Bondi Beach’s great waves and long history of surf use mean it’s likely to be a National Surfing Reserve

One of Australia’s most beloved beaches is set to be recognised as a National Surfing Reserve thanks to a campaign spearheaded by a community group.

Bondi Beach is set to be Australia’s next National Surfing Reserve thanks to a community campaign. Picture: John Appleyard

THE group spearheading a campaign to make Bondi Beach Australia’s next National Surfing Reserve is confident their plan will get the seal of approval.

Bondi National Surfing Reserve Steering Committee secretary John Sullivan says the group is in the final stages of preparing an application for NSR designation, which will bring Bondi Beach into line with neighbouring Maroubra.

At the weekend he said the preliminary proposal to have Bondi Beach declared a National Surfing Reserve was unanimously supported by the National Reference Group of NSR Australia at their meeting last Friday..

Mr Sullivan earlier said NSR status would not affect how people use Bondi Beach and did not come with any statutory requirements.

“It’s mostly a symbolic gesture to say this beach is worthy of being among a list of Australia’s most important beaches,” he said.

“We have the support of two surf life saving clubs, three boardrider clubs, the business chamber, Bondi Icebergs, Bondi Beach precinct and I addressed Waverley Council earlier this year.”

The campaign for NSR status comes after a delegation from Huanchaco World Surfing Reserve, on Peru’s northern coast, demonstrated a reed surf board at Bondi Beach in February.

Wentworth Courier at the time reported on the idea to make Bondi Beach a World Surfing Reserve.

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts, President of Bondi Longboard club Paul Armstrong, President of Bondi Boardriders Ian Wallace and John Sullivan are united in their push for Bondi Beach to be named a World Surfing Reserve. Picture: John Appleyard

To qualify for NSR status, the proposed beach must have quality waves, be somewhere considered sacred by the local and national surfing community, and have a long history of usage from surf life saving and boardriding clubs.

“It’s clear from the criteria that Bondi Beach fits the bill, and eventually we want to get all the beaches down to Maroubra included on the list,” Mr Sullivan said.

Bondi Boardriders president Ian Wallace said being on the national list reflected Bondi’s importance as a surfing destination.

“It’s such a famous surfing beach that has a global relevance and for it to be held to the same standard as others on the list is a great step forward,” he said.

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts also endorsed the application. “Bondi is unique in that it is a south-facing beach, so we get people from all over surfing here year-round.

“I fully support anything that will recognise Bondi for the wonderful beach it is.”