New Aussie beach trend that is dividing opinions

You are likely to feel one of two ways when seeing this picture – and Aussies on both sides of the debate have very strong opinions on the matter.

When looking at the photo below what do you see?

Do you see a crowd remaining sun-safe while taking advantage of one of Australia’s many beautiful beaches? Or do you see a beach overrun by cabanas that ruin the view for other beachgoers?

It is a debate that has been raging for months – with Aussies on both sides having very strong opinions on the matter.

Crowds pack in to Noosa Main Beach. Picture Lachie Millard

The wildly popular brand CoolCabanas is behind the increase of canopies dotting shorelines across the country, proving to be a trendy and practical way for beachgoers to escape the sun while on the sand.

The founder of CoolCabanas, Queensland architect Mark Fraser, told news.com.au he has worked hard to create an “amazing product” and “strong brand” that resonates with Australians.

“It’s fair to say my design makes shade easy and cool, which is helping to protect Australian families and reduce Melanoma rates (which one Australian dies from every 6 hours),” he said.

In fact, the product has been such a success that CoolCabanas has been recognised as the official shade partner of Melanoma Institute Australia.

QLD architect Mark Fraser who created the Cool Cabana beach umbrella on Noosa Main Beach. Picture Lachie Millard

The fact that enough of these cabanas are being erected on our beaches to cause a stir is evidence enough that there are thousands of Aussies who love this product.

But on the other side there are others who are not so crazy about the trend, with some even calling for the tents to be banned from the sand.

A post in a community Facebook group for Noosa, on the Queensland Sunshine Coast, called on the council to implement a rule that CoolCabanas could only be used on a certain section on the beach.

“The natural beauty is being ruined,” the person claimed.

In another post on the page, a person commented suggesting a sign reading “Cabanas not allowed” be put up at the beach.

“I am sure people will still come to Noosa,” they added.

Another person wrote: “We need to start a ban the Cabana petition lol”.

One Facebook user claimed they were “so over” the cabana trend.

“Yeah, sun smart, but looking more and more like a European beach these days,” they wrote.

Others agreed that the brightly coloured cabana’s were “visual pollution”, with one person even claiming Noosa Beach looked “hideous” this Summer.

“This cabana fever has gone too far. I totally agree they should be restricted to an area away from the flags so everyone swimming between the flags can be easily watched from the beach & everyone can see their little patch of the beach & family without trying to remember which cabanas they’re under,” they wrote.

And it isn’t just Noosa that has seen an influx of these brightly coloured canopies, they are dotting beaches all over the country.

This picture taken of Bondi Beach this week shows a sea of people marking out their space on the sand with their CoolCabanas.

Crowds pictured at Bondi Beach on January 26. Picture: Jonathan Ng

However, Mr Fraser has offered a counter argument to those people who are less than thrilled about seeing his product on their local beaches.

He noted that many beaches are packed in the summer either way, saying his product just means people are able to provide adequate shade for themselves and their family.

“On a beautiful summers weekend, the most popular beaches are filled with people enjoying the beach, that is awesome regardless of whether or not they are under a CoolCabana,” he said.

“It’s one of the best things about Australia but if we are taking melanoma seriously then people need to be able to enjoy the beach whilst also protecting themselves from overexposure to UV rays and sun damage.”

Mr Fraser said the shade provided by just one CoolCabana “comfortably shades a family or four adults”.

He added: “To provide the same number of people with comparable shade protection you’d need at least 2-3 large beach umbrellas or 2 enclosed beach tents.”

But it isn’t just cabanaless beachgoers that have been complaining, with Queensland surf lifesavers also airing their concerns about the product’s increase in popularity.

Noosa Heads Surf Life Saving Club president Ross Fisher told the ABC that the huge amount of cabanas is making it harder to see and even get to the waters edge.

“It’ll get to a point that there’ll be too many, you simply cannot get down to the water’s edge through them because they go right up to each other,” he said.

Mr Fisher noted there have also been cases where children have been left in distress after going for a swim and then not knowing which cabana is theirs because there are so many.

Despite this, it doesn’t look like the CoolCabana craze is going to die down any time soon.

So expect to keep seeing pictures in your social media feed of beaches filled with colourful cabanas, no doubt with accompanied by a person either complaining or raving about the product.