WHILE the weather may not be welcoming, the Airlie Beach lagoon is open for business with new, larger limits on entry.

Under the government’s three-stage road map to recovery, swimming pools and lagoons could open from Saturday with attendees limited to 10 people at one time.

However, on Friday evening Whitsunday Regional Council received approval for an exemption that now allows 50 people in the lagoon and 50 people around the outside.

Social distancing measures are still in place and the lagoon will be monitored by lifeguards and security guards to ensure people are obeying the rules.

Whitsunday Regional Council Director of community services Julie Wright said the lagoon’s first weekend of operation was positive.

“At no time did we have more than the 50 on the outside and 50 in the lagoon,” she said.

“If we had stayed reduced at 10, we would have had to ask people to wait or go do something else and then come back.

“We are very, very lucky to have 50 people.”

Ms Wright urged residents to be patient with the changes and co-operate with staff in order to keep everyone safe.

“If the weather improves and for some reason we have 50 in the lagoon and the guards advise you that you can’t go in, don’t be angry with guards,” she said.

“It’s the rules Queensland Health have made and we have to abide by them.”