Outrage over double standards as hundreds of revellers ignore the 'vax picnic' rule and gather in large groups to eat and drink at Sydney's beaches - while restrictions are heavily enforced in the western suburbs

  • Hundreds of revellers have appeared on Sydney's beaches despite lockdown
  • North Bondi and Manly beach fronts seen covered with locals in large groups 
  • NSW Police officers arrived at 7.30pm in Bondi to break up the festivities 
  • Sydneysiders are set to be eased out of strict lockdown restrictions in October 
  • Many of city's residents doing it tough during lockdown reacted with outrage

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Photographs of packed Sydney beaches in the city's east have sparked outrage among residents living out west where Covid lockdown restrictions are being strictly enforced.

Video taken about 6pm on Friday at the famous grassy knoll in North Bondi showed hundreds of locals gathering in large groups overlooking the beach - with no police in sight.  

But by 7.30pm officers had arrived to break up the festivities - with scores packing up and leaving the park. 

Footage taken at North Bondi in the city's eastern suburbs on Friday evening showed locals gathered in large groups on a grassy knoll

Footage taken at North Bondi in the city's eastern suburbs on Friday evening showed locals gathered in large groups on a grassy knoll

Locals were also out in full force to enjoy the Friday evening weather at Manly Beach on the city's northern beaches

Locals were also out in full force to enjoy the Friday evening weather at Manly Beach on the city's northern beaches

By 7.30pm though at North Bondi officers had arrived to break up the festivities - with hundreds seen packing up and leaving the park
Police arrived later in the evening to disperse the revellers

By 7.30pm though at North Bondi officers had arrived to break up the festivities - with hundreds seen packing up and leaving the park

Large crowds of people could also be seen having a drink and catching up with friends at Manly Beach on the city's northern beaches. 

Sydneysiders are just weeks away from enjoying relaxed lockdown restrictions once 70 per cent of NSW's eligible population is fully vaccinated - which is set for October 11. 

But residents for now are still only allowed to gather in groups of two outdoors, or in groups of up to five in outdoor public spaces if they are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. 

Many who are banned from leaving their own local government areas in western Sydney were furious after the images from Manly and Bondi Beach emerged on Friday night.  

Many of the city's residents doing it tough during lockdown reacted with outrage after images from Manly and Bondi Beach emerged on Friday night

Many of the city's residents doing it tough during lockdown reacted with outrage after images from Manly and Bondi Beach emerged on Friday night

'What is happening along Bondi and other places in the east is an absolute joke,' one said.

'What a slap in the face to us sacrificing by doing the right things out west. We either have rules or we don’t? Who's checking their vax status? Who's policing RSA? What a double standard!'

Another Sydneysider could not understand why those gathered in Bondi and Manly weren't being more heavily monitored by police.  

'Tell me how I got fined $1000 two nights ago for forgetting to check in at a 711 -with my mask on - across from my house and these people are allowed to do this in Bondi,' one said.

Many of the city's residents doing it tough in the western suburbs said the photos showed a double standard

Many of the city's residents doing it tough in the western suburbs said the photos showed a double standard

The government's roadmap to freedom allows a moderate easing of restrictions when the double-dose rate hits 70 per cent including the return of pubs, gyms and hair salons with strict density requirements. 

International travel and interstate travel may also be on the cards for those who have been double jabbed alongside larger community events such as sport. 

NSW recorded 1,043 new cases of Covid on Friday with 1,186 people in hospital and 232 in ICU. 11 deaths were recorded.

There is currently 84 per cent of the eligible population in the state who have received one dose of vaccine, with 56 per cent fully vaccinated.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) warned opening up the state will be done with caution to avoid an influx of cases being hospitalised

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) warned opening up the state will be done with caution to avoid an influx of cases being hospitalised 

The state is on track to hit 80 per cent fully vaccinated just two weeks after the first 70 per cent milestone is reached on October 11.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned that opening up the state could cause an influx of cases in hospital so caution needed to be taken during the easing of restrictions.

'I am always wary of using terms like 'freedom day' because when we start to open up it must be step-by-step,' she said during Friday's press conference.

'It must be done cautiously and we must remember that even though people may be fully vaccinated, if you are vulnerable and have other conditions you can still succumb and get the disease in a serious way, or worse.'

Bondi Beach: Outrage over double standards as video shows Sydney's east packed with revellers

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