We all know the stress of hosting your child’s birthday party at the local park and having to secure a coveted picnic shelter. But some Aussies are going to extremes to ensure their group snags a shady spot, and it’s caused an online outrage.

Images have been shared in online forums, showing a public picnic shelter wrapped in plastic in a bid to lay ‘dibs’ on the structure. It even prompted the local council, Wollongong City Council, to put up signs warning against using cling wrap to enclose the public shelters.

A reddit user posted the sign to the forum, and it raised the ire of hundreds of people, some deeming the practice ‘unAustralian’.

While some Aussies explained that their local councils allow booking public spaces for a fee, others revealed they’re been in physical altercations over families reserving public spaces.

“We had someone do this at our local park and also place reserved signs!,” one person commented.

“When we got to the park at 8am to set up not a single soul was seen but all the tables were reserved, so we just pulled the stuff off the tables (2) and placed in the trash! When the folks rocked up at 10:30 am they got all huffy demanding we leave as the tables are reserved, well we told them to go jump! One of the blokes started a fight with one of our mates …”

Wollongong Lord Mayor, Tania Brown, told 9News that the use of cling wrap or any other material to cordon off beach huts or barbecue picnic tables is prohibited.

“It is unfortunate that we have had to erect signage to remind people of this, but I would hope people show common courtesy to one another when it comes to shared spaces and facilities.

“Our rangers do patrol these areas and will remove any wrapping they find, and members of the public should contact Council and report this behaviour if they encounter it.”

Have you ever seen something like this at your local park? Let us know by hitting ‘comment’ below.