Bondi Beach: Mums ‘discriminated’, turned away from beach
Mums in Sydney’s eastern suburbs say they are being discriminated against, with one in tears after parents with young kids were turned away from the iconic Bondi Beach by officials.
Wentworth Courier
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The eastern suburbs council in charge of Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach has been accused of discrimination after turning away mums with young children.
Waverley Council’s officers have left parents “devastated” after telling a number of them they are not allowed to bring their children on the beach for exercise, despite it opening up to the public for strictly that purpose last month.
The move has sparked outrage among local mums, who have lodged complaints believing they are being treated unfairly.
One mother, Carrie Christensen, said she was almost brought to tears when she and her son were told to leave.
“I almost cried,” she said.
“I was a bit teary and I almost walked in anyway because I had a feeling they couldn’t discriminate against us when we’re using it for that reason.
“We’re not playing on the sand, we’re swimming and leaving, that’s his exercise for the day as well.”
A number of parents had bombarded the council’s Facebook page with complaints, with one questioning the legality of what they described as “discrimination”.
Ms Christensen said on the first day the beach reopened she and her children were allowed in the water to exercise, but on their second trip that week herself and other parents were turned away.
“It was our ‘big event’ of the day, we scooted down and my son was in his wetsuit, both the kids were, but when we were sent back they didn’t understand what was happening,” she said.
“It’s a sh** feeling, they waited for a month (to get back in the water at Bondi) and now they can’t, it felt a bit strange and like my son had no voice.”
Waverley councillor Angela Burrill said parents with young kids had consistently been complaining about their treatment at Bondi Beach since it reopened.
“Council is responsible for control of the sand so stopping some people from accessing the water for exercise is unfair and discriminatory,” she said.
“Parents know whether their children will go into the water so they should be able to swim safely however they wish, and then exit the beach.”
Waverley Council did not respond to a series of questions when asked for a response to the claims, but said in a statement it was asking families to avoid the beach if their children were intent on “playing in the waves”.
“If your child or children can swim or surf or use a surfcraft independently, without help, they can access the water for exercise via our Swim & Go and Surf & Go corridors,” a spokeswoman said.
“If your child or children cannot swim or surf independently, then they cannot access the water at this time.”
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