Bondi locals call on Waverley Council to revamp suburb’s night-life
Bondi residents are pleading with the local council to revamp and revitalise the beachside hub’s once famous night-life venues as summer approaches. TAKE OUR POLL.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Frustrated Bondi Beach residents are pleading with their local council to revamp and revitalise the night-life of the famous beachside suburb which they say has “lost its soul”, and have demanded it loosens the reins on venues as summer approaches.
The former boss of the iconic Bondi bar The Bucket List has revealed he’s so turned off by suffocating restrictions imposed by Waverley Council that he left Australia to manage venues in Bali.
“There are just too many rules and regulations and the fun went out of it for me,” Andy Ruwald said.
“Bondi has lost its soul.
“Those days will never come back, unfortunately, with the way the council is and everything now.”
The Bucket List lost the tender to its prime location by the beachside in 2021, which Mr Ruwald said was the beginning of Bondi’s night-life decline.
“It’s a shame because The Bucket List was Bondi. I wanted my children to have that restaurant,” he said. “Waverley Council haven’t promoted tourism (effectively) and attributed the downfall in beachside night-life to the cost of rent and staff wages.”
Mr Runwald now runs the popular Motel Mexicola nightclubs in Seminyak and Canggu in Bali.
“We (Australians) have a lot to learn from the Balinese people and hospitality industry,” he said.
The Saturday Telegraph visited the Bondi Beach promenade on Thursday night from 6pm to find empty bar stools, quiet streets and lonely bartenders.
Through restaurant and venue windows, bare tables could be seen in quiet dining rooms with only one or two patrons. The beachside scene resembled a ghost town.
Amy Lynch, co-founder of local group “Bondi Beach Babes”, which includes over 20,000 women, echoed Mr Ruwald’s sentiment, saying the international tourist destination is becoming quiet, particularly at night.
“Bondi is an incredible community to live in, but as one of the world’s most famous beaches we are losing vibrancy,” she said.
“We need an affordable beachside bar with laid back vibes, music and somewhere our community can come together, meet each other and have fun.
“My parents were shocked at how quiet Bondi is by 8pm – and that’s coming from two 75- year-olds.”
In a post shared to the Bondi Local Loop community Facebook page last week – which has since received more than 400 comments – resident Johnny Abbot said he couldn’t believe the current status of “one of the best beaches in the world.”
“What is going on? 7.30 on a balmy Friday night. Answer: zero. How did it come to this?” he wrote.
“Why can we not have music, food, vibes on the promenade?
“I’m thinking, a few food trucks in the car park with tables and chairs, some mini cocktail stands like Thailand, busking, music, Latin dance, inexpensive fun.”
Other comments included: “It’s a ghost town. Waverley Council has too many rules. It’s sad, I think it’s time to move after 30 years,” and “Bondi is dead now. I’ve lived here 50 years – 70s-early 90s was good bands, dancing, great music in clubs – zero now.”
Local bartenders and venue staff say the industry has been hit with a particularly tough winter and agreed council restrictions added to their stress.
“It’s always been tricky Bondi, especially at this time coming out of winter,” one Bondi manager, who wished not be named, said.
“There’s a lot of pressure, restrictions on what we can and can’t do.
“So we need a little bit more understanding and support from the council.”
Rules and regulations imposed on venues across the state relate to the times staff bring outdoor seating indoors, serve alcohol, close their doors and play music, as well as permissions for standing drinking and drinking with smoking.
Curly Lewis Brewery Bartender Henry said also the cost of living crisis was impacting Bondi night-life.
“Most of Sydney is pretty expensive I guess and Bondi is up there,” he said.
Bartender and supervisor at Bondi Public Bar Sam Harris said the night-life had “definitely dropped off” but was optimistic heading into summer.
“I would say it’s definitely on the comeback,” he said.
Business Sydney Director Paul Nicolaou said the night-time economy in Bondi “should be flourishing” and relied on international students.
“It is not in Sydney’s interests as a global city for key precincts such as Bondi to shut up shop by 9pm,” he said.
“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.”
CEO of Night Time Industries Association Michael Gibbs agreed with Mr Nicolaou: “The big opportunity for Bondi’s night-time economy is to focus on attracting more people from outside the eastern suburbs to come and party at Australia’s most iconic beach.
“To attract people from further afield we need to make it easy and affordable for them to get home after a night out.”
In February, Waverley Council voted to extend trading hours in the Bondi Junction Oxford Street Mall to 3am, a move Bondi and Districts Chamber of Commerce president Emmanuel Constantinou said was “the first step in changing the night time economy of the area”.
“All parties within Waverley Council have shown that they are wanting to do something about our night-time economy, as per their unanimous decision to amend the (Bondi Junction trading hours),” he said.
“We look forward to working with whoever the elected councillors will be from this weekend to make a thriving night-time economy through out Waverley Council and will continue to support the businesses in achieving this.”
When contacted for comment, a Waverley Council spokesman said the council was unable to provide a response as a result of the caretaker period ahead of the local govenrment elections.
Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email tips@dailytelegraph.com.au
Two sailors dead as tragedy strikes Sydney to Hobart
Two sailors have died in separate incidents on a tragic first night of the Sydney to Hobart on the yachts Flying Fish Arctos and Bowline.
School’s tribute to ‘exceptionally talented’ missing teen
The parents of the Central Coast teenager who was swept off the rocks at North Avoca Beach on Christmas Eve have thanked the community that is trying to “bring him home”.