The dust hasn’t even settled yet on #cabanagate, but it looks like there’s another trend to reserve prime beachside estate that’s got people divided.
The trend apparently involves cordoning off beachside huts and gazebos with clingwrap(???) so you’re sealing off the area ‘til you’re ready to head back.
It’s even caught the eye of a local council, with Wollongong City Council putting up warnings that using any material to enclose the shelters is just not on.
As reported by 9News, Lord Mayor of Wollongong Tania Brown said the “unfortunate” trend simply won’t be tolerated.
“As they are in shared public spaces, the use of cling wrap or any other material to cordon off or ‘reserve’ spots like beach huts and barbecue picnic tables is prohibited,” Brown told 9News in a statement.
“It is unfortunate that we have had to erect signage to remind people of this, but I would hope people show common courtesy to one another when it comes to shared spaces and facilities.
“Our rangers do patrol these areas and will remove any wrapping they find, and members of the public should contact Council and report this behaviour if they encounter it.”
Social media users are also (rightfully) upset by the looks of it.
“We’re living in an age of morons,” wrote one social media user.
Another described the trend as “outright selfish”.
A number of users even suggested councils introduce fines to deter such behaviours once and for all.
Now, you’d think this would go without saying but here we go again: sun protection is a yes, ‘reserving’ beachside spots should be a no-go.
Let’s not forget, the move comes less than two weeks after Prime Minister Albanese called out another un-Australian beachside sin of using cabanas to reserve spots on the beach.
In fact, it’s a “breach of principle” to think you can keep a spot for themselves, he said.
“One of the great things about Australia, unlike some parts of the world, you’ve got to pay to go to the beach. Here, everyone owns the beach,” Albanese told The Today Show.
The comments have drawn reactions from across the board, ranging from banning cabanas altogether, encouraging the use of them for sun protection, and a nice middle-ground of propping up cabanas at the back of the beach.
Safe to say, these debates are probably going to rage on through the summer.
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