Randwick and Waverley councils warn Bondi, Coogee and other beaches nearing capacity

People are being warned that Sydney beaches are nearing capacity and they should make “alternate plans” as hot weather attracts massive crowds.

Officials are considering limiting access to Bondi, Coogee and other eastern suburbs beaches as they are “nearing capacity” on the sweltering Labour Day holiday.

“If people continue to come to Bondi Beach and crowds grow further, restricted access to the sand is likely to be implemented within the next hour 2-3pm”, Waverley Council wrote in an alert at 1.30pm.

Just half an hour earlier Randwick Council warned that “many of our beaches” were approaching capacity.

“So please make alternate plans if you’re heading to our coastline,” the council tweeted at 1pm.

Huge crowds have flocked to Coogee Beach on Monday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Waverley Council Mayor Paula Masselos said she was pleased the public seemed to be heeding advice from officials and spreading out on the sand at Bondi:

“People seem to be listening to what beach ambassadors and rangers have to say. People realize that everyone is in this together, and we need to be thoughtful.”

Large crowds have hit Sydney’s sands as a top of 31C was forecast by the Bureau of Meteorology.

Tops of 33C were also expected for parts of western Sydney including Richmond, Liverpool and Penrith.

🚫 Many of our beaches are approaching capacity, so please make alternate plans if you're heading to our coastline.
🌞 If you're already in the area, enjoy the warm weather at our beachside parks and reserves, or support local businesses by visiting stores in our town centres. pic.twitter.com/cEG8v52FmZ

— Randwick Council (@RandwickCouncil) October 5, 2020

There were also reports earlier on Monday of people being ushered away from North Bondi due to potential overcrowding.

Live Traffic Sydney posted on Twitter this afternoon that Cronulla Beach and all other beaches in the Shire were nearly full at 12.30pm.

People enjoy the warm weather at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Across Sydney’s iconic beaches, ambassadors, COVID-marshalls and lifeguards have been patrolling the sand to ensure revellers maintain social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Councils around the city are guided by summer action plans, designed to ensure that outdoor spaces can be enjoyed while still complying with government health orders.

Some councils, including Waverley, Randwick and Northern Beaches, will use hi-tech gadgets like drones and AI-boosted cameras to monitor crowd numbers.

As beaches get close to capacity, council action plans call for restricting access, with the help from police if necessary. However, Waverley Council have clarified people will not sent away if they are already on the sand.

Monday’s sweltering weather was a result of northerly wind pushing heat over most of northeastern NSW, including Sydney, BOM meteorologist Alex Majchrowski said.

The hotter-than-average temperatures were expected to give way to cooler conditions later in the week.

A southerly change is expected to pass through the coast late on Monday night and early Tuesday.

People are being warned that Coogee beach is nearing capacity. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

“Once that front moves through temperatures will drop by 10 degrees,” Mr Majchrowski said.

“Temperatures will cool off and get closer to the average.”

Crowds were already beginning to build at Bronte Beach on Monday morning. Picture: NCA Newswire/ Gaye Gerard

Tuesday will likely see cool and cloudy conditions with a top of 21C in Sydney.

However, a strong wind warning was issued for most of the coast, including the Sydney, Illawarra, Batemans, Eden, Macquarie and Hunter regions.

Swimmers lapping up the hot conditions at the rock pool at Bronte Beach. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Bourke was expected to be hottest in NSW, with a Monday maximum of 35C.