BONDI BEACH NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATIONS CANCELLED FOLLOWING TERROR ATTACK
Waverley Council has cancelled all New Year's Eve events scheduled for Bondi Beach in the wake of Sunday's mass shooting terror attack. The decision affects two major celebrations set to welcome the new year at the iconic beachfront location.
The cancelled events include elrow Bondi Beach XXL, a ticketed music festival expected to attract up to 15,000 people, and the Locals Lawn Family Zone, a free community celebration designed for families and local residents. The council's official statement cited the "current situation on the ground" as the reason for the cancellations, a reference to the ongoing impact and security concerns following the terror attack.
The decision to cancel comes just days after two gunmen opened fire at Bondi Beach on Sunday evening, killing at least 15 people and leaving dozens more injured. The attack targeted members of Sydney's Jewish community celebrating Hanukkah at the beach, making it Australia's deadliest mass shooting in recent memory.
Event producer Fuzzy, which organized the cancelled celebrations, will be contacting all ticketholders who purchased passes for elrow Bondi Beach XXL to outline next steps regarding refunds or alternative arrangements. The company has not yet released detailed information regarding the process or timeline for addressing ticket holders' concerns.
The cancellation represents a significant impact on Bondi Beach's New Year's Eve plans and reflects the ongoing security and community concerns in the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attack. The decision removes what would have been one of Sydney's major New Year's Eve destinations from the holiday calendar, redirecting celebrations to other locations across the city.
NSW Premier Chris Minns indicated that state government focus for the immediate period would centre on recalling parliament on December 22 and 23 to fast-track new gun control legislation rather than facilitating large public gatherings. The premier warned that mass demonstrations in the current climate risked escalating community tensions, particularly in multicultural areas where communities remain emotionally raw following the targeted attack.