'Very few people are actually exercising': Sydney beaches closed due to crowds - Sydney Morning Herald

Beaches at Coogee and Maroubra in Sydney's east have been shut down after crowds of people "having a splash" flocked to the stretches of sand, which were open for exercise only on Friday.

The closures followed a warning from the state's top cop that councils would be closely monitoring beaches and popular exercise routes throughout Sydney this weekend for anyone flouting strict social distancing measures.

Police shut down Coogee Beach on Friday.Credit:Peter Rae

A Randwick Council spokesman said Coogee and Maroubra beaches shut shortly before 1pm and will remain closed for the rest of the day.

He said lifeguards made the decision to clear the beaches because they were "reaching capacity" and a large number of people - mostly families and children - did not appear to be using the areas to exercise.

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"This closure was really due to the behaviour. Very few people are actually exercising, they're having a splash in the water and that's not the purpose. We need to remind people the 'stay home' rule still applies," the spokesman said.

"Because it's such a beautiful day you've got people down there trying to cool off. Cooling down, as nice as it is, isn't exercise."

The beaches will reopen for exercise on Saturday morning. But the spokesman said council staff would consider closing them again if people flouted social distancing rules or were not using the beaches for exercise over the weekend.

NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said he was hoping for rainy weather to keep crowds away from reopened beaches.

"We hope people go down there and exercise, have a swim, then dry off and go home, and really give someone else the opportunity to go down to the beach."

All beaches in the Randwick area closed for three weeks from March 28. The council had reopened them on Monday, warning "sitting or sun-baking on the sand will not be permitted".

Crowds were also spotted at beachside spots around Bondi and Manly, which remain closed to prevent large crowds gathering.

A Bronte woman said there were many people sunbaking at nearby Gordon's Bay, between Coogee and Clovelly, which is also closed to swimmers.

The woman, who declined to be named, said several police came into the area at about 1.30pm and began moving people on.

She said lifeguards also passed by on jet skis to get people out on the water, adding the scene was an "absolute shame".

Randwick mayor Danny Said said at the time that sand jogging, swimming and surfing were allowed, however, there should be no sunbaking, sitting or gathering on the beaches. Ocean pools remain closed.

Cr Said urged beachgoers to "do the right thing, practice social distancing, exercise and let's keep safe".

From Tuesday, swimmers and surfers will be allowed back into the waters at Bondi and other Waverley Council beaches through strictly managed corridors on the sand.

Bondi Beach was closed on March 21 after images of thousands of sunbathers crowded on the sand sparked condemnation across the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNtaC5jb20uYXUvbmF0aW9uYWwvbnN3L2Nvb2dlZS1hbmQtbWFyb3VicmEtYmVhY2hlcy1zaHV0LWR1ZS10by1jcm93ZHMtMjAyMDA0MjQtcDU0bXo2Lmh0bWzSAWdodHRwczovL2FtcC5zbWguY29tLmF1L25hdGlvbmFsL25zdy9jb29nZWUtYW5kLW1hcm91YnJhLWJlYWNoZXMtc2h1dC1kdWUtdG8tY3Jvd2RzLTIwMjAwNDI0LXA1NG16Ni5odG1s?oc=5

2020-04-24 05:08:09Z
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