Careel Creek in Avalon is due for a clean-up to mitigate the risks of flooding that could impact surrounding homes. The project also aims to remove noxious weeds that encroach on the native vegetation and habitat for birds, small fish and woodland animals.
The NSW Government has pledged $143,000 to the Northern Beaches Council to support this clean-up, which will be underway for six weeks between July and September. Soil conservation specialists will be helping with the clean-up as well to remove sediment and gross pollutants.
“Local bushcare volunteers have been fantastic in regenerating stretches of the creek bank, and the upcoming works will provide an important boost to these efforts,” Member for Pittwater Rob Stokes said.
Photo Credit: Rob Stokes/Facebook
“Together with the NSW Government and our amazing Bushcare volunteers, we’ll be removing about 400 tonnes of sediment and stormwater debris that has accumulated within the creek line,” Mayor Michael Regan said.
“The first stage of the creek clean-up started in January. Thanks to Government funding, we’ll get started immediately on the second stage of work to restore this much-loved Avalon waterway.”
Careel Creek is an open drain that passes under the Avalon Shopping Centre, Barrenjoey High School, Barrenjoey Road and on to Careel Bay. It was urbanised and developed to impede the flow of stormwater and reduce the risk of flooding onto the wetlands and the community.
Avalon Market Day, the largest and most successful market day in the Northern Beaches, has permanently come to a close after more than 30 years of activity.
Dubbed as the crown jewel of Sydney’s market events, the annual showcase of products from various local merchants, creatives and small businesses will no longer take place during its expected run every third Sunday of November.
In an email sent to subscribers, the manager of the Avalon Market Day cited that COVID-19 has changed the priorities of the small group of volunteer workers organising this event. With smaller manpower, they could no longer mount and sustain this iconic community affair. The social pages of Avalon Market Day have also been shut down.
At the Avalon community group on Facebook, locals expressed disappointment over the cancellation.
“Any form of Avalon Market Day would be great for our community. Our local businesses have been knocked for six this year and last year and I’m not sure how much more we can take. We all need something to really look forward to,” Wendy Brown said.
“That is so sad. Avalon Market Day was something I always looked forward to, as well as the opportunity for small businesses in Avalon to get known and flourish. It is such a shame and a disgrace to the Northern Beaches Council for not supporting this community event. I am sure they would have collected enough revenue from stallholders to cover this event,” Sue Bell posted.
The group has been finding a way to revive the market by asking for volunteers who could help set up the logistics of mounting a large event, including securing Council permissions and insurance or asking businesses to take part. Extra measures have to be planned out as well due to the looming threats of virus transmission, especially after Avalon became a Sydney COVID-19 hotspot in late 2020.
Photo Credit: Avalon Market Day/Twitter
Hosted by the Avalon Palm Beach Business Chamber Inc. Avalon Market Day converts main streets around Avalon Beach Village and Dunbar Park as a shopping mecca, live music venue and family recreational spot for a full day. About 40,000 visitors come to the annual market for their Christmas shopping and some even come with their dogs in tow.
In February 2021, Avalon Palm Beach Business Chamber announced its merger with the chambers of Newport and Mona Vale. Locals speculated the restructure might have also affected the process of organising the event.
Avalon Beach was a hotspot for Airbnb short-term vacation rentals until the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on local tourism. However, a new study has revealed that Avalon Beach is bouncing back from this slump in a big way.
According to the experts from the City Futures Research Centre at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Airbnb landlords in Avalon Beach have experienced an average of 23.5 percent rise in rental demands from August 2020 to April 2021. It’s the biggest increase among other Airbnb suburb hotspots, such as Bondi, Manly, Darlinghurst, Redfern and Surry Hills, per the study published in the journal Urban Findings.
The report cited that most Airbnb landlords shifted from short-term arrangements to long-term lettings to avoid mortgage stress.
“Many Airbnb’s were converted to long-term rentals, presumably by landlords who are now seeking a more stable income source, particularly given that Airbnb wasn’t even operating for a few months,” study author William Thackway said.
“Now, when you get Airbnb’s converted back to long-term rentals, there’s a new influx of supply to the rental market, and there has been a corresponding reduction in rental prices, and that’s been observed for almost all active Airbnb areas.”
