More Sydney beaches closed

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
Swellnet Dispatch

Though lifesaver patrols in NSW ceased over the weekend, councils have begun patrolling their beaches in a different way.

Yesterday, a number of Sydney's Northern Beaches were closed when the visitor number "exceeded stipulated limits", according to Northern Beaches Council. Shelly Beach, Manly, Queenscliff, Freshwater, Curl Curl, Warriewood, Mona Vale, and North Palm Beach were all shut to the public.

This follows the closure of all Eastern Suburb beaches the weekend before. However, unlike the beaches in Sydney's east, which all remain closed, the closures in the north are temporary. Each of them re-opened today.

Surfers find themselves in a tough predicamant. To date, the closure of beaches has largely been based upon how many people are gathered on the sand or adjacents parks, yet closure is total: no-one allowed on the sand, no-one allowed in the water either.

This is causing bottlenecks at surrounding areas, particularly the far Northern Beaches of Sydney and those of the Illawarra south of Sydney. If you're a surfer and your local beach is closed, how far is too far to travel for exercise? There's no mention of distance in the government-issued guidelines, though it should be noted a number of people have already been fined for not having a good reason for driving.

Wollongong City Council has rangers patrolling all their beaches reminding people of the exercise guidelines - no loitering, no sunbaking, no gatherings of three or more - but also counting the number of people on any one beach. A spokesperson for Wollongong City Council told Swellnet they were working off a maximum of 500 people for any beach. That is, the sum of all people in the water, on the sand, and in adjacent parks and carparks.

The figure is loose, some beaches are larger than others, however the take home message is clear: the council is watching the beaches closely, and it's safe to assume all coastal councils are doing the same.

With a large number of people out of work and the Easter break approaching the problem is sure to be repeated this weekend.

Meanwhile, across the ditch, New Zealand is in Stage 4 lockdown which means no outside exercise, including surfing, with no exceptions. The New Zealand government has drafted new laws to punish offenders. Yesterday, six people were caught surfing at Piha Beach, west of Auckland, all were caught by police and let off with a warning.

Comments

Pops's picture
Pops's picture
Pops Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 9:04am

Would the beach closures stop you from rocking off at the nearest headland and paddling down to the break (without setting foot on the sand)?

AndyM's picture
AndyM's picture
AndyM Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 10:47am

Waiting for the crackdown on Northern NSW beaches and/or NSW-Qld border movements.

Over 50 4WDs on 7 Mile Beach yesterday, most with Qld plates, has stirred up local and state governments.

Vans appear to have been moved on from local carparks but would be interesting to confirm this.

theinsider's picture
theinsider's picture
theinsider Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 12:24pm

lots of punters rolling into Byron atm. They close Broken carpark so all of the vanpackers move into a different area, Suffolk Park is now chockers. I walked into Whites from a neighbouring property on Sat and saw at least twenty cars, mostly all punters, ignoring to No Parking signs & barriers and parking illegally. People are either stupid or they just don't care.

AndyM's picture
AndyM's picture
AndyM Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 12:39pm

Both.

Young crew around here still hugging and shaking hands and hanging out in groups.

To be fair, when you see the lack of government enforcement and the subsequent amount of people clearly travelling long distances, it's no wonder people aren't taking it seriously.

gill69's picture
gill69's picture
gill69 Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 7:34pm

Yep, council is meeting tomorrow regarding the bogan 4WD's on the beach, however this has been a problem all summer with the dickheads driving all over the dunes.
Vans have been moved on but it didnt stop the hoards from north of Ballina descending on surf south of Ballina over the weekend.

Hulk Junior's picture
Hulk Junior's picture
Hulk Junior Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 10:52am

"Insular Peninsula" on roids.

donweather's picture
donweather's picture
donweather Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 10:53am

This is exactly why we all need to listen and act on the social distancing. So if you rock up the beach and the carpark is already full and so is the line up, don't go out there. Find somewhere else, otherwise we will all be fcked when they close all beaches!!! Don't ruin it for everyone....be sensible and think outside the box.

Rumours bouncing around about Qld beaches over easter!!!

surfiebum's picture
surfiebum's picture
surfiebum Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 11:25am

They are going to have to close them over Easter, otherwise half of Brissie will be on the SC and the other half on the GC. Crowds on the SC over the weekend were just insane, if the weather stays like this Easter is going to be a shitshow of transmission.

Hastoes's picture
Hastoes's picture
Hastoes Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 10:57am

Yep plenty of new faces on my local beach on the weekend. I live on the tweed shire . Lots of qld plates in the car park. Pretty tough to know what’s happening based on number plates living within a border town . I’m still adhering to the logic of not driving anywhere for a surf. Keeping it local so I don’t crowd other spots . Wish others would do the same. I’ve never subscribed to the idea of localism , but I bloody do now ! Stay in your immediate local area . If it’s not ideal for surfing then go for a body board or a swim . Don’t go to the normal busy spots .

