‘Massive’ Signs A Sight For Sore Eyes

By Dan Hutton on June 10, 2014 in News

The Beast just wouldn’t be the same without an article about local residents’ parking gripes, and this month it’s the changes to the beachfront parking in Bondi and the associated erection of unsightly signs that has got their goat.

As you may or may not be aware, the boom gates have been banished from the Queen Elizabeth Drive car park, replaced by the same ticketing stations that have been implemented in the Bronte Gully car park.
While the new system has definitely made the beachfront car park more accessible, not all locals are happy about it.

“I never used to have a problem getting a park when the boom gates were there but now it’s a real struggle sometimes. I think the boom gates did a good job of scaring people off going into the car park. They were definitely good for the locals with parking permits,” local surfer Ben Mauthner told The Beast.

But it’s not just the parking situation that has gotten under people’s skin. Rather, it’s the massive signs that Waverley Council has erected at the car park’s entrance.

“Waverley Council put up two massive parking signs at the entrance of the Bondi Beach car park. They are extremely large given their purpose, there are two of them when one would suffice and they are approximately 10 feet off the ground, meaning they are a major eyesore to one of Australia’s pristine and loved environments,“ local resident Ben Foote said.

“As a concerned resident, and someone who loves Bondi, I believe Waverley Council should re-look at these signs and implement signs that serve their purpose, but do not take away from the beautiful surrounding environment.”
Lenore Kulakauskas, convenor of the Bondi Beach Precinct, echoed Mr. Foote’s thoughts.

“I think the signs are instrusive and ugly. It’s no way to welcome people to Bondi. Do they really think people are that dumb that they can’t figure out that it’s a parking area? Council needs to take them down as soon as possible,” she said.