Wollongong City Council staff are working this week to remove sand from car parks and pools ahead of the Easter long weekend. The car park at Austinmer Beach and coastal promenades at Port Kembla and Thirroul beaches have been covered in sand.
Thirroul Beach promenade was closed on March 31 for clean-up, while the Austinmer car park was closed on Thursday. Several beaches, including Fairy Meadow, Austinmer, City Beach, Towradgi and Scarborough, were closed as of Monday, with the Continental Pool not reopening until Thursday.
A council spokesperson identified Austinmer, Thirroul and Port Kembla as the worst-affected areas. Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown said crews are working to clean up public amenities, relocate sand safely and investigate beach conditions to ensure they are safe and accessible for the community.
Brown noted that weather could affect the clean-up progress. The council spokesperson added that patrolled beach closures may change this week due to the clean-up, and visitors to open beaches should be aware that sand and coastal conditions have changed. The spokesperson urged people not to enter the water if no flags are present.
