Overview
If you're a fan of exercising by (or in) the ocean, here's some good news for your Monday morning: Randwick City Council has reopened its beaches for exercise only from today, April 20. One month ago, the council's beaches and those in Waverley and Woollahra were closed after crowds packed out Bondi Beach despite mass-gathering rules being in place and the government encouraging social distancing.
While Waverley and Woollahra's beaches — including Bondi Beach — remain closed for now, Randwick City Council is now letting locals jog, walk, swim and surf on its beaches. This includes Clovelly, Coogee and Maroubra.
In a statement on the Randwick City Council website, Mayor Danny Said, "living along the coast, I know how important our beaches are to the mental and physical health of so many in the community." "The past three weeks have been difficult as we've all had to make changes and sacrifices to our daily routines."
While the beaches will be open, people must follow two-person gathering restrictions and maintain 1.5 metres between each other. Mayor Said reiterated that the "beaches are not open to general use"."Activities such as sitting on the sand, sun-baking or gathering in groups will not be permitted and Council staff and police will be enforcing these restrictions", said Mayor Said. If you do any of these activities, you could be slapped with a $1000 on-the-spot fine.
Bronte Beach closed by Emma Joyce
Despite Randwick reopening its beaches, Waverley Council Mayor Paula Masselos said in a statement on the weekend that "we have no intention of reopening our beaches at this time". But, the Council has revealed it's looked at reopening the water "for the sole purpose of ocean swimming and surfing".
Elsewhere in Sydney, Manly and Dee Why are currently closed until at least tomorrow, Tuesday, April 21, but other northern beaches spots are open for exercise only with some lifeguard patrolling — check here for the most recent updates. Sutherland Shire beaches, which temporary closed over the Easter long weekend, are also open for exercise.
All of the city's rock, ocean and regular pools are still closed.
Randwick City Council's beaches have reopened for exercise only from today, Monday, April 20.
To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
Top image: Clovelly Beach by Paros Huckstep