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 10:59am

Haven't seen it myself, but have been told the police are patrolling Tweed Coast hotspots and moving along those with Qld plates.

donweather's picture
donweather's picture
donweather Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 11:31am

Hang on, how can they do this? NSW borders still open. No law passed against exercising (yet).

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 11:35am

I don't know the specifics. But if you're from Brisbane or the Gold Coast, the Tweed Coast is a pretty long distance to travel to 'excercise'.

donweather's picture
donweather's picture
donweather Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 11:51am

Coolly would hardly be long distance to the Tweed. And you could easily use the logic that gold coast was too busy to exercise so you came to a more remote location like the Tweed to exercise and social distance.

Anyway I don't have a problem with what the cops are doing so long as they're consistent and reasonable within the current laws. My point really is we all shouldn't be relying on the cops to enforce social distancing. We ALL have an obligation to do this in our every day to day activities we do.

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 11:58am

You can't view this (and the resulting decisions) through the lens of a surfer. 

Otherwise, where do you draw the line? 

(FWIW, most of the time I don't think surfers are the problem, it's beachgoers in general).

Growing up in SA, we thought nothing of driving ~250km every day in the hope of getting a surf. Day trips to Yorkes (3.5 hours each way) are a regular occcurence. 

But this is all aside from the fact that it's a little unfair for Qld surfers to be able to travel south as they please, but Northern NSW surfers being turned away at the border. Any kind of travel restrictions should go both ways. Otherwise, our small towns are exposed to a disproportional risk.

halleys-comet's picture
halleys-comet's picture
halleys-comet Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 11:12am

Re Nz situation; Stage 4 lock down, we are allowed to go "locally" to exercise ie walk or cycle. Surfing, swimming, fishing, hiking, hunting banned as of Saturday 4th.

GODS QUAD's picture
GODS QUAD's picture
GODS QUAD Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 11:27am

Absolute shit show here on the NB over the weekend. Manly was heaving from the early hours. Heard reports from mates of mine that a few surfers were even fined $1000 for being too close to each other, at another beach further north.

Honestly, until they actually close the beaches and ban surfing during this quarantine period, nothing will change, unfortunately.

Hastoes's picture
Hastoes's picture
Hastoes Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 11:34am

..

Sprout's picture
Sprout's picture
Sprout Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 11:39am

Hope they shut it down up here too.
-----------
Gold Coast beaches will close to deter Easter visitors

The beaches at Surfers Paradise, The Spit and Coolangatta on the Gold Coast will close from midnight on Tuesday to deter travellers seeking the sand.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said he had been speaking to local police who pulled drivers over at the weekend, and there was a concerning number who told officers they were travelling to the beach from Brisbane.

“I’ve just got to look at the health issue. The curve is starting to flatten, this is not the time to relax and let it bounce back. We’ve just got to kill it off," he said.

Plastic barricades will be made available to police with more in storage if required.
-----------

surfiebum's picture
surfiebum's picture
surfiebum Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 12:04pm

Yep, shut Kings, Mba, Alex and Noosa - actually send the message not to come up here.

Eugene Green's picture
Eugene Green's picture
Eugene Green Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 11:43am

Funny how when there is a shark attack or sighting and an inreased chance of getting attacked crowds drop right off but if there is a chance of spreading a potentially deadly virus to others, crowds remain or increase.

chook's picture
chook's picture
chook Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 11:45am

apparently mackenzies (next to tamarama) was packed on the weekend.

i just don't understand it. i'm having trouble coming up with anything that i wouldn't give up for a few months to avoid possibly spending weeks unable to sleep, in a fever hallucinating, coughing blood from my lungs...and maybe slowly drowning in my own mucus...or inflicting such things on my girlfriend and others.

Hastoes's picture
Hastoes's picture
Hastoes Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 11:47am
chook's picture
chook's picture
chook Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 12:06pm

"https://imgur.com/NlgXpuG"

mmm...some nice assses there. back in a minute...

Hastoes's picture
Hastoes's picture
Hastoes Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 12:38pm

Hahaha

brownie48's picture
brownie48's picture
brownie48 Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 12:04pm

It at least needs to be locked down to your local council area, that way it is much safer than what is happening now.

