AusLeisure

A plan to upgrade Australia's most famous beach will see Bondi's Pavilion reinstated as the grand entry to the promenade, the upgrading of outdoor fitness stations and shade shelters built to cater for its 1.8 million annual visitors.

Waverley Council has revealed plans to improve Sydney's third most visited site, detailing an upgrade for the beach and its surrounding areas having consulted with more than 1,000 people over the last year.

In the first stage, the Council wants to upgrade the toilets, playground and fitness equipment; plant more trees and to return the Bondi Pavilion as the beach's grand entry with a pedestrian-only zone in front of the building.

Other plans include more toilets and allowing volleyball at the south end of the beach, relaxing a ban on ball games.

Waverley Mayor Sally Betts said the dramatic improvements would mean "the biggest change ever" to Bondi and bring it in line with the world's great beaches.

She added "there are more people coming to Bondi all the time and we need to look at how we provide facilities for them.

"(It) would be wonderful if we could move the cars away from the promenade, have more lawn, more places for people to sit and have a cup of coffee close to the beach, more facilities for children."

Long-term plans include building cafes with sweeping beach views under the promenade and a beginners' skate park as well as moving all the waterfront parking spaces underground, giving visitors more spots to park.

The Council is hoping that the NSW Government will contribute to the development, but is not ruling out raising the rates of locals to pay for the new look.

For more information go to www.waverley.nsw.gov.au

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