Spat in Aussie surf town turns ugly after locals blast 'blow-ins'
The unwelcoming surf signs have been met with an even more explicit response.
Tensions continue to rise at popular surf spot Sandon Point, north of Wollongong on the NSW coast, after handmade signs warned only locals can surf at the popular point break.
Two signs appeared on the weekend warning against 'blow ins', referring to surfers travelling from other areas. The signs were widely condemned by the broader Wollongong community.
Now another message has been spray-painted on a bike path at the northern end of Sandon Point beach in retaliation to the 'locals only' signs. The blunt message reads: "Local surfers are c**ts".
Council cracks down on localism
Wollongong City Council condemned the original handmade signs and reassured people all beaches in the area "are available for everyone to enjoy".
"Any signs or comments that have been seen around Sandon Point in the past week are not reflective of our community, or how we value those who visit our area," a council spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia.
The signs which announced 'blow-ins not welcome' also prompted NSW Health Minister Ryan Park, who was raised in the Illawarra area, to criticise the sentiment behind the message.
"This needs to be called out. It’s wrong and it doesn’t at all reflect our community," he wrote on Facebook. "The only thing not welcome is this a sort of behaviour."
It is not known if the handmade signs or spray-painted message are still at the beach, however, one of the initial unwelcoming signs has reportedly been scribbled out, leaving only the word 'Welcome!' visible.
"Council encourages community members to report offensive signage," the council spokesperson said.
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Who is behind the handmade signs?
The sign makers have not been identified, however some locals believe a few young surfers are behind them.
"Everyone just thinks the signs were put up by some young guys," a local surf shop worker told Yahoo. "Everyone thinks it's a joke."
This was seconded by another local surfer who said it was a "bunch of local kids" who wrote the signs in between watching the footy at the weekend.
"It was just a laugh... I spoke to one of them today and who, in his words, said it's got pretty hectic," local surf journalist Stu Nettle told ABC Radio Illawarra on Tuesday.
"It was just a funny thing that they didn't even think that much about."
In light of the 'locals only' signs, a member of the Wollongong community has shared online their intention to host a 'Blow-ins BBQ' at the beach to bring surfers together — with the promise of "free sausage sanga and cold bevvies for all non-locals". However, a later post indicates the BBQ is unlikely to take place.
"The ocean is for all to enjoy, no matter your skill level or where you're from," the poster signed off.
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