This year has seen Sydney's beaches closed for a multitude of reasons. Bondi temporarily shut when beachgoers flouted gathering restrictions back in March. Then beaches across the city closed as restrictions tightened. In May, an overboard shipping container saw Randwick City Council's beaches flooded with face masks and plastic containers. Now, on the Labour Day long weekend, another Sydney beach has closed — but it's got nothing to do with COVID-19.
On Saturday, October 3, Murray Rose Pool (FKA Redleaf) was evacuated due to concerns about contaminated water. In a statement on social media, Woollahra Council said the beach would be closed for the rest of the long weekend "due to a sewage issue".
Sydney Water expanded on the specifics of the issue in a statement to The Sydney Morning Herald, saying "A blockage in a public toilet wastewater line operated by Woollahra Municipal Council caused a wastewater overflow this morning in Double Bay."
Further east in Bronte, The Bogey Hole at the southern end of the beach was also closed on Saturday due to a sewage issue and will remain closed for the entire long weekend, according to a statement from Waverley Council.
With the mercury hovering in the high 20s across the long weekend, some sandy spots across the city have reached capacity, too. NSW National Parks and Services started turning around cars at 9.33am when Wattamolla hit peak vehicle capacity and Camp Cove was full at 11.50am on Monday, October 5.
When you do head to a beach, remember to follow NSW gathering limits and to practise social-distancing when possible. You can check out all the current COVID-19 restrictions over here.
Murray Rose Pool (Redleaf) and The Bogey Hole at Bronte Beach will remain closed for the rest of the long weekend.
Image: Flickr