There’s a new battle brewing in beachside suburbs where territorial surfers have warned visitors to steer clear.
Bondi, Bronte and Tamarama beaches in Sydney’s eastern suburbs recently reopened for ‘exercise only’, five weeks after they were shut down due to visitors flouting social distancing rules during the coronavirus crisis.
Mayor Paula Masselos sparked outrage when she declared the ‘swim and go’ and ‘surf and go’ measures were strictly for residents in the Waverley local government area, which has the highest rate of coronavirus cases in NSW.
Surfers returned to Bondi in their droves when the beach was reopened for the first time in five weeks last Tuesday (pictured)
‘People are not meant to be jumping in a car and travelling any significant distance to get to a beach,’ she told the Sydney Morning Herald.
‘As soon as it’s safe to do so then people are welcome but we’re in the middle of the pandemic.’
Her comments discouraging visitors from other parts of Sydney prompted other beachside communities to become territorial about their own surf breaks.
Scores of social media users said the council’s decision to open the beach to locals only was ‘elitist’, while another said it was like ‘apartheid by postcode’.
Days after Cr Masselos’ comments, a ‘locals only’ message was painted on the headland at Maroubra Beach in the neighbouring Randwick Council area.
‘An apt reminder that this is part of a long and violent history of territorial beach nationalism,’ one woman commented on the photo posted on Twitter.
This territorial sign has appeared at Maroubra Beach, despite the local mayor stating that everyone, including non-locals are welcome to use the beach for exercise
Randwick mayor Danny Said has since stressed that everyone is welcome at Maroubra, Coogee and Clovelly beaches, which remain open for exercise only to maintain physical and mental well being.
Similar territorial signs have also been erected across Sydney’s northern beaches.
‘If you don’t live here, don’t surf here,’ a sign at Newport Beach read.
‘Respect local community’s (sic) are for local residents at the moment.
‘If you decide to come out anyway, it’ll be a short surf anyway. Please respect our community’s well being and move on.’
One local was outraged by the sign.
‘I’m from Northern Beaches where vile signs like this have sprung up. Beaches are for everyone,’ she captioned the photo on Twitter.
Signs have been erected on Sydney’s northern beaches at North Narrabeen (left) and further north at Newport (right)
Newport surfer Nick Carroll grew up in a localism’ culture , a patriotic attitude he says that changed in 1980s but has always remained to some extent.
‘I think the pandemic is an excuse for a bit of localism to rear its head again,’ he told the Sydney Morning Herald.
But Mr Carroll has seen no recent aggression between surfers in the surf and described the signs as ‘not a real threat, it’s a sort of fake threat’.
Locals at the notoriously territorial surf break at North Narrabeen have also urged visitors steer clear.
‘Attention. The local community respectfully asks if you do not live on the North Beaches, do not surf here,’ the sign states.
‘Please do the right thing and go home. You are putting our community at risk.’
Non-Waverley residents are discouraged from visiting Bondi Beach. Pictured are a group of men entering the water for their daily swim on Friday
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Northern Beaches Council for further comment.
All beaches in the LGA remain open except Many, Freshwater and Dee Why.
In Sydney’s south, beaches in the Sutherland Shire, including Cronulla are also restricted to exercise only.
However visitors are still welcome to visit the Shire as the council seeks to improve beach accessibility for the disabled during the ongoing pandemic.
While surfers are permitted at the reopened Tamarama Beach (pictured on Tuesday), the message from Waverley Council is for people to stay at home
The council has partnered with St Vincent de Paul for its new Beaches for Every Body project, which was launched on Thursday.
‘We know our community loves the outdoors and enjoying our beautiful beaches, but for some, accessing the sand or ocean can be a challenge,’ Sutherland mayor, Councillor Carmelo Pesce said.
‘That’s why we are partnering with St Vincent de Paul to ask what we can do to make Cronulla Beach more accessible for all to enjoy.
St Vincent de Paul chief executive Jack de Groot added: ‘Australia’s beach culture is a massive part of who we are, and everyone deserves to share in this great aspect of community life.’