Police raise fears over plan to relax booze ban at Bondi

Bondi’s booze ban for the beach and nearby parks could be relaxed under new plans — despite warnings from local police.

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Waverley Councillors are considering a plan that will see booze allowed in certain areas of the iconic Bondi Beach despite concerns from cops about rowdy punters pre-drinking in public.

Under the plans, council will consider trialling allowing alcohol to be consumed in Bronte Park and Bondi Park, overlooking the beach, between 12pm and 7pm seven days a week from December 2019 to March 2020.

Increased ranger patrols are also proposed during the trial period.

The motion was debated at last week’s council meeting, though the Liberal councillors who opposed it are asking for it to be rescinded at an extraordinary meeting on Thursday.

Bondi Park is being considered as one location for the relaxing of alcohol restrictions. Picture: Dan Himbrechts

The potential move is facing opposition from the Acting Commander of the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command Mark Scott, who wrote to council to claim that ‘pre-fuelling’ punters were migrating from homes to public places before nights out.

Among his concerns were that social media was providing a platform for “pop-up style parties” as buying alcohol at a licenced premises was too expensive for some punters.

“I absolutely hear what the police say, they are concerned about the high misuse of alcohol in our society,” deputy mayor Elaine Keenan said.

The trial was approved for four months over the summer

“However that is not what we are asking for we are asking for a very small trial in a well-educated area.

“I’m also of concern police have presented absolutely no evidence (of misuse) at Bondi Beach or Bronte Park … I feel it’s unfair to punish the many for the few.”

A council report tabled last week had recommended re-establishing the zones in Waverley for a further four-year period, trialling some relaxed conditions for four months, though a move by Liberal councillors to rescind the motion will be debated on Thursday night.

The current alcohol free zone surrounding Bondi Beach expired in March of this year and the zoning in Bondi Junction is set to expire on November 30.

Deputy mayor Elaine Keenan (left) and new mayor Paula Masselos backed the move last week, though it is set to be debated again this week. AAP/Flavio Brancaleone

The summer trial comes during the peak tourist period where swimmers are known to mix alcohol with fun by the ocean.

In a statement, Waverley’s Liberal councillors Sally Betts, Leon Goltsman, Will Nemesh, Tony Kay and Angela Burrill said they were “shocked” that their colleagues were “encouraging the drinking of alcohol and in Bondi Park and Bronte Park against the expressed wishes of police and rangers”.

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