Early morning crowds swarm to beaches in Sydney’s east
Stunning autumn Sunday weather has lured large crowds to beaches that are open in Sydney’s east today — and tempted some surfers and swimmers to defy closures at other beaches.
NSW
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Stunning autumn Sunday weather lured large crowds to some eastern Sydney beaches today, where exercising from allowed up from 6am until 9am.
Other beaches, which were completely closed, also proved too tempting for surfers and swimmers who defied signs and rangers and headed for the water anyway.
Beaches in the Coogee Beach, in the Randwick Council area, was jam-packed between 6 and 9am, when locals were allowed to exercise in the water.
More than 100 swimmers poured into the ocean at Coogee, with smaller numbers at Clovelly and Maroubra.
As the 9am cut-off neared, beachgoers argued with council rangers and lifeguards, claiming they should have been allowed for a swim at 8.50am.
“It’s before 9am, I should be allowed in,” one woman said.
At beaches in the Waverley Council area, including Bondi and Tamarama, red tape and giant LED signs saying “beach closed” could not keep board riders out of the water.
Surfers paddled into little more than a ripple at Tamarama Beach despite the beach, and access to the water, remaining closed to the public due to Waverly Council’s social distancing restrictions.
The crystal clear water, blue skies and temperatures of 25C were irresistible for surfers.
More than a dozen men and women flouted the restrictions just days before they reopen.
A lone council Waverley Council ranger, armed with a megaphone, shouted at swimmers at the nearby McKenzies Bay.
“This beach is closed. You need to come out,” he said.
The half a dozen swimmers floating in the water ignored his repeated calls.
Three people who left the ocean were told by the ranger, “don’t ruin this for everyone. The beach is closed”.
Waverly Mayor Paula Masselos told The Daily Telegraph the council still planned to open access to the water on Tuesday despite huge crowds at Coogee on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings.