Photo Credit: Jonathan Atkin/Google Maps
Airbnb rental markets in Manly, Queenscliff, Curl Curl, Fairlight and Freshwater are also bouncing back, with some areas surpassing their highest demands before the pandemic. Bondi, Coogee and Bronte Airbnb markets are slowly ticking up as well but not as much as their numbers before COVID-19 hit.
A 180-day cap for homes across Greater Sydney where the owner lives elsewhere, while giving other NSW councils the option to apply to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment for this cap;
Hosted STRA homeowners being able to rent their homes out 365 days of the year; Minimum fire safety standards; and
A Code of Conduct for hosts, guests, online booking platforms and agents.
“The sector has suffered during the pandemic but our whole-of-government approach will get businesses and homeowners back on their feet as restrictions ease and we provide certainty ahead of the popular summer months,” Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Executive Director of Local Government and Economic Policy Luke Walton said.
“We can now share a clear set of rules that support the $30 billion a year industry while protecting the rights of hosts, guests and neighbours.”
However, concerned residents in these Airbnb hotspots said that this should be a temporary fix and must be amended again when more tourists are back in Sydney.
Great news! There’s no need to rush back to your parked car in Avalon Beach to take care of an expiring parking meter. Tt’s now easier to pay and avoid the fines through the Park’nPay app.
The smart system, which slowly launched in New South Wales in October 2019, went live on Avalon Beach in May 2021 and is now accessible in more locations across the state. Aside from some areas in the Northern Beaches, Park’nPay’s service is also in these suburbs below, with more locations to be added in the coming months:
Avalon Beach
Artarmon
Bayview
Burwood
Chatswood
Church Point
Collaroy
Gosford
Hunters Hill
Liverpool
Manly
Mona Vale
Mosman
Narrabeen
Newport
Palm Beach
Pittwater
Port Stephens
St Leonards
Strathfield
Terrigal
The Rocks
Whale Beach
“This is a game-changer for drivers saving them precious time and allowing them to manage their parking from anywhere via the app,” said Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello. “No one should be rushing back to put money in a parking meter in 2021.”
Mr Dominello also commended the Northern Beaches Council for activating Park’nPay to benefit the locals.
“This is a big win for the community, and a region boasting world-famous beaches and popular restaurants and shops which people want to get to.”
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said that the convenience of Park’n Pay will also benefit local businesses and the management of the parking system of the region as a whole. However, Park’nPay’s launch at the Bilgola Beach carparks will have to be delayed due to limited internet connectivity.
Photo Credit: Northern Beaches Council
To use the Park’nPay app, Avalon residents may download the app on their preferred app store or through the official site. After setting up an account and personalising their settings, including the payment method, they can begin receiving notifications when their parking meter is almost up or if their parking spot will soon shift to the “no stopping zone.”
Users are provided the option to pay through credit card or through facilities like Google Pay or Apple Pay.
“The great thing about this new feature is it allows customers to pay for the exact amount of time they use. They simply have to select the ‘pay later’ option and they can go about their business, indicating in the app when they’ve left the spot,” per Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance.
In the last 12 months, Australia’s unit sector has been generally weak compared to houses but there are apartment markets showing signs of growth, including Avalon Beach.
The latest analysis from CoreLogic shows that apartment values in Avalon increased to 12.9 percent, whilst about a dozen other coastal areas or rural destinations across the country have been doing well in the market despite a generally underperforming unit sector.
Lennox Head in New South Wales had the highest increase in apartment values at 27.6 percent. In Brisbane, the bayside suburb of Wynnum racked up a 25.1 percent increase and the coastal setting of Cleveland rose to 18.1 percent. Ocean Grove and Torquay in Victoria had a 26.3 percent and 25.8 percent gain, respectively.
A few suburbs in the Gold Coast, such as Bilinga, Currumbin, Palm Beach and Tugun, averaged an apartment value increase of 22.8 percent.
CoreLogic’s Tim Lawless said that about 70 percent of these apartment markets are considered “lifestyle” investments for buyers “looking for a sea change or tree change,” especially in this work-from-home climate. As the prices of detached houses scale-up, people will turn to medium to high-density dwelling options but the “holiday” location will also prove to be a factor.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Meanwhile, as of 3 May 2021, the average median price of a three-bedroom unit in Avalon is $1.6 million whilst the average median price of a three-bedroom house is $1.937 million.
