Key Takeaways:
- A massive pop-up Christmas Day dance party, known as "Orphans Christmas" or "Backpacker Christmas", was held at Coogee Beach, attracting thousands of revellers.
- The event resulted in 20 tonnes of rubbish, which was removed by council staff working through the night.
- Despite the large crowd, NSW Police reported no arrests or fines.
- Randwick City Council and Waverley Council worked together to manage the event and clean up the area.
- Locals helped with the clean-up efforts and expressed mixed opinions about the event, with some welcoming the party atmosphere and others expressing concern about the litter and anti-social behaviour.
Introduction to the Event
The day after Christmas, thousands of people gathered at Coogee Beach for a massive pop-up dance party, known as "Orphans Christmas" or "Backpacker Christmas". The event, which featured DJ tents and a sea of Santa hats and red swimwear, attracted a large crowd of young people, including backpackers and locals. Despite the chaos, NSW Police reported that everything ran smoothly, with no arrests or fines issued. The event was a significant undertaking for the local council, which had to work through the night to remove 20 tonnes of rubbish from the beach.
Clean-up Efforts
The clean-up efforts began on Thursday evening, with Randwick City Council staff working tirelessly to remove the massive amount of rubbish left behind. By Friday morning, more than four truckloads of rubbish had been removed, with the council commending the efforts of their rangers, lifeguards, and waste and cleansing staff. The council also thanked Waverley Council for sending extra crews to help with the clean-up. Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker expressed his disappointment that some attendees chose to litter heavily and urinate in public, despite the council’s efforts to communicate that the beach and nearby parks were alcohol-free zones.
Preparations and Warnings
In the lead-up to the event, Randwick City Council had prepared for large crowds, deploying extra staff, bins, and rubbish bags, and working closely with NSW Police. The council had also communicated with local backpacker hostels to remind them that the beach and nearby parks were alcohol-free zones. Waverley Council, which had experienced problems with anti-social behaviour and excessive noise at Bronte Beach in previous years, had also warned people against celebrations at the beach, with half of the park cordoned off due to construction works. The council had allocated an extra $220,000 to manage waste, security, and toilets on Christmas Day, and had implemented a comprehensive strategic communications campaign to deter large crowds.
Local Reactions
Locals had mixed opinions about the event, with some welcoming the party atmosphere and others expressing concern about the litter and anti-social behaviour. One local, Naoki, arrived at the beach on Friday morning to help with the clean-up, picking up glasses and other rubbish to make the area safe for dogs, cats, and children. Another local, John, said that the suburb had done a great job of hosting the party, and that it was good to see young people having fun. However, not everyone was pleased with the event, with some expressing concern about the impact on the local community.
Comparison to Previous Years
The event at Coogee Beach was a significant improvement on previous years, when Bronte Beach had experienced problems with anti-social behaviour and excessive noise. Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh said that the council’s comprehensive strategic communications campaign had helped to deter large crowds, and that the day had been peaceful at Bronte. The council’s efforts to manage the event and clean up the area had also been successful, with locals praising the council’s efforts to keep the area clean and safe. Overall, the event at Coogee Beach was a success, with thousands of people enjoying a fun and safe celebration, and the local council working hard to manage the event and clean up the area.
