Beachgoers have been urged to act responsibly this festive season after a popular Sydney park was covered in rubbish last Christmas.
Waverley City Council has issued the warning to people planning to spend Christmas Day in Bronte Park, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Last year, locals were outraged after plastic bottles, countless red cups and food wrappers were left scattered around the park after up to 10,000 people attended.
Still outraged by the aftermath of last year’s festivities, one local took to social media to ask if they were “likely to see a repeat of this.”
City Councilor Joshua Spicer commented on the post to address concerns and said the city plans to implement new cleaning measures this year.
“This includes additional rangers, security and police, a dedicated cleanup crew with more trash bins and garbage trucks,” Spicer wrote.
“This has been a key priority for us and we are confident these steps will make a big difference this year.”
He added that Bronte Park will receive ‘crowd control paths and temporary toilets’ under the council’s Summer Safe programme.
New cleaning measures will be introduced this year after rubbish was left in Bronte Park last Christmas Day, council workers and locally led groups set out to clear up the mess (pictured)
The measures are part of the council’s Summer Safe programme, which focuses on beaches and parks across the council (pictured, revelers at Bondi Beach)
The annual event is affectionately known as “Orphans Christmas” by backpackers and tourists who celebrate the holiday away from home.
Last year Waverley Council said the amount of waste was ‘disappointing’.
“Our rangers were on site yesterday along with police to ensure the beach remained a safe environment for everyone,” a spokesperson said at the time.
Former mayor Paula Masselos said controlling the growing crowds has become increasingly difficult due to the size of the park and the number of access points.
“We’ve looked at things like hosting a ticketed event, and that’s just not logistically possible… people are still coming in,” Ms. Masselos said last year.
“If you’re expecting big amps and parties on the beach, don’t do it,” she said earlier this year.
“Land owned or managed by the council is not yours to monopolize.”
Other councils in Sydney have issued similar warnings about Christmas Day warnings.
A pair of shoes, a backpack and clothes left behind after last Christmas Day (photo)
City of Waverley council will introduce new measures to tackle unruly visitors to an annual Christmas Day event attended by thousands (pictured)
A Randwick City Council spokesperson reminded revelers that beaches and beach parks are alcohol-free in the summer.
‘If you like the beach, don’t pollute the beach. It is not okay to leave your waste behind, even if others take it and throw it away,” a spokesperson said. Yahoo.
Randwick Council quickly introduced the alcohol-free zone in the days following ‘poor and inappropriate behaviour’ at Coogee Beach on Christmas Day in 2016.
As with last year’s event in Bronte, around 10,000 attendees left behind piles of rubbish for the council and locals to clean up.
Randwick Council assured residents it was taking a ‘strong stance’ when it came to keeping Coogee Beach, the ‘jewel in Randwick Council’s crown’, safe for visitors.