5000-person private party on Bondi Beach raises environmental concerns

By SASHA FOOT

A Bondi party approved by Waverley Council will see a 5000-person dinner take place on the sands of Bondi Beach, raising questions about the environmental considerations of the event. The exclusive party-goers of Diner en Blanc will access a demarcated section of the beach in front of the Bondi Pavilion.

Guests — dressed in all-white — have to pay $93 for a ticket plus a $15 membership fee.

Long-term Bondi local Julian Nichols said that although the beach becomes “packed” during summer-time, the expected number of attendees will amount to a “rather large footprint”.

Nichols raised concerns about the expected clean-up and whether the organisers have considered enough bins.

“Who’ll win the race for rubbish collection: the staff, the party-goers, or the mighty wind and the tides with aeons of practice?” Nichols said.

“I’m fully aware that it is not pristine and untouched but rather extremely manipulated by man. But is that justification to trash it mindlessly?”

“Such a party on the sand will not result in a positive result for the coastal environment.”

Event labeled as “ludicrous” by locals

A Waverley Council spokesperson told City Hub that there is an extensive event approval system, which includes weighing the environmental impacts.

“This is further strengthened by clauses in a licence agreement, requiring the event organiser to plan for the appropriate delivery of sustainable waste management.”

The organisers are required to “produce event management and delivery documentation that outlines these plans”.

“Officers work with the event organiser to assess and guide all aspects of their planning.”

The spokesperson added that the planning process has been happening for several months. Waverley Council’s Event Waste Management Guidelines outline the council’s progression to zero waste.

As part of the guidelines, all events must adhere to being single-use plastic-free, and organisers are responsible for cleaning up the site once the event is complete.

The organisers of Diner en Blanc paid over $32,000 to host the one-night event on the shores of Bondi.

Community Group Save Bronte questioned the use of public space for an exclusive event in a tweet on their social media page.

Bondi resident Nichols said the event was “white-party extravagance [and] pure ludicrous”.

Waverley Council says their event policy is about “striking the right balance” as event fees help fund free community events, such as “Festival of the Winds”.