Bondi Beach: Coronavirus measures lifted, beach to reopen on Friday
Get ready Sydney: The nation’s most iconic beach is set for full access for exercise for the first time tomorrow after two months of coronavirus restrictions. However, there is a catch.
Wentworth Courier
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After months of restrictions Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach is set to open up to the public when coronavirus measures are lifted by premier Gladys Berejiklian on Friday.
It is understood Waverley Council, whose jurisdiction covers the beach and the eastern suburbs, is planning to allow access to the sand for exercise at Bondi as well as Tamarama and Bronte beaches for the first time in almost two months.
Running and walking will now be allowed and it is expected public pools associated with the beaches will also open to 10 people at a time.
The partial reopening last month came after beachgoers were pictured brazenly ignoring social distancing at the peak of the crisis in NSW in March.
The public outrage over the incident saw health minister Brad Hazzard order its closure.
Access was initially only allowed for people swimming and surfing in the waters, however, concerns were raised over “discrimination” by council officials who were turning away parents with young children.
One mother, Carrie Christensen, told the Wentworth Courier this week being turfed off the beach left her in tears.
Other mums had also come forward reporting similar concerns.
The move comes after Eastern Suburbs Police command detectives were supportive of the approach and their ability to maintain a 500 person limit on the beaches.
However, there are concerns at council the popular beaches will again be forced to close if they are swarmed by out-of-towners ready to soak up the sun.
Internal emails detailing their behind the scenes plans to reopen the beach in the wake of Mr Hazzard’s public health order revealed the council did not want to publicly advertise their lifting of restrictions over fears the beaches would again be packed out.
Bondi is now coronavirus free, according to NSW Health data, just months after it became the epicentre of Sydney’s crisis.
Similar restrictions are also set to be lifted tomorrow at neighbouring Coogee, Maroubra, Clovelly, La Parouse, Malabar and Little Bay beaches according to Randwick City Council.
Those beaches will be open for recreational purposes tomorrow, going beyond Waverley’s exercise only measures.
Gatherings of a maximum of ten people will be allowed at Randwick’s beaches so long as social distancing is maintained, Mayor Danny Said revealed.
“The relaxation of some restrictions means we’re taking small, cautious steps towards life as we used to know it, but is not an indication that we should become complacent,” he said.
The changes at the three beaches are set to come into play in line with restrictions allowing 10 diners at a time in city eateries easing back tomorrow, signalling the beginning of the end of the lockdown in NSW.
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