The easing of some COVID-19 restrictions in New South Wales from Friday 15 May 2020 will see the welcome return of many Randwick City Council outdoor facilities including playgrounds, outdoor gyms, basketball courts, skate parks and ocean pools, Randwick Mayor Danny Said announced today.

The facilities will progressively reopen commencing Friday morning.

Clovelly, Coogee, Maroubra, Malabar, Little Bay and La Perouse Beaches – previously accessible for exercise only – will now be accessible for general recreation provided social distancing is maintained and gatherings restricted to no more than 10 people. Beachside carparks will reopen.

Randwick City ocean pools – Geoff James Pool at Clovelly, Giles Baths and Ross Jones Pool at Coogee, Ivor Rowe Rock Pool at South Coogee, Mahon Pool in Maroubra and Malabar Ocean Pool – will reopen with swimmers limited to 10 at a time. Wylies Baths and McIver’s Ladies Baths will remain closed due to upgrade works and staffing limitations.

From Monday 18 May 2020 the outdoor pool at Des Renford Leisure Centre in Maroubra will reopen weekdays for up to eight swimmers at a time from 6am to 7pm. Swimmers will need to book allocated swim times.

Randwick City’s 57 playgrounds will also progressively reopen from Friday morning along with skate parks, bike tracks, basketball courts and outdoor gyms.

Mayor Danny Said reminded people that use of outdoor facilities will still require people to observe social distancing guidelines.

“The relaxation of some restrictions means we’re taking small, cautious steps towards life as we used to know it, but is not an indication that we should become complacent,” stated Mayor Said.

“The coronavirus is still part of our lives, and so it is vitally important that people maintain the social distancing protocols we have become used to these past few months. That is, stay at home if you feel unwell, wash or sanitise your hands regularly, keep 1.5m distance between yourself and others and sneeze or cough into your elbow.

“This is especially the case if you choose to use shared spaces such as skate parks or basketball courts or when touching items that others have recently used, as is the case with playgrounds and outdoor gyms. If at any point an area looks busy or full, we ask that people use common sense and use the facility at another time.”