An Aboriginal land council has lodged a claim over one of Sydney\u2019s most iconic coastal sites frequented by famous faces and local swimmers alike.<\/p>\n
The La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council has been waiting for the outcome of a claim made over Bondi Icebergs for several years, 2GB host Ben Fordham revealed on Friday morning.<\/p>\n
He said the claim was currently before Lands Minister Steve Kamper \u2013 but that it had first been made back in 2009.<\/p>\n
Fordham told his listeners the land council said in a statement it \u201clooks forward to the minister determining this claim\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe remain willing to work constructively with Bondi Icebergs while the claim is being assessed,\u201d it said, according to Fordham.<\/p>\n
But Fordham was unimpressed by the claim.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to remember this is one of Sydney\u2019s most iconic sites with the best view of the world\u2019s most famous beach, Bondi,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the only licensed swimming club in the world and all year round, no matter how cold, people are swimming laps.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen famous faces are in Sydney \u2013 whether it\u2019s Mick Jagger or Oprah Winfrey \u2013 they go to Icebergs.\u201d<\/p>\n
News.com.au has contacted the land council and Mr Kamper\u2019s office for comment.<\/p>\n
Fordham told his listeners the claim highlighted the 44,000 unresolved land claims in the state, and urged Mr Kamper to \u201curgently step in and fix this system\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said 2GB had confirmed \u201cevery surf club\u201d along the eastern beaches of Sydney was also facing land claims over them.<\/p>\n
He said claims over other clubs, including North Bondi, Clovelly, Coogee, Tamarama, Bronte and Maroubra, were \u201cfurther proof showing why the government needs to fix this chaos\u201d.<\/p>\n
Under NSW legislation Aboriginal land councils can lodge claims for the return of Crown land that can be lawfully sold or leased, not be lawfully used or occupied, not needed for essential public purpose and not subject to native title claims.<\/p>\n
Claims are assessed by the Aboriginal Land Claim Assessment Team, which later makes a recommendation to the minister on whether land is claimable.<\/p>\n
Last week it was reported a long-running tennis club on Sydney\u2019s north shore would have to vacate after an Aboriginal land council successfully claimed ownership of the site.<\/p>\n
The Northern Suburbs Tennis Association will have to hand over the keys to the eight-court Talus Street Tennis Centre at Naremburn by September 30, following a claim lodged by the Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council in 2022.<\/p>\n
It was also revealed in June that a claim had been lodged over the site of North Sydney\u2019s historic courthouse first constructed in 1989.<\/p>\n
Parliamentary secretary to the NSW attorney-general Hugh McDermott confirmed the claim in a note, reported by <\/a>North Sydney Sun<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe merits of this claim must be determined before alternative uses of the site can be considered,\u201d Mr McDermott said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe timeframe for resolution of this claim is currently unknown.\u201d<\/p>\n The Minns government has made efforts to water down some of the laws with <\/a>The Australian<\/a> reporting in June<\/a> that Mr Kamper was concerned at \u201ctechnicalities\u201d like an incorrectly written lease deciding claims.<\/p>\n