Playgrounds, skateparks, outdoor gyms and pools open with restrictions

Following the advice of the State and Federal Governments, Northern Beaches residents will see phase one easing of restrictions starting Friday, as Council cautiously re-opens some facilities closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Playgrounds and outdoor gyms will re-open with limits on gatherings of ten people. Social distancing requirements of 1.5m remain in place. We ask anyone using outdoor gyms to please train safely and wipe down equipment before and after use.

We strongly recommend that parents and guardians closely monitor social distancing in the playgrounds and help their children with hygiene before and after using equipment.

Our beautiful ocean and harbour pools are re-opening to all swimmers, with a limit of 10 people in the pool at one time.

The Manly and Warringah Aquatic Centres will again open their doors to allow swimming in outdoor pools only, and a booking system will be introduced, to ensure we comply with NSW Government restrictions of one person per lane up to a maximum of 10 people.

The temporary beach car parking restrictions of one hour will be lifted, with residents beach parking stickers again valid. However, 10-minute parking outside local businesses to facilitate takeaway pickups will remain in force.

We ask everyone to abide the new restrictions for their safety and the safety of others. We are rolling out new signage across the area and will be working to Police to monitor our public areas, acknowledging that the government restrictions will be challenging to monitor at every location.

NSW Police are the regulatory authority for all the government restrictions – if you have concerns about people doing the wrong thing you can call Crimestoppers in 1800 333 000 or report it here.

More broadly, from Friday, the following will be permitted in NSW:

outdoor gatherings of up to 10 peoplecafes and restaurants can seat 10 patrons at any one timeup to 5 visitors to a household at any one timeweddings up to 10 guestsindoor funerals up to 20 mourners, outdoor funerals up to 30religious gatherings/places of worship up to 10 worshippersuse of outdoor equipment (including outdoor gyms and playgrounds) withoutdoor pools open with restrictions.

Residents are urged to continue to practise physical distancing and good handwashing hygiene. If you have even the mildest symptoms, you should stay at home, not socialise and get tested for COVID-19 at one of the many pop up clinics, including those operating on the Northern Beaches.

We encourage everyone to continue do the right thing to help stop the spread of the virus. The longer we follow the restrictions, the less time we’re likely to have them in place.