in Victoria
The biggest mistake I see is treating Melbourne like a smaller Sydney or a bigger Perth. The Victorian framework has its own regulator, its own planning language and, from July 2026, its own amusement structure registration regime. Operators often bring a fitout plan from interstate and only discover too late that the planning scheme, building surveyor and WorkSafe each want something different.
The pattern is consistent: incomplete risk registers, undocumented plant inspections, staff who are not clear on their working with children obligations, and a cafe that cannot trade until council signs off on the food classification.
- Incomplete or generic risk assessments that do not reflect Victorian plant and amusement structure duties.
- Reliance on interstate documentation that has not been checked against the OHS Act 2004 (Vic) and the OHS Regulations 2017.
- Food premises overlooked until the week before opening.
- Staff screening treated as a payroll checkbox instead of a child safety issue.
- Seasonal trading assumptions that ignore Melbourne's cold, wet winters.
Victorian safety and compliance framework
WorkSafe Victoria is the regulator for the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017. Those instruments impose duties on employers and self-employed people to provide and maintain a working environment that is safe and without risks to health, and they cover plant, inspection, maintenance and record keeping.
From 29 July 2026, new requirements under the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment (Amusement Structure) Regulations 2026 apply to specified amusement structures listed in Schedule 2 of the OHS Regulations. If a ride falls within that schedule, it must be design registered and item-of-plant registered with WorkSafe Victoria, and a competent inspection statement not more than 12 months old is required for item-of-plant registration. I do not give legal advice, but I can help operators map what they own against the regulator's published material and keep the documentation in order.
- OHS Act 2004 (Vic) sets the general duty of care.
- OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic) cover plant design registration, inspection and maintenance.
- The 2026 Amusement Structure Regulations introduce registration obligations from 29 July 2026.
- AS 3533.1 applies to amusement structures that are regulated as plant, and detailed inspections are expected at least annually.
Children, food and approvals
If your venue works with children, the Working with Children Act 2005 and associated regulations require certain staff and volunteers to obtain and maintain a valid Working with Children Clearance. The exact roles depend on the nature of contact and supervision, so I encourage clients to check the Department of Justice and Community Safety guidance for their specific workforce.
Any cafe, kiosk or food offering must be registered or notified with the local council under the Food Act 1984 (Vic). Councils classify premises by risk, and the class determines whether a food safety supervisor, a food safety program and a particular inspection schedule are needed.
A planning permit may also be required for a change of use to indoor recreation under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic) and the Victoria Planning Provisions, depending on the local planning scheme. Building work generally requires a building permit under the Building Act 1993 (Vic) unless an exemption applies. I help operators assemble the right information before they talk to council, the building surveyor or the regulator.
- Working with Children Clearance for relevant roles.
- Food Act 1984 registration with the local council.
- Planning permit under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the Victoria Planning Provisions.
- Building permit under the Building Act 1993 (Vic).
Where Melbourne venues sit, and why it matters
Melbourne's trampoline and adventure venues cluster in large warehouse and industrial precincts. Sites in Heidelberg West, Moorabbin, Derrimut and Ravenhall, Rowville, Essendon Fields, Hoppers Crossing and Altona North come up repeatedly. These locations suit big clear-span floors and high ceilings, but they also mean planning and building approvals, traffic, parking and noise must be handled early.
Industrial sites often sit under different zone controls from shopfront premises, and fitout choices such as fixed sprinkler alterations, egress distances and mezzanine structures can trigger building permit requirements. I review the site through the lens of an operator who needs to keep sessions moving, not just tick boxes on a drawing.
- Industrial warehouse precincts dominate Melbourne trampoline and climbing venue locations.
- Planning and building requirements differ from metro retail spaces.
- Site specific fitout can affect fire services, egress and structural loads.
Climate and seasonality in Victoria
Melbourne's temperate climate gives you warm, dry summers and cool, wet winters, with changeable conditions thrown in year round. That seasonality is a genuine planning factor. Indoor venues see stronger demand through the winter school holidays and wet weekends, while January tends to favour outdoor activity and travel.
Victorian school holidays in 2026 run from 3 to 19 April, 27 June to 12 July, 19 September to 4 October, and from 19 December 2026 through late January 2027. Build your roster, maintenance windows and marketing around those peaks. I help operators turn the calendar into an operating plan rather than a surprise.
- Cool, wet winters push demand indoors for the June to August period.
- Hot, dry summers mean strong competition from outdoor activity.
- School holidays create predictable surges across the year.
