A local Coogee resident is the first to be fined for breaching new beach behaviour laws. The new laws were introduced to support social distancing guidelines in public spaces amidst the ongoing corona virus pandemic.

In recent weeks Randwick Council, which controls access to Coogee beach, took the decision to limit beach access for all activities except exercise. Randwick Mayor, Danny Said was reported as saying “Our message could not be simpler- Randwick City Beaches are to be used for exercise only. Not for leisure or to enjoy a paddle or a lovely view of the ocean, but for swimming, surfing or soft sand running”.

The Coogee man received a $1000 fine after rangers observed him displaying clear signs of “paddling” and “enjoyment” that constituted an act of leisure, not exercise. The Good Health Tribune managed to speak with the Ranger who issued the fine. “We were observing him for well over forty minutes. He was diligently jogging laps of the beach… I counted 12 laps, which is probably about 4km. He was clearly exercising intensely, and showed no outward signs of enjoyment, which is how exercise should be performed. But after completing his soft sand jogging, we observed the perpetrator enter the water and proceed to paddle about without a care in the world in a manner that could only be described in terms of enjoyment. We were appalled.

We moved quickly to apprehend him. A good thing too… as we approached him, we clearly observed him smiling. This guy wasn’t exercising. He was using the beach for leisure. Had we not intervened he may well have gone on to further contravene the Mayor’s orders by “stopping for a moment to enjoying a lovely ocean view”.

The speed at which this legislation was passed came as a surprise to many, but a source within NSW parliament explained that all that was required was a minor amendment to the Party Pooper act of 1973. Beach users are now being encouraged to maintain a negative demeanor at all times while on the beach to ensure that their behaviour isn’t mistaken for enjoyment or leisure.