The council responsible for Bondi Beach will soon decide whether to reopen the famous strip of sand for exercise amid Australia's coronavirus shutdown.
The beach was closed almost a month ago after thousands of people packed the sand, defying coronavirus social-distancing rules.
Access to the beach is still blocked by a large cyclone fence, but exercise is allowed on the promenade and nearby grass.
Residents have complained some people in the area are still breaking NSW's COVID-19 shutdown laws, which set out specific reasons people can leave their homes.
The ABC this morning witnessed about 10 people sunbaking, some in groups, on rocks south of Bondi Beach.
They are the type of scenes Waverley Council want to avoid when people are allowed back on the beach.
"Council continues to closely review the situation at our beaches alongside restrictions in place," a spokeswoman said.
"We are however considering the aspirations of residents for access to the water for exercise.
"Council expects to advise the community in the near future as to whether a relaxation of restrictions is possible and, if so, what the likely timeframe for such a relaxation would be."
Images of thousands of people on the sand at Bondi in the early stages of the state's social-distancing shutdown went viral on social media and attracted widespread condemnation from politicians.
The spokeswoman said Waverley Council was speaking with NSW Police and Health about the possibility of reopening the beach.
"It is clear that public gatherings on beaches cannot be permitted," she said.
Most residents the ABC spoke with were in favour of Bondi reopening, with one even suggesting it could be safer.
"This boardwalk is pretty busy so it would create more space for people to do sports," one said.
Others said it was important thousands of people did not again crowd together on the sand.
"I'm a local and I could see it all out my window and I couldn't believe how stupid people could be, particularly watching what was unravelling across the world," another said.
Some beaches in Sydney's north remain open for exercise, as do several harbour beaches.
