Bondi pop-up restaurant slammed by council, application for event withdrawn

By HENRIQUE MONTEIRO

An application for a controversial pop-up restaurant on Bondi Beach has been withdrawn, after Waverley Council expressed they were going to oppose the proposal.

The pop-up restaurant was the idea of businessman Janek Gazecki, who’s previous bid for an Amalfi Beach Club at Bondi was also rejected by Council in 2020. 

Gazecki’s most recent idea was for a pop-up restaurant on the sands of Bondi Beach, including a licensed bar, in which food would be sourced from local restaurants or caterers and brought into the beachside venue to be served.

Shortly before an April 18 Waverley Council meeting, in which a report concluded that council should oppose the ‘high-impact’ event, the application for the International Beach Festival was withdrawn.

Waverley Mayor passes motion opposing event

Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos noted that there had been strong community opposition to the proposal.

“I note the strong community concern about proposals such as this, where alcohol is sold on the sand for an extended period of time,” Masselos said in the council meeting.

A motion from Masselos to recognise the groundswell of opposition to events of this nature among Bondi residents passed unanimously.

“Alienating the beach through commercialisation for prolonged length of time goes against the egalitarian values of our community,” Masselos said.

Masselos went on to explain how large the impact of the event would have had on the beach.

The application requested 875 square feet of space on the beach to accomodate infrastructure, as well as a water tank, three by 1110 litre skip bins, a demountable toilet block, a children’s play area, 36 beach umbrellas and 46 beach lounges.

“Definitely not how we would want to present Bondi Beach to our residents, the community, our visitors or to the world,” she said.

Community pushback

The Bondi community has opposed the use of public land for private interests.

“Our community does not need revitalising” said Bondi resident Lee Kirkland.

“It should grow and evolve naturally. It does not need to be reshaped by some money making businessman. Public space is for the public not private use.”

Other reasons for community opposition are the fact that the proposal would seek to sell alcohol in the sand in an alcohol-free zone.

“We have a huge problem with alcohol use and abuse in our community, we need to keep the beach alcohol free and continue the healthy message promoted at the beach, and that we can have fun without alcohol,” said resident Stav Zotalis.

Lesley-Ann Marincowitz, a third Bondi resident, said she “is not in favour of commercial festivals” being held on Bondi Beach.  

 “I don’t think it does much for community building or gives a positive message to younger people,” she said.

With the application withdrawn and council opposed to events of this nature, the International Beach Festival will not take place on Bondi’s sands.

“We are custodians of a very iconic Beach, Bondi Beach, which enshrines the very psyche of what it means to be Australian,” Masselos said.