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Perth Now
11 hours ago
- Perth Now
Huge changes coming to iconic Christmas bash
A strictly enforced booze ban and a greater police presence could be on the way for the legendary Christmas Day bash at Sydney's Bronte Beach. Waverley Council, which takes in the iconic beach and Bronte Park along with Bondi Beach, is expected to vote on Tuesday night for a sweep of new enforcement measures to reduce the scale of rowdiness and rubbish that has marked the beloved celebration in recent years. Thousands of tourists from around the world descend on the beach to soak up the day, often donning red bathing suits. But tensions between residents and visitors boiled over in 2023, when the park the park was left littered with rubbish and broken glass. 'It's basically people sh***ing on our doorstep,' Waverley Bondi Ward Councillor Leon Goltsman told NewsWire on Boxing Day that year. Beachgoers enjoy Christmas Day at Bronte Beach in 2024: NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone Credit: News Corp Australia 'The fact there is still broken glass there, people are cutting their feet, the fact people are still having illegal parties … the fact if anyone gets injured or hurt, we can't even get an ambulance to them because it is all blocked, it's unacceptable.' But from Tuesday night, the council will likely entrench new rules to control the party, including a prohibition on all glass bottles and additional crowd management officers. 'Enhancements following community consultation are recommended, with additional focus on police presence to address anti-social behaviour and preserve public safety, including the implementation of alcohol bans or other alcohol checkpoints, depending on what is most practical given the unfenced location,' the council's June 17 agenda document states. 'Further enhancements include a comprehensive communications campaign to deter attendance and promote positive behaviour. Bronte Park in the aftermath of the Christmas Day bash in 2024. NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone Credit: News Corp Australia 'Further, in this option, council officers will collaborate with various stakeholders including ride share operators, emergency services, traffic management and waste and cleansing services to improve outcomes across those areas.' The 'option three' model was one of five considered by the council to reorganise the Christmas Day event. Other options included putting on a fenced, ticketed event or leaving the park as an open slather with no enforcement mechanisms in place. Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh, speaking with NewsWire ahead of the vote, said he backed option three and said it was 'highly likely' other councillors would too. 'It's basically an evolving strategy, over two years, to make sure we get the balance right between community expectations and people having fun,' he said. Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh argues option three will still allow visitors to enjoy themselves on Christmas Day. NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone Credit: News Corp Australia Alcohol is already prohibited on the beach and in the park, Mayor Nemesh noted, but the vast numbers of attendees meant liquor usually slipped through. The councillors hope a strict ban on glass coupled with a larger police presence will suppress alcohol consumption. 'We want everyone to have fun,' he said. 'Bronte is an absolutely spectacular part of the world. We want to ensure by implementing option three, all people can enjoy the public open spaces, but do so responsibly and respectfully.' 'Option three is sensible and reasonable and a measured approach to dealing with this ongoing issue we have each year at Christmas in Bronte.' The council expects to spend a minimum of $220,000 on the new measures.
Perth Now
07-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
E-bike crackdown in popular spot
E-bikes in a popular Sydney tourist destination are set to be impounded after the council demanded operators enter into a deal to make their use safer and better regulated. In March, Waverley Council – which covers suburbs including Bondi, Bronte, and Dover Heights – told e-bike companies they have one month to reach an agreement with them to be allowed to continue operating in the area. With Lime initially signing on and HelloRide eventually coming to the table, Ario and Beam bikes around the area will be impounded in line with the council's promise. With Lime initially signing on and HelloRide eventually coming to the table, Ario bikes around the area are set to be impounded. Newswire /Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia HelloRide bikes were seen getting slapped with bright orange tags by council workers before the company signed the MOU, indicating the council means business and will impound the bikes owned by businesses who do not comply. While share bikes fall under state government jurisdiction, councils do have capacity to act on 'unattended property' under State Government Guidelines. Under the Public Spaces (Unattended Property) Act 2021, council can impound share bikes that are obstructing access to public spaces, interfering with public amenities or posing a safety risk. Once council notifies a provider of the issue a bike is causing, the provider has three hours to rectify the situation before the bike is impounded. After a bike is impounded the provider has 28 days to claim the bike and pay a fee. Mayor of Waverley Council Will Nemesh shared to Facebook that Lime Bikes have entered into an agreement that will 'better manage and regulate their share bikes, contribute to the provision of parking infrastructure and establishing parameters on how and where bikes can be ridden and parked'. The council said that 'insufficient management by providers has left residents having to step over discarded bikes, greatly increasing the risk of injury'. NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia Among the conditions set out in the Memory of Understanding, which comes into effect from June, Lime and HelloRide will set a maximum number of bikes available at any one point in time, provide designated parking locations and restricted parking zones, and implement geofencing technology to define no-go zones. William Peters, a Lime spokesperson said: 'Lime is proud to lead with Waverley Council on New South Wales' first shared e-bike agreement'. 'This partnership is built around a dedicated parking approach that puts community needs first. This is a landmark moment that positions Sydney alongside other global cities like London and Paris, where micromobility is an integral part of the transport system,' he said. In March, Mayor of Waverley Council Will Nemesh said that 'enough is enough', and demanded action from the share bike operators. Mayor of Waverley City Council Will Nemesh said that 'enough is enough' after receiving 'hundreds' of complaints about the e-bikes. NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw Credit: News Corp Australia 'While share bikes are a State Government responsibility, Council will not stand by and wait for somebody to be injured,' he said. 'Impounding bikes that are causing a safety risk will immediately reduce the likelihood of harm to residents and visitors. 'If share bike operators cannot do business responsibly then they should not be doing business in Waverley.'
