Did you know that volleyball might become restricted, or even outright banned across some of Sydney’s most prominent beaches such as Bondi and Tamarama?
Informal games of beach volleyball are currently under review by the Waverley Council after a series of complaints concerning the classic beachside sport.
In most cases, beachgoers would establish informal games by bringing their own balls and equipment. Players must follow an established set of rules imposed by the council, and these rules permit up to three nets and ongoing volleyball games in Bondi beach at any given time.
However, there has been a recent wave of opposition against the sport, spearheaded by a 64-year-old Tamarama resident who has opted to remain anonymous, who claimed that accidents would be inevitable with games such as these.
The leader of the opposition has mentioned their fears that children would end up getting injured over stray balls, and that players were using crown land without paying. They had also stated that balls would go as far as 30 feet if out of control, veering off course and posing a risk to passersby.
Despite this, there are claims that the opposition is minimal at best, however the Waverley Council has still opted to consult the community on how they should handle the issue at hand. Volleyball is still a beloved beachside activity, and one of the options proposed by the council is changing the maximum number of courts, or modifying the rules to promote safety.
The council will hold consultation until the 17th of May, after which they will evaluate the feedback given and possibly conduct further investigation on the sport and any threats it might pose to other beachgoers and locals.
Those interested in sharing their thoughts and providing their input on the matter are free to do so via the Waverley Council’s new survey.