<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/sydney" rel="" target="" title="Sydney"><span>Sydney</span></a><span> council has urged backpackers to stay away from a popular beach on Christmas Day.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Waverley Council has warned people to stay away from Bronte Beach due to concerns of overcrowding and in light of the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/bondi-shooting" rel="" target="" title="Bondi Beach terror attack"><span>Bondi Beach terror attack</span></a><span> on Sunday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Last year more than 15,000 people gathered at Bronte Beach for the annual 'Backpacker Christmas' gathering.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-hero-police-officer-id-cesar-barraza/c28f6822-ba17-42a1-9ed6-77e10d3c8b19" target="_blank"><strong><span>Hero cop who took down Bondi shooter identified</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The popular eastern suburbs hotspot is less than a kilometre away from Bondi Beach.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mayor Will Nemesh said councillors were concerned about the risks to public safety at the "non-sanctioned and unauthorised gathering".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Right now, half of Bronte Park is off limits to the public while the development of the new Bronte Surf Life Saving Club is under way, so the space available to the public is tight," Nemesh said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/bronte-beach-waverley-council-warns-backpackers-to-stay-away-from-popular-beach-sydney-new-south-wales/b0ee15ea-5393-403f-a802-c16e4dfca694" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This means temporary fencing, a drastic reduction in open space and only narrow channels available to move around seriously compromise crowd flow.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"On top of that, just a stone's throw down the road, is where 15 people tragically lost their lives in an unspeakable and barbaric attack on our treasured Jewish community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We ask anyone planning to go to this non-sanctioned event at Bronte to please consider both of these very important factors."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-five-key-questions-answered/ea43e596-5ede-44ac-be31-65423acdb565" target="_blank"><strong><span>The five questions Australia is asking after the Bondi terror attack</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nemesh said the large number of attendees was a huge challange for council staff at any time of the year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This year, that kind of crowd is simply not safe, so this gathering cannot take place.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Council's message to those hoping to party at Bronte is clear and stern, do not come.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is not the time or place for this gathering."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>If the event goes ahead, council will focus on limiting the impact of the event on the local community including "excessive noise, anti-social behaviour, and litter".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Partygoers will face a heavier police and security presence, including checkpoints, to help enforce alcohol and glass bans.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An emergency services area, extra toilet facilities, water stations and other crowd management measures is also expected be in place.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The council has also engaged professional event cleaners to remove the site of rubbish.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Council's preference is that a gathering of this nature and size does not take place," Nemesh said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>