Northern Beaches Council rejects wood-fired sauna due to air pollution, offensive odour fears

A sauna owner has been left steaming after his proposal to operate a mobile wood-fired sauna on the Northern Beaches was rejected. See why it was knocked back.

The owner of a portable wood fire sauna has been left steaming after being blocked from setting up the van in Sydney’s northern beaches over claims the business could have environmental impacts and cause unacceptable “air pollution”.

A mobile sauna heated by logs of natural wood is at the centre of a planning dispute between Northern Beaches Council and sauna owner Rob Dempster-Smith who is campaigning to operate the portable van from a carpark at South Curl Curl beach.

Mr Dempster-Smith applied to the council to operate the Finnish style wood-fired van during early morning and evening periods at the popular beachside spot.

But the proposal was rejected after the council deemed the van would have an unacceptable environmental impact.

Mr Dempster-Smith – who spent $50,000 fitting out and registering the portable sauna – said the business was intended to provide a new fitness option to residents including surfers who could steam off and carve up Curl Curl’s waves.

The mobile van was proposed to be set-up at South Curl Curl beach.

He has also defended the environmental footprint of the van, saying the use of wood to heat the sauna was a carbon neutral heat sauce that emanates smoke for a maximum of five minutes while heating.

“The idea is to combine an ocean swim and then come into the sauna afterwards as a way of combining wellness and nature,” he said.

“We’d go there for sunrise then leave before most of the crowds arrive, and then come back around 6pm for sunset sessions.

The sauna is heated using logs of wood.

“But unfortunately we’ve come up against some serious red tape issues.”

Northern Beaches Council, which assessed the proposal, deemed it not permissible or appropriate due to potential pollution caused by “offensive odour and smoke”.

“Wood smoke contains noxious gases including carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, and organic compounds that may be toxic or carcinogenic,” the council’s assessment stated.

“It also causes particle pollution, which can be seen as a brown atmospheric haze on still, cool, winter mornings.

Mr Dempster-Smith, pictured outside his mobile sauna.

“Not only are there environmental concerns regarding the smoke, but this type of commercial use requires specific authorisation … as well as possibly needing an environmental assessment,” 

Wood-heated saunas have grown in popularity in recent years and currently operate within public areas interstate including South Australia and Queensland.

The wood-fire smoke saunas are also part of the “sauna culture” overseas including in Finland, the UK and New Zealand.

The mobile sauna is heated used logs of wood.

Mr Dempster-Smith said he also offered to pay $3000 to install a particulate filter that would remove 99 per cent of smoke particulates – however the offer was still rejected by the council.

He has also hit back at concerns the van’s operation within a carpark could represent “a corporatisation” of public space.

“There are already two mobile vendors operating at the carpark and I’ve had so many people approach me saying they would love us if we operated at the site,” he said.

Wood fired saunas are popular overseas including in Finland

“The council’s saying they’re concerned about the smoke pollution but my push back is that there are 40-50 wood-fired food places operating in the council area, and the council also allows wood-fired barbecues in parks.

“It’s a double standard.”

Mr Dempster-Smith said he is considering lodging a review of the council’s decision. He is aiming to operate the van near a lake in Jindabyne however has yet to gain approval from Snowy Monaro Regional Council.

“It’s a shame because in Sydney if you want to go to a sauna you have to go to a gym and look at a wall and it’s always overcrowded,” he said.

“My philosophy is bringing wellness into the outdoors, helping people de-digitise and getting back some time for themselves.”

Northern Beaches Council, in a letter to Mr Smith, stated it “there is the option to change the type of heater in your sauna we would be able to reconsider your application at another location.”