UPDATED STORY: 24 September 2021 Northern Beaches Council is welcoming swimmers back to its two aquatic centres from Monday 27 September following the easing of restrictions by the NSW Government.
At this stage, full vaccination status does not seem to be be a requirement for entry, though Council awaits information from the Public Health Orders to determine whether this will change.
- a max of 120 people at Manly and 50 people at Warringah permitted under the 4sqm restrictions
- swimming sessions limited to 60 minutes (arrive, swim, leave)
- limits on gatherings of two unless from the same household, or five if all are fully vaccinated (not including children 12 and under)
- the return of the squad program
For more details on conditions of entry will be available shortly at: https://www.northernbeaches.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/swimming-pools
See our previous story on this topic from earlier this week:
20 September 2021: Northern Beaches Council is gearing up to open its aquatic centre outdoor pools – and hopefully all of its indoor pools and other facilities bar the spa and sauna areas soon after.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the announcement yesterday that from Monday 27 September outdoor pools across NSW will be able to open, provided councils have a stringent COVID safety plan approved by NSW Health. Natural pools (like our many rock pools) are already permitted to be open.
Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said he was aware that Council staff had already been pushing Health to open up pools and said they had their COVID plans in place – waiting approval – to make it happen the second the State gives them the green light.
“As soon as we get the nod from Health we will let everyone know what the rules are,” he said last night.
The rules will depend on the health orders, but will likely require vaccination for those 16 and up. The aquatic centres will operate a booking system based on the allowable number of people per square metre.
Privately the Mayor says he has been pushing – with the Health Minister and other local MPs – for opening up pools and using their Council template as a model for other councils to work with. “It’s great to see the Minister have a win and get the pools open,” he said.
“Council has also been active with the State MPs to see what other assistance we can provide to Health to get us and the state opened up as quickly and safely as possible. Back to business is a great example of that partnership.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said in a statement: “The NSW Government is determined to ensure everyone can benefit from increasing vaccination rates. Outdoor pools are part of Australian life, and enjoying a Summer splash no matter where you live is a big plus for families.”
As at Monday 20 September all local aquatic centres were still listed as closed. We will update this article with relevant booking links once the aquatic centres officially open.