Mr Lawless also said that Syndey’s unit rental demand will remain weak until the borders will open for international travel. Elsewhere, listings of available units are soaring, further weakening the prices and delaying the recovery of this sector post-pandemic.
A distinct Beachcomber House in Avalon, one of only 118 existing mid-century homes across the country, has been sold for an undisclosed amount at auction.
The property, which stands on Kevin Avenue, belonged to Helen Thurloe, who has been a proponent of these Bauhaus-style structures as originally designed by well-known architect Nino Sydney in the 1960s. Mr Sydney has been dubbed as the “hero of Australian suburbia” for designing beautiful lifestyle houses on the budget.
Ms Thurloe decided to sell her Beachcomber house after 26 years as she and her partner, David Packer, plan to move and downsize as their children have families of their own as well. She said that it’s time for someone else to enjoy the house, which has been steep with Sydney’s history.
Photo Credit: Domain.Com.Au
The homeowners once had Mr Sydney visit their place because it was one of his favourite. When Mr Thurloe bought the property nearly three decades ago, the previous owners said that she will have to do some refurbishments. She kept the style of the house intact and added a new kitchen and bathrooms, as well as a suite on the ground floor.
Location was a vital reason for picking this house as it was 10 minutes from the beach and stood on an elevated corner, delivering a gorgeous view of the water. The couple then fell in love with the house’s open plan, glass partitions, and the abundance of light, as it was perfectly fitted for the Australian lifestyle. They also love how the indoor-outdoor transition meshed well.
Photo Credit: Domain.Com.Au
“Beachcombers sit lightly on the land. Mostly supported by steel posts, they were very adaptable for three-quarter sloping blocks. This was appealing for many Sydney buyers, even those with no particular interest in modernism,” Mr Thurloe said on the website she created for Beachcomber Houses.
The popularity of Beachcomber Homes has remained all these years because its architecture, though originally retro in style, could still modern and functional with a few changes.
Opening a restaurant in the midst of a pandemic might be a scary business move and yet, against the odds, Sea Wave Thai successfully navigated risky waters when it opened for business at Avalon Beach in the last quarter of 2020.
Six months on and Sea Wave Thai continues to make a splash from its location on Avalon Parade. Slowly but surely, word got around among this suburb’s tight-knit community that there’s a new foodie haunt on the block, serving flavourful Thai dishes.
On the menu are nearly 50 dishes featuring a variety of dim sums, noodles and rice, curry, stir-fried, as well as Asian soups and salads.
Photo Credit: Facebook
First-time visitors ought to try the coconut prawn curry, a growing favourite among regulars. The prawns are so huge and it’s enough to last your cravings through the day. This dish is served in a stunning bowl — the actual coconut shell — and you’ll need to take a moment to appreciate its presentation.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
To enjoy this beautiful dish, you’d have to scrape the coconut meat inside the shell to mix with the creamy sauce. This enhances the flavour and the freshness of the curry’s ingredients.
Take your time when dining at Sea Wave Thai with its lavish but cosy interior. The space evokes the feel of spending a summer holiday in Southeast Asia without having to leave Avalon.
Photo Credit: Google Maps
Occasionally, the owner, who grew up in a Thai household, comes out to engage the customers and deliver her brand of warm and friendly service. Amidst social distancing restrictions, her careful approach is a breath of fresh air.
Follow Sea Wave Thai on Facebook for updates on its opening hours and deals. The restaurant is within the Avalon Pavilion, next to the homeware and handicraft stores.
Really great food. It’s a typical Australian Thai restaurant menu, but portions were generous, lots of meat in the dishes, tasted fantastic. Nice cocktails; and the outdoor seating is cosy.
Adam Frisby
Very fast service and tasty food – would recommend the salmon yellow curry! Such a tough time to be opening during lockdown, let’s show them some love.
Simon Abbott
Great food! Really fresh and full of flavour. If you like tai this is really good. Great service, laid back Avalon vibe.
Nathan Brook, a ballet dancer who grew up on the beaches of Avalon, was named the Rising Star awardee at the 2021 Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards. A soloist with The Australian Ballet, he also won the People’s Choice award, garnering over 240,000 votes, the highest in the award’s history.
