The footbridge used by two gunmen during the Bondi Beach terror attack has become a “ghoulish reminder” of the tragedy, prompting calls for its removal as Waverley Council prepares to decide the future of the century-old structure.
The north pedestrian footbridge, where 15 people were killed at a Hanukkah celebration on December 14, along with its sister bridge at the south end of the beach, is at the center of a heated debate in the community. While some residents want the bridge preserved, a local council report has concluded that the structure is approaching the end of its life.
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the families of the victims should have the final say on the bridge, but indicated that removal would be preferable.
“I’d just hate it to be a ghoulish reminder or even exploited by reprehensible people in the future,” Minns told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday, exactly one month after the attack.
The Premier emphasized the importance of preserving Bondi Beach as a place of hope rather than a site forever linked to terror.
“We can’t allow one of the most beautiful places on earth to be remembered forever only as a place of horrible terrorism, because it’s so much more than that,” Minns said. “Australians have been able to reclaim Bondi Beach as a place of hope and light in what was an absolutely horrible crime, and they’ve been able to do it in a short space of time.”
Waverley Mayor Will Nemesh will propose the first step toward replacing the footbridges at an extraordinary general council meeting on Thursday night. His motion calls for a report detailing the cost, timetable, and necessary approvals for either replacing or restoring the aging structures.
Any final decisions will follow consultations with the Jewish community and other local residents, Waverley Council said. Nemesh cited a 2024 report which concluded that the bridges were nearing the end of their useful life.
Minns also highlighted broader progress made in the month since the attack, pointing to actions taken against extremist groups and figures. News emerged that Australia’s neo-Nazi networks had disbanded following planned changes to hate speech laws, and the Bankstown Al Madina Dawah Centre, previously run by extremist preacher Wissam Haddad, announced its closure on Wednesday.
“I know that there’s cynicism in relation to the changes that we’re making, but we believe they’re working,” Minns said, framing the closures and reforms as part of a coordinated effort to protect communities from extremism.
In addition, the NSW government announced that Multicultural NSW CEO Joseph La Posta and NSW Jewish Board of Deputies CEO Michele Goldman would assist in service provision and community engagement in the wake of the attack.
The attack has also prompted a national response. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared January 22 as a national day of mourning to commemorate the victims. The day will provide an opportunity for Australians to remember those killed and reaffirm the country’s commitment to tolerance and community solidarity.
The debate over the Bondi footbridges reflects the complex balance between preserving historical structures, respecting the wishes of victims’ families, and ensuring public spaces do not become enduring symbols of terror. While some locals argue the bridges are part of Bondi’s heritage, the memory of the December attack has cast them in a tragic light that many find impossible to ignore.
As council deliberations approach, the fate of the bridges will serve as a test of how communities reconcile grief, memory, and urban renewal in the aftermath of one of Australia’s deadliest terror attacks.