How Venue North works with Victorian operators
I start with a conversation about where you are in the journey. If you are still negotiating a lease, I can run an operational design review before you commit to the layout. If you are six weeks from opening, an /operational-readiness-audit will show what is missing. If you are trading but want the compliance systems tightened, I can work through your plant register, inspections and risk documentation.
My approach is not about producing a thick report and leaving. I work operator to operator: identify the gaps, prioritise what matters for your next inspection or audit, and give you a practical path forward. You can also look at /services/venue-audits, /services/compliance-systems and /services/operational-design-review for more detail on what each engagement covers.
- No equipment to sell and no supplier commissions.
- Practical documents and checklists built around WorkSafe Victoria guidance.
- Remote or on site support depending on the stage and urgency.
- Connection to the right engineer, surveyor or legal adviser when a specialist is needed.
What happens next
If you are planning, buying or running a trampoline park, climbing centre, ninja course, play centre or adventure venue in Melbourne or anywhere in Victoria, book a call and tell me what is on your desk. I will be honest about whether I can add value at this stage, and if I can, we will map out a sensible first step.
- Email paul@venuenorth.com.au.
- Call or message 0428 170 998.
- Use WhatsApp at https://wa.me/61428170998.
Questions operators ask
Do I need a safety consultant specifically for trampoline or climbing venues, or will a general WHS consultant do?
A general WHS consultant can help with some of the basics, but trampoline parks, climbing walls and ninja courses involve plant, amusement structures, children's services, food safety and planning overlays all at once. I work only in this sector, so I can spot the intersections a generalist will usually miss.
Does Venue North sell or recommend equipment?
No. Venue North is advisory only. I do not sell, recommend or prefer any equipment brand or supplier, and I receive no commissions. That independence is the point.
What does the 2026 amusement structure registration change mean for my existing ride or attraction?
From 29 July 2026, specified amusement structures listed in Schedule 2 of the OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic) must be design registered and item-of-plant registered with WorkSafe Victoria. The detailed requirements depend on the ride and whether recognition applies for existing registrations, so I help operators check their assets against WorkSafe's published guidance.
Is a Working with Children Check required for every staff member at a Melbourne play centre?
Not always. The requirement applies where a worker's role involves child-related work under the Working with Children Act 2005. I guide operators to assess roles by function and supervision level, and to verify requirements with the Department of Justice and Community Safety.
Will my cafe need food business registration before opening?
Yes, all Victorian food businesses must be registered or notified with the local council under the Food Act 1984. The council classifies your premises by risk, and that classification determines food safety supervisor, food safety program and inspection requirements.
Do I need a planning permit and a building permit for an indoor recreation venue in Melbourne?
A planning permit is required for a change of use if the new use is not exempt under the local planning scheme. Building work generally requires a building permit under the Building Act 1993 unless an exemption applies. The exact path depends on the council zone, overlays and the scope of fitout.
Can Venue North help if I am in regional Victoria, not Melbourne?
Yes. I work Australia wide and regularly support regional operators. Most early work can be done remotely, and site visits can be arranged when needed.
Can you review my venue before I buy or sign the lease?
Yes. A design and operational review at lease stage can flag planning, safety and operational issues before you commit. It is usually cheaper than discovering a problem after you have signed.
Sources
- WorkSafe Victoria, New requirements for amusement rides. https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/new-requirements-amusement-rides
- WorkSafe Victoria, Amusement rides. https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/amusement-rides
- WorkSafe Victoria, Annual inspection of amusement rides. https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/annual-inspection-amusement-rides
- WorkSafe Victoria, Compliance code, Plant. https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/resources/compliance-code-plant
- Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic). https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/occupational-health-and-safety-act-2004
- Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017 (Vic). https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/statutory-rules/occupational-health-and-safety-regulations-2017
- OHS Amendment (Amusement Structure) Regulations 2026 (Vic). https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/as-made/statutory-rules/occupational-health-and-safety-amendment-amusement-structure-regulations-2026
- Working with Children Check Victoria. https://www.vic.gov.au/working-with-children-check
- Food Act 1984 (Vic). https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/food-act-1984
- Safe Food Victoria, classifications for food businesses. https://www.safefood.vic.gov.au/classifications-food-businesses
- Planning and Environment Act 1987 (Vic). https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/planning-and-environment-act-1987
- Building Act 1993 (Vic). https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/building-act-1993
- Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne climate statistics (station 086071). https://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_086071.shtml
- Victorian school term dates and holidays. https://www.vic.gov.au/school-term-dates-and-holidays-victoria