The ballet dancer also won over $40,000 in cash prizes for his two honors but more than this monetary gain, his future in ballet looks even more promising as former Rising Stars of the Telstra Ballet Dancer Awards, in the last two decades, go on to become principal artists.
At 7-years-old, whilst his brothers trained with surfboards, Brook was already attending dance classes at the Lamont Dance School in Avalon Beach until he was 14 years old. The Brook family’s neighbours in Avalon, who frequently watched him dance on their back deck, saw the boy’s potential and they told his mum he should sign up for classes at Lamont.
With his family’s all-out support, he also trained in Melbourne and was part of the Queensland Ballet’s Young Artist Program, where he toured to dance in London and Shanghai.
Brook officially joined The Australian Ballet in 2016. The company’s artistic director, David Hallberg, said that Brook works with “commitment, drive, dedication and ambition,” thus he deserves the recognition.
He earned his first Ballet Dancer Awards nomination in 2018 and again in 2020.
“I have nothing but gratitude for everyone who has come on this journey with me and I can’t thank you enough for the continued support and for voting,” the ballet dancer said.
Following an abrupt yet temporary shut-down due to the pandemic, Bar Elvina, the open-window restaurant and coastal passion project shared by Andy Emerson and Jesse McTavish, has finally reopened its doors to diners in Avalon Beach.
Bar Elvina’s menu features delicious local catch and foraged goods fresh from Avalon Beach, including but not limited to oysters, fish, seaweed, and wild fennel. One of the restaurant’s specialties is its John Dory with Lemon Butter — a fish dish that serves whole john dory with miso lemon butter sauce and warrigal greens.
Photo credit: Instagram/Bar Elvina
The restaurant boasts a strong selection of seafood-based dishes, however they also offer choice cuts of red meat that partners well with a glass of wine. Their 8-hour half lamb shoulder — a dish prepared with labne, black barley, whey, mint, and karkalla — is one such meal.
Photo credit: Instagram/Bar Elvina
Food isn’t the only thing this open-window restaurant offers, for it also takes pride in its selection of drinks as well. From their signature cocktails to their extensive collection of wine, customers will be able to complement their meals with a variety of liquor that’s sweet or strong, or bubbly or smooth.
Photo credit: Instagram/Bar Elvina
Reviewers on Facebook raved over the restaurant’s cocktail selection and good service, and the food was particularly noteworthy as well. One reviewer in particular wrote that they were “…so lucky to have a restaurant like this in Avalon” and they had “…one of the most enjoyable dinners in a very long time.”
Photo credit: Facebook/Bar Elvina
Bar Elvina can be found at Level 1, 50 Old Barrenjoey Rd, open every day from Wednesday until Sunday. For more information, visit their website. For the latest updates on special deals and dates, follow their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.
Avalon Beach SLSC is gearing up for the return of Around the Bends, the annual swim challenge from Newport to Avalon. This year’s event, however, will have a few changes but it will still be a fun workout for adults and kids with the beautiful Northern Beaches as the backdrop.
Set for Sunday, 21 March 2021, Around the Bends will start at Newport at 8:00 a.m. with the 2.5 kilometres swim challenge to Avalon, whilst another competition will kick off at 9:30 a.m. with a shorter distance of 1.2 kilometres.
Participants must take note of the courses:
DISTANCE
ROUTE
Newport to Avalon (2.5km)
– Starts at the northern end of Newport Beach – Head out around the headland, past Bilgola Beach, then past another headland into Avalon
Avalon (1.2km)
– Starts at the northern end of the beach – North Avalon Express – Head out to southern headland to around the middle of the beach and then straight in towards the clubhouse
The Newport to Avalon route is open for swimmers above 13 years old, whilst the journey off Avalon Beach is perfect for 10-year-old kids and above.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Parents who are swimming with minors will need to fill out an online entry for their children before the event. Due to the pandemic threats, this year’s Around the Bends will be strictly registered. Swimmers who have not submitted their online confirmation by Saturday, 20 March 2021, at 3:00 p.m., will not be allowed to join on race day.
A special division will be opened for Back of the Pack, for groups who want to enjoy a more relaxing time in the water as their time won’t be recorded. The Back of the Pack won’t be eligible for prizes at the end of the event.
Around the Bends has a $40 entry fee, whether participants are swimming in one or both challenges. Register online to join.
