26 April 2020

Bar Beach car park remains closed

| Sharon Kelley
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Merimbula's Bar Beach and surrounding landscape.

Merimbula’s Bar Beach and its car park remain closed in the interests of public health due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Supplied.

The Bega Valley Local Emergency Management Committee has announced the Bar Beach car park at Merimbula will remain closed in the interests of community health.

NSW Police Chief Inspector Peter Volf said most people are doing the right thing during enforced measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the restricted space of Bar Beach combined with the attitude of a few people has made management of the area a challenge.

“In most spots, people are doing the right thing and sticking to the rules around physical distancing and the size of gatherings,” said Chief Inspector Volf. “We’ll review the closure regularly and will certainly lift the restriction when the time is right.”

Mitchies Jetty at Merimbula is also a location where the region’s current success against COVID-19 could be placed at risk. Regular police patrols will continue to monitor gatherings in all locations.

While the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Bega Valley has remained stable for more than two weeks, the community needs to remain vigilant about the virus.

“Access to all our other beaches remain open so people can stay physically and mentally healthy during this challenging time, but we still need to remember the health advice,” said Chief Inspector Volf.

“Thank you to those who have heard the message and respected our decision.”

People in the community are permitted to exercise for short periods while practicing social distancing and not gathering in groups, with a limit on two people together unless it is immediate family.

Police patrols of popular locations are ongoing, and officers will be talking to members of the public to share advice and answer questions.

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