Waverley seeks alerts on Aboriginal land claims affecting Bondi facilities

Waverley Council will ask the NSW Government to notify it when Aboriginal land claims are lodged over Crown reserves it manages in the local government area, including land occupied by Bondi surf life saving clubs and Bondi Icebergs.

The request survived an amendment that removed calls for the claims affecting those facilities to be refused and for legislative protection to shield community clubs and facilities from becoming claimable. The amendment passed on the Chair’s casting vote, and the amended motion was then carried.

The resolution says Waverley’s surf life saving clubs and Bondi Icebergs are on Crown land subject to undetermined claims under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW). Council will write to the Minister for Lands and Property asking to be notified when a claim affects all or part of a Crown reserve under Council’s care and control.

Councillors also backed greater public access, searchability and transparency for Aboriginal land-claim information. That includes advocacy for a searchable and viewable online register covering both determined and undetermined claims.

The original motion argued that land used by the clubs was needed for essential public purposes, including community facilities, tourism and the promotion of Sydney. It also asked the minister to refuse the claims and supported amendments to protect community clubs and facilities from becoming claimable. Those provisions were deleted before the final vote.

The final resolution does not determine the claims or provide a ruling on whether the land is claimable. It instead seeks notification for Council and better public access to claim information affecting Crown reserves in the Waverley local government area.

The request covers prominent facilities in Bondi and the wider Waverley area. No deadline was specified for the letter or the broader advocacy.