NSW residents can swim in public outdoor pools from next Monday

Outdoor pools across NSW will open to the public from next Monday after the mayors of Sydney’s 12 Covid LGAs of concern pleaded for ­restrictions to be eased.

Outdoor pools across NSW will open to the public from next Monday — including those in locked-down council areas.

The decision follows a meeting between Premier Gladys Berejiklian and the mayors of Sydney’s 12 Covid local government areas of concern, who pleaded for ­restrictions to be eased.

Canterbury pool will be able to reopen, although perhaps not quite like this, so the west can enjoy the chance to cool off. Picture: AAP Image

The estimated 2.5 million residents of Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Canterbury-Bankstown, Campbelltown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Strathfield, and suburbs of Penrith have been subject to strict stay-at-home orders.

The mayors of these areas had appealed for community swimming pools to reopen.

It followed outrage in the west and southwest after pictures of thousands of eastern suburbs locals enjoying the beaches as temperatures soared to more than 30 ­degrees last weekend.

Councils across the state will be able to open outdoor public swimming pools as long as there is a stringent Covid safety plan approved by NSW Health in place.

The government has nominated Monday week for the opening to give councils enough time to put those plans in place.

Natural pools are already permitted to be open.

Ms Berejiklian acknowledged that people across the state had been doing it tough, especially those in the LGAs of concern.

While the government was allowing pools to reopen, the Premier warned that swimmers would still need to follow the local lockdown rules and pool Covid safety plans.

“As the weather starts to warm up, I am pleased people across NSW will be able to enjoy going to outdoor pools once more,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“We are pleased to be able to provide everyone with some relief.

“However, we cannot let our guard down — please continue to get vaccinated, follow the strict Covid safety plans set out by your local pool, and continue to follow the lockdown rules.”

Bondi Beach drew a crowd last week, despite the Sydney lockdown. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

The mayors who had been calling for pools to reopen included Ryde’s Jerome Laxale, who said if it was safe for a thousand people to swim at Bondi, it was equally safe for a hundred to swim at a local pool.

However, deputy chief health officer Jeremy Mc­Anulty had argued that it was the congregating around ­facilities at pools rather than swimming that was the risk.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said pools could be reopened thanks to a growing number of people being ­vaccinated.

“As more and more of us get vaccinated, being able to have a cooling dip is another giant step towards living with Covid,” he said.

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