Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most famous stretches of sand, could become partially privatized next year if plans are approved by the local government. The Amalfi Beach Club, a local business named after a famous section of the Italian coast, wants to set up a members-only area of the beloved beach near Sydney, where customers would be served food and drinks in socially-distanced paid-for cabanas on the sand.
The proposal was originally brought to the city in May, which turned it down. However, the business argues that because traveling internationally is currently banned from Australia due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this experience would bring a taste of the Mediterranean closer to home and has submitted the proposal again. The current plan suggests that the beach club would operate between February and May 2021.
“This summer international travel will be limited,” the company posted in a petition to garner local support. “Those who may have typically traveled to European beach hotspots over the winter will spend the year in Australia, supporting the local economy instead. Intrepid Sydney locals, however, need not fret, as we will bring ‘Euro beach chic’ to them. Moreover, in addition to celebrating our wonderful Bondi Beach in a new, vibrant, and sophisticated way, this initiative will help rebuild its international reputation in a post-COVID-19 world, while also serving as an important avenue for local businesses to generate income.”
Comments on social media reflected a mix of opinions. Some users expressed that it was ‘about time’ for a beach club, while others criticized the notion as ‘elitist,’ worrying that the beach might only be accessible to those who can pay.
In the previous months, Bondi Beach was closed for several weeks in March and April at the peak of the pandemic after large groups gathered despite health regulations. Consequently, a drive-through COVID-19 testing center was later constructed in the beach’s parking lot.
