South Steyne, Manly: In an epic saga of public land disputes and passionate diatribes, a local Manly Whinger has taken to social media to air his grievances about a plot of land on South Steyne Promenade. The crux of the matter? A humble patch of land, roughly the size of a tennis court, which he claims is being monopolized by surf club trailers and boats. Cue the drama.
The Dramatic Disclosure
Our intrepid Whinger, known as Barry O’Bother, posted an impassioned message that quickly went viral among the Manly community. “So, this is South Steyne Prom, southern end. Frequented by thousands daily. Bold and Beautiful every morning. Tens of thousands on a summer weekend. Belongs to you, me, westies, everyone. In other words, public land. And Heritage listed by the way.”
Barry’s post described a shocking scene: a couple of trailers with surf skis and a huge surf boat occupying a swath of land that, according to him, should be a communal haven rather than a private storage space for what he suspects are “privileged club members, mostly from Mosman.”
He continued his rant with fervor: “Did I mention land prices around here are circa $30,000 a sq/m? So, being a Manly Whinger, I complained to NBC, including the illegally parked council vehicles. Apart from being there illegally, they are a bloody eyesore. They phoned me within the hour and said, mate, they’ve been there for twenty years. Council says we have a deal with the surf club, it’s ok.”
The Heated Council Call
Barry’s frustration reached a fever pitch when he detailed his interaction with the council: “I say, hang on, it’s not your land to gift. It’s public land ffs. The surf club lease does not extend beyond its boundaries.” In response, the council representative reportedly mumbled, “Errr, I’ll call you back.”
The next line of Barry’s post might just be the crowning jewel of his diatribe: “This, my friends of Manly, is a bloody genuine whinge. This land is the local community’s town square. We want it back.”
The Whinge with a Twist
In an amusing twist, Barry made sure to clarify his stance on the surf club itself: “Ps. This is not a whinge about the surf club. They are absolute legends for our community. I can’t praise them enough. They are the mortar of our community. The fault lies with the council for allowing this blight to occur.”
Barry’s post quickly garnered a flurry of responses from the Manly Whingers, each more inventive than the last. Local comedian Hugh Jass quipped, “Barry’s right! I mean, how dare they use public land for storing surf equipment? What’s next, a heli-pad for VIP beachgoers?”
Stan Still added, “I thought we’d seen it all when they started charging for beachside parking, but this is a new level of audacity. Maybe we should start a GoFundMe for a giant tennis net to reclaim the land!”
The Outpouring of Support and Ridicule
The post spurred a series of humorous and sympathetic comments from the community. “I support Barry’s call for the land to be returned to the people,” said local activist Emma Wilson. “We need to reclaim our town square—before they turn it into a private jet landing pad!”
Iona Knipl, a local bus driver, offered a tongue-in-cheek solution: “Why not turn the land into a giant communal parking lot? Or better yet, a park with swings and slides—because that’s exactly what South Steyne needs!”
The Final Word
As the community debates the fate of the beloved South Steyne Promenade, Barry O’Bother remains undeterred in his quest for justice. Whether or not the tennis court-sized land will be reclaimed for public use is yet to be seen, but one thing is certain: Barry’s passionate whinge has ensured that the issue is front and center in the minds of Manly residents. So next time you’re in South Steyne, remember: you might just be standing on a battleground of communal reclaiming—and don’t be surprised if you see a few tennis nets pop up!
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