With school holidays set to start this afternoon, Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba is asking the community to stay COVID-safe at the city’s beaches and pools.

The Oak Flats 50m and toddler pools reopen tomorrow, Saturday 26 September. Patrols of Shellharbour North Beach and Warilla Central Beach will also begin.

Beverley Whitfield ocean pool in Shellharbour Village will be patrolled daily throughout the September-October school holidays starting this Saturday. It will then be patrolled on weekends until 19 December, when daily patrols will resume for the summer holidays.

Warilla and Albion Park pools will open 26 October. Patrols at the city’s other beaches begin in December (see table below for details).

Cr Saliba said it was important for people to comply with NSW Health restrictions in order to keep the city’s pools and beaches open.

“Unfortunately, this is shaping up to be a very different summer than normal. Our highest priority is keeping people safe,” Cr Saliba said.

“To do this, we need people to follow the rules. Our key messages are ‘swim and go’, ‘surf and go’, and maintaining a 1.5m distance from others, or a ‘towel-length’ apart. Like all of NSW, public gatherings of more than 20 people are not permitted,” Cr Saliba said.

To help reinforce the COVID-safety messaging, signage is being placed at key access points to primary swimming areas at the beaches.

Council’s social media team has created a fun video featuring Council lifeguards to help spread key COVID-safe messages: https://www.shellharbour.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/beaches-and-pools/oak-f...

While lifeguards will be providing reminders to patrons about social distancing, NSW Police are responsible for enforcing public health orders.

Considerations on COVID safety will be ongoing and visitation numbers will be closely monitored.

In terms of pool safety, Shellharbour City Council pools have automatic chemical dosing systems that meet NSW Health standards.

Staff are taking extra precautions by completing regular manual testing throughout the day to ensure automatic dosing systems are performing optimally.

NSW Health has advised that there is currently no evidence that COVID-19 is spread through appropriately treated swimming pool water.

Increased cleaning and maintenance of pool surrounds, bathroom facilities and surfaces will be conducted to further minimise risk.

SCHEDULE FOR POOL OPENINGS AND PATROLS

Media enquiries: Kelli Wells 0448 361 008