People from the eastern suburbs and now northern beaches are going to screw it for everyone else in Sydney the way they have travelled everywhere else, the south coast has become a nightmare

I have not left my local area and will not until this is over, stop being selfish knobs and stay in your own area and too bad if the beach is closed, deal with it. If my area is closed I will just suck it up and that will be my contribution to finishing this deadly virus.

tango's picture
tango's picture
tango Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 5:54pm

Yep, just staying local is the easiest and most straight-forward way to deal with this. Every twit can understand that, surely.

If you don't live near the beach, too bad. Stay in your council area or, even better, your postcode. In your own community. Don't visit other places and risk spreading it.

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 1:08pm

Goldie bans Brizzo / Logan Boganz (Above re: Thanx Sprout)
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-06/coronavirus-queensland-close-gold...

WOTD South Straddie TOS (MB Marine Park) is well outta bounds...
TOS falls within Moreton Bay Habitat protection Zone of Marine Park

Pretty sure the Tinnie is ok for catching dinner (Not a Taxi to Closed MP)
tbb is not saying WOTD photo is recent ... just a helpful reminder!
(Island) Bans > TOS 26 March + The Spit 8 April
The Spit has a history of being closed down...
Big Seas, Fires, Shooting Range, Air Drome-Landing Strip, Bombing Range, Air Ships, Military Ships, Concerts, Polo, Boat Races, Protests, Stolenwealth baton relay blockade, Cop Stings (Endless), Movie Set, Marathon, Dream World Tigers Beach, Car Racing, Surf Qld State Titles....

Be interesting to see if they ban Goldie #1 Dive Spot
Gold Coast Spit is also Oz largest #1 Dog Surfing Reserve
That's lot of dog poo to shovel into Main Beach or wherever.

https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/moreton-bay/about.html
https://www.bnbfishing.com.au/camping-closures-for-easter-2020-in-queens...

maka2000's picture
maka2000's picture
maka2000 Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 12:44pm

this is ridiculous. Currently they are practicing their power on new zealand sheep as kiwis are more conservative and scared of any shit , soon they put this lockdown 4 on us, just watch them, those muppets in governments are just exercising their powers and use the bs covid19 as an excuse, no wander why people are shitting on those new restrictions as they've already had a lots of shit in their lives and now those muppets telling them what to do and where to walk actually not to walk , what's next, tax on air? coupons for masturbation? 1x coupon = 1x wank?

epictard's picture
epictard's picture
epictard Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 10:39pm

"1x coupon = 1x wank'
Can we get a discounted yearly subscription for unlimited wanks?

maka2000's picture
maka2000's picture
maka2000 Tuesday, 7 Apr 2020 at 8:43am

I'm sure those grubby c@nts will do discounted wank coupons with colored selection just to make your existence a lilbit sweeter.

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 1:00pm

Manly (whole), Dee Why, Shelly closed until the end of the Long Weekend.

Halfscousehalfcockneyfullaussie's picture
Halfscousehalfcockneyfullaussie's picture
Halfscousehalfc... Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 1:15pm

well the crowds on the central coast were insane on the weekend. Few Sydney people up too I reckon adding to the crowds. Bloke got bit by a shark at Wambi today too. I think he’s ok. Heaps of bait fish in the lineup

Halfscousehalfcockneyfullaussie's picture
Halfscousehalfcockneyfullaussie's picture
Halfscousehalfc... Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 1:19pm

Terrigal, umina and Avoca might be closed this long weekend if the trend continues

maka2000's picture
maka2000's picture
maka2000 Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 1:33pm

That's it, those muppets closing norther beaches from Tuesday to end of heaster weekend and might be more after it. FUCKING NAZIS!

Ape Anonymous's picture
Ape Anonymous's picture
Ape Anonymous Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 1:38pm

Oh man.. scariest thing is how subjective the laws are - no proper definitions - all the power of discretion is given to the cops. Mao Tse Tung, 'all this power is as useless as cow dung, the only real power comes from the barrel of a gun'. God save us, and the queen of coarse!

Ape Anonymous's picture
Ape Anonymous's picture
Ape Anonymous Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 1:45pm

Why do I get the feeling this is only the begging of the 'boogieman' policy and social controls?

Nigeisblessed's picture
Nigeisblessed's picture
Nigeisblessed Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 2:44pm

I got some lucky little nice ones on the weekend, by myself. Challenge for all these beach closures and us surfers is if the surf gets crankin' I imagine it'll be hard to keep people out of the water at Snapper if it's 6ft and perfect at any stage. I've been lucky where I am that we have a pile of good banks at the moment as long as the wind blows offshore and we can surf and easily observe the restrictions - dunno how that'll go if we get some perfection though.

Nigeisblessed's picture
Nigeisblessed's picture
Nigeisblessed Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 2:46pm

Kinda unrelated this - but a bit of a laugh;

EMPLOYEE NOTICE

Due to the current financial situation caused by the Corona Virus and slowdown in the economy, the Government has decided to implement a scheme to put workers of 50 years of age and above on early, mandatory retirement, thus creating jobs and reducing unemployment.

