Continue social distancing guidelines and don’t drop your guard, warns mayor

WITH unseasonably warm weather forecast for the end of the week northern Illawarra residents are reminded to continue to follow social and physical distancing guidelines.

From today (Friday), Wollongong City Council will, once again, limit car parking at Bald Hill and close Sublime Point and Mt Keira Lookouts for the weekend. The Flagstaff Hill car parks will also close.

Social distancing requirements are in a place for the kiosk and amenities at Bald Hill which remain open.

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said between the weather, Anzac Day and the school holidays people may be tempted to drop their guard against the Government-mandated steps to reduce the risk and spread of coronavirus.

“We’ve been very fortunate in Australia and our city because the steps we’ve taken here in terms of social and physical distancing seem to be paying off. We need to keep up the good work and continue to follow the Government advice to mitigate the risk of this devastating virus,’’ he said.

“Ordinarily, this would be the time of year we’re talking about the end of our swim season and the past summer,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

“Instead in the midst of more extraordinary circumstances where we’re asking people to consider the foreshore and beach as an area for exercising only, not socialising, and to be mindful of others when they’re there. And we’re asking people to not swim because we’ve removed the patrols early from the beaches. This means no flags, no swim.

“At Council, we’re continuing to respond to Government advice regarding social isolation and distancing in the delivery of all our services and we ask our community to do the same. We’re essentially asking people to support one another and to work together to protect our community’s vulnerable members.’’

Flags continues to remain down on Council’s 17 patrolled beaches, with the traditional end of season date of April 26 falling this weekend. The season ordinarily runs from September to April.

“We know people are out, exercising in our beach precincts and we’re reminding people to continue to follow the Government’s advice. We need to continue to work together and do the right thing,’’ Cr Bradbery said.

Dog owners are also reminded that after Anzac Day access to on-leash, timed access beaches will change from before 9am and after 6pm to before 9am and after 4pm for winter.