Waverley Council Archives - Bondi Beach News

Bondi Locals Call for Night-Life Revival as Summer Approaches

As summer approaches, Bondi Beach residents are urging Waverley Council for the revival of the suburb’s once-vibrant night-life scene.

Locals claim that excessive regulations and lack of council support have led to a decline in the area’s after-dark atmosphere, raising concerns that the iconic beachside destination is losing its appeal.

Andy Ruwald, former manager of the popular Bondi bar The Bucket List, expressed his frustration with the current state of affairs. “Bondi has lost its soul,” Ruwald stated, citing “too many rules and regulations” as the reason for his departure to manage venues in Bali. He pointed to The Bucket List’s loss of its prime beachfront location in 2021 as a turning point in Bondi’s night-life decline.

A recent Thursday evening visit to the Bondi Beach promenade revealed the impact of these restrictions. From 6 PM onwards, the area presented a stark contrast to its daytime vibrancy, with empty bar stools, quiet streets, and sparsely populated venues.

Amy Lynch, co-founder of “Bondi Beach Babes,” a group with over 20,000 members, emphasised the need for affordable, laid-back venues where the community can gather and socialise.

“Bondi is an incredible community to live in, but as one of the world’s most famous beaches, we are losing vibrancy,” Lynch remarked.

A recent social media post by Johnny Abbot in the Bondi Local Loop community Facebook page garnered hundreds of comments lamenting the current state of night-life. Suggestions for improvement included food trucks, cocktail stands, and street performances to enliven the area.

Local hospitality workers acknowledged the challenges faced by the industry, citing a tough winter season and the ongoing cost of living crisis as contributing factors. Sam Harris from Bondi Public Bar expressed optimism about a potential resurgence as summer approaches.

Paul Nicolaou, Director of Business Sydney, stressed the importance of a thriving nighttime economy for Sydney’s global city status.

“Venues have difficulty attracting staff, a challenge that can only become more difficult with the cap on international student numbers.

“Late night public transport is essential so that night time economy workers can get to work and, importantly, home again.”

While Waverley Council has taken some steps to address the situation, such as extending trading hours in the Bondi Junction Oxford Street Mall to 3 AM, many locals feel more needs to be done specifically for the beachfront area.

Published 14-September-2024

Shorter Parking Limits Proposed to Alleviate Bondi Beach Woes

To tackle the perennial issues of traffic congestion and parking shortages near the iconic Bondi Beach, shorter parking limits are being proposed for visitors. While aiming to alleviate the plight of local residents, the move could pose fresh challenges for those seeking a day at the beach.

Waverley Council intends to expand the existing Resident Parking Scheme in the vicinity of Bondi Beach and enforce a two-hour parking restriction for non-residents. Per Mayor Paula Masselos, the proposal aims to “strike a balance between the parking demands of residents and visitors” to Bondi Beach.

Parking issues in this area have long been a contentious topic. Over the past year, Waverley Councillor Leon Goltsman, representing the Bondi ward, has fielded complaints from hundreds of locals regarding on-street parking problems.

Regarding potential solutions, Cr Goltsman acknowledged the diverse range of opinions but stressed the consistent desire of residents to have their voices heard. He also highlighted the challenge posed by Waverley’s status as one of Australia’s most densely populated local government areas, experiencing demand for parking that often surpasses supply, particularly during peak times.

Whilst Waverley Council has a vision of reducing car travel reliance through initiatives like the Bondi Junction Cycleway, which opened in February 2023, Cr. Goltsman expressed reservations. He noted a reduction in public street parking in recent years, with spaces being repurposed for car-sharing zones, parklets, and expanded sidewalks. Although these changes have some advantages, they contribute to the difficulty of finding parking.

Cr Goltsman also acknowledged concerns that altered parking rules might deter lower-income residents from visiting the glamorous Bondi area. He emphasized the importance of maintaining Bondi’s welcoming reputation and considered the visitor experience holistically. He expressed concern that shorter time limits, coupled with the high cost of parking near Bondi Beach, could overshadow an otherwise joyful day at the beach.

Parking around Bondi Beach is notoriously pricey, with some sections charging as much as $10 per hour – exceeding the costs in Sydney’s CBD. Additionally, the privatization of bus services in the Eastern Suburbs has limited public transport accessibility in the region.

Council, along with the NSW Police and Transport for NSW, is currently reviewing the feedback received during the public consultation for its Resident Parking Scheme (RPS), which closed in September 2023.

Published 6-Oct-2023

Volleyball Faces Potential Ban After Complaints in Bondi Beach

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.

Photo credit: CC BY-SA/Dietmar Rabich/Wikimedia Commons

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.

Mum’s Campaign to Upgrade Bondi Beach Playground Gains $300,000 in Funding

Photo Credit: Talia Golan/Facebook

A mother from Bondi Beach heavily campaigned for Waverley Council to upgrade the Bondi Beach Playground beside the pavilion.

Talia Golan, who frequents the area with her 2-year-old son, asked for the improvements after noticing that most of the equipment are rusty or have missing parts.

Ms Golan said that rusty playground equipment in disrepair may have splinters and shards that could harm the children. The rope holding up the sunshade also needs to be replaced since it’s not tied to a stable and appropriate pole.

The Bondi Beach gated playground also has a section for bigger children. This area needs new pavement as well since the current ground is uneven and has been causing kids to trip or stub their toes.

The gates around the playground are also rusted. There is a boat on the sand that serves a bench but its woodwork has been chipping off.

“This a serious tetanus hazard,” Goldman wrote in her petition addressed to the Waverley Council.

“The current play components aren’t even suitable for ages 1-3yr, (which makes up majority of the kids playing there), as there are no steps for crawling and walking toddler to develop their fine motor skills.”

*Photo Credit:* *Pheng Hong Tan/Google Maps*

Two weeks after Ms Goldman posted her petition, members of the Waverley Council responded to her request. Council Member Gabrielle Upton confirmed that the Council received a $300,000 NSW Government Grant to fix the Bondi Beach gated playground.

“I shared this fantastic news with local mum Talia, Councillors Leon Goltsman, Sally Betts, and Angela Burrill who all know what a difference the funding will make to the well-loved area,” Ms Upton said.

*Photo Credit:* *Gabrielle Upton/Facebook*

According to Ms Golan, the Council has also voted and unanimously agreed to fix the Bondi Beach Playground after the Bondi Pavilion renovation.

The medium-sized Bondi Beach Playground is a popular feature in this recreational spot. Currently, the playground has two normal swings, two baby swings, a hammock swing, climbing rigs for big and small children, a baby slide and a sandpit area with seesaws and stepping stones.