Sydney beaches including Coogee and Maroubra CLOSE just five days after they re-opened for exercise because too many people flouted lockdown laws and packed the sand as temperatures hit 26C
- Randwick City beaches closed on Friday after crowds gathered on the sand
- Council warned it would be monitoring social distancing on the sand and water
- The closure comes five days after the beaches reopened for exercise
A number of Sydney beaches have been closed five days after they had reopened for exercise, after hundreds of people flocked to the sand to enjoy the 26C weather.
Randwick City beaches including Coogee, Maroubra and Clovelly were shut on Friday after large crowds made it difficult to follow safe social distancing practices.
Lifeguards and rangers were seen booting swimmers and sunbathers off the sand shortly after 1pm.
The move comes after the beaches reopened on Monday after being closed to the public on March 28 under COVID-19 restrictions.
'There were too many people on the sand and people were unable to follow safe social distancing practices so lifeguards and rangers are in the process of moving people off the beach now,' a council spokesperson said on Friday.
Earlier on Friday, the council warned beaches would be closed if beachgoers did not comply with rules. Pictured: Sunbathers leave Coogee beach
Lifeguards and rangers were seen booting swimmers and sunbathers off the sand shortly after 1pm on Friday
Randwick City beaches including Coogee (pictured) Maroubra and Clovelly were shut on Friday after large crowds made it difficult to follow safe social distancing practices
'We found there were too many people paddling at the shoreline for long periods of time, which reduces the amount of space available at the beach.
'We really need for people to swim their laps, surf or soft sand run for exercise, then leave immediately.'
Coogee, Clovelly and Maroubra beaches will be re-opened on Saturday and Sunday from 6am to 9am only for exercise, council said.
It will reassess the situation on Monday 27 April and all other unpatrolled beaches in Randwick City will remain closed until further notice.
Earlier on Friday the Randwick City Council announced it would be monitoring crowds on the sand and in the water over the weekend to ensure sunbathers were practicing social distancing.
Randwick Mayor Danny Said warned they would shut beaches if crowds became too difficult to control.
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'While we're expecting warm weather conditions this weekend, people should not be planning a day at the beach,' Mayor Said said on Friday.
'The stay-at-home public health orders remain in place, which require people to not leave their homes unless it is for essential reasons. This means people should not be hopping in their cars to travel to our beaches.'
Police are seen patrolling Coogee Beach after the beach was closed on Friday
Swimmers at Clovelly Beach (pictured) were ordered out of the water after crowds ignored social distancing rules
Officials had warned it was not a day 'to come to the beach and have a fun leisurely day'. Pictured: Clovelly Beach
Police officer looks on after swimmers were ordered from the water at Clovelly Beach on April 24
Dozens of sun-bakers and swimmers were forced off Maroubra Beach after too many people gathered on the sand and in the water
'If residents head to the beach, it should be to go for a quick swim, surf or soft sand run, then home again.
'Get fit and go, as we like to say. Our beaches are not open for leisure, they are available for exercise only.
'Once that has been complete, people must move on immediately,' the mayor said.
The council had reopened the beaches partly because coastal walkways and local parks were being crammed with walkers and runners eager for space.
'Water is a legitimate place for people to exercise, it's important for their mental health,' the council spokesman said on Friday.
'We want to keep it open for exercise but we can't if people keep coming down for a fun day.'
Mayor Randwick Mayor Danny Said told residents they should 'get fit and go' not linger
Beaches are not open for leisure, they are available for exercise only, the Mayor said. Pictured: Sunbathers leave Coogee beach after it closed
They'll reopen for the Anzac Day weekend with crowds to be closely monitored.
Beaches will not be re-opened unless lifeguards assess the situation to be safe.
Sun-baking or gathering on the sand is still banned while ocean pools - which closed with the beaches on March 28 - remain off-limits.
The reopening of the popular beaches was anticipated to be brief as lifeguards were threatening to shut it again after beachgoers continued to congregate in groups and sunbake on Tuesday.
Lifeguards were repeatedly required to make announcements along the beach, telling those on the sand not to sunbake - and everyone in the water they had to be swimming.
The reopening of Sydney's most famous beaches was anticipated to be brief with lifeguards already threatening to shut it again, after still having to tell people to abide by COVID-19 restrictions on Monday
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