This scheme will be known as RAPE (Retire Aged People Early).

Persons selected to be RAPED can apply to the Government to be considered for the SHAFT program (Special Help After Forced Termination).

Persons who have been RAPED and SHAFTED will be reviewed under the SCREW program (System Covering Retired-Early Workers).

A person may be RAPED once, SHAFTED twice and SCREWED as many times as the Government deems appropriate.

Persons who have been RAPED could get AIDS (Additional Income for Dependents & Spouse) or HERPES (Half Earnings for Retired Personnel Early Severance).

Obviously persons who have AIDS or HERPES will not be SHAFTED or SCREWED any further by the Government.

Persons who are not RAPED and are staying on will receive as much SHIT (Special High Intensity Training) as possible. The Government has always prided themselves on the amount of SHIT they give our citizens.

Should you feel that you do not receive enough SHIT, please bring this to the attention of your TD, who has been trained to give you all the SHIT you can handle.

Sincerely,
The Committee for Economic Value of Individual Lives (E.V.I.L.)

PS - Due to Corona Virus, recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas and oil, as well as current market conditions, The Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off.

tango's picture
tango's picture
tango Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 5:58pm

Nige, if you think jokes about rape are funny, you are indeed a fuckwit. The rest of it wasn't much chop, either. Have another hot one and think again.

Nigeisblessed's picture
Nigeisblessed's picture
Nigeisblessed Tuesday, 7 Apr 2020 at 10:02am

Really? If you think that's a joke about rape you just need to lighten up, guess you've never accidentally offended anyone before, forgot about your perfection Tango. Thanks for getting personal, you know nothing about me to make a judgement on whether I'm a fuckwit or not. Won't you don't know is that I've spent the last five years of my life working with victims of trauma and abuse and all the resulting crap that their lives become.

What that was, is a play on words not a comment on rape or any other type of abuse. I won't judge you and call you names and maybe you should consider the same - I don't smoke hot ones either, save your judgements.

However, if anyone found this distasteful, I do apologise, it's intention is not to offend. As stated I'm laughing at the play on words not laughing at a joke about rape.

tango's picture
tango's picture
tango Tuesday, 7 Apr 2020 at 11:16am

Well, Nige,
1) You use an acronym deliberately designed to say RAPE.
2) You then say "..be RAPED..." and a few others mentions of it.
3) You write it up as a joke.

Apology noted, but work history suggests you should know better.

It isn't a pun and it isn't funny, so I do look forward to your next hilarious contribution.

maka2000's picture
maka2000's picture
maka2000 Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 7:27pm

ahaa-hhaaa, true, very true, all rapped and shafted .

scottishsponger's picture
scottishsponger's picture
scottishsponger Tuesday, 7 Apr 2020 at 9:46am

That's quite possibly the worst post I've ever read on any web page and also the least funny. How old are you? Take your juvenile unfunny rape jokes somewhere else. And wash your hands.

69longboarder's picture
69longboarder's picture
69longboarder Monday, 6 Apr 2020 at 9:51pm

So I watch this leading honcho on viral vaccine being interviewed in Sweden, and he comes on and says that it takes at least five years (at best)to develop a vaccine for a corona type virus.
Get comfortable peeps. This ride is going to be a long one, and when we get off, I am afraid of the changes being forced on us.
What's the bet we will see things like a cashless society come of this.
Your hands are dirty...... the cash spreads the virus from hand to hand........ lets get rid of it for the sake of mankind.........
Sounds goofy?
Maybe not?

Groper's picture
Groper's picture
Groper Tuesday, 7 Apr 2020 at 1:29pm

Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order 2020 [NSW]

Part 2 Movement
(4) Taking a holiday in a regional area is not a reasonable excuse.

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Wednesday, 8 Apr 2020 at 12:01pm

Gawd.

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Monday, 20 Apr 2020 at 6:23pm

Monday 20th April Sydney Beaches start to reopen...
*Coogee
*Maroubra
*Clovelly - Yarra Bay All Open

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-19/coronavirus-randwick-reopens-coog...

*Newcastle to Umina lifts ban on Swimming , running & Surfing

*Sutherland Shire (Lifeguards are doing Head Counts)

* Bondi Surfing is ok by Rock Paddle out only / No Swimming (Beach Closed)
Recall Swimmers taking over Surfer's Zone ...Well Surfers got whole beach now.

*Central Coast Beaches Open
https://7news.com.au/news/health/bondi-shut-but-some-sydney-beaches-reop...