Beachgoers warned to be responsible during Christmas Day beach festivities after ‘worst ever’, ‘disgusting’ scenes

Revellers planning to hit the beaches on Christmas Day have been urged to act responsibly after huge crowds left Sydney’s Bronte Beach covered in trash last year.

Tens of thousands of people flocked to the stunning beach to celebrate the holiday last year and left it covered in broken glass, rubbish, and human waste.

The raucous Christmas party was slammed as the “worst ever” and “disgusting” by residents, one of whom said it was “worse than a third world country”.

Another said they felt “in danger” being near the event and it had made them want to move away from the pristine beach.

The celebrations have long been a mecca for thousands of tourists and backpackers travelling to Australia for a summer Christmas, but often draws the ire of locals.

Waverley Councillor Joshua Spicer took to social media to assure furious locals the council has taken action to ensure last year’s wild scenes are not replicated.

“This includes extra rangers, security, and police, a dedicated cleaning crew with more bins and waste trucks, extended lifeguard patrols, and specific measures for Bronte Park, such as crowd control pathways and temporary toilets,” he wrote on Facebook.

“This has been a key priority for us, and we’re confident these steps will make a big difference this year.”

Locals remained sceptical, with one commenting “council and police won’t do anything about it”.

In a statement, Waverley Council said it would not tolerate anti-social behaviour and had taken “a number of significant proactive measures to ensure our community can relax and enjoy the summer”.

“The safe enjoyment of our public and recreational spaces is our number one priority,” a spokesperson said.

“We encourage everyone to enjoy our beaches responsibly and safely, ensuring they remain a welcoming space for all.”

NSW Police said they would conduct high visibility patrols of Bondi, Tamarama and Bronte Beaches “due to significant crowd numbers expected over the holiday period.”

A spokesperson said they were aware of a party planned at Bronte Beach for Christmas Day and have been working with organisers.

“There will be officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, assisted by specialist police, tasked to patrol the area to ensure the safety of visitors and manage crowd numbers,” they said.

“People are reminded to check and abide by designated alcohol-prohibited and/or alcohol-free zones in the area. Alcohol and water don’t mix.”

Police reminded people not to swim or drive boats when intoxicated and said they would have a “significant presence” on the roads and in the water over the holiday period.

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said up to 100,000 visitors could be expected to flock to the council’s 40 picturesque beaches on Christmas Day, depending on the conditions.

“We are fortunate that the majority of our beachgoers are well behaved,” she said.

“Council has rostered additional lifeguards across the festive season to assist and protect the beachgoers. The various lifesaving clubs also roster additional volunteers to patrol the beaches.”

Ms Heins reminded beachgoers to be careful when swimming, hydrate on the beach, and protect the environment by disposing of rubbish.

“Your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities. Our goal is for everyone to return home safely after a memorable day on the Northern Beaches,” she said.