This won’t be happening anytime soon. Photo: WSL/Jimmicane
According to reports, officials in Queensland beach towns have been struggling with the same realities as officials in California who have since closed state and county beaches: visitors packing local sand while neglecting to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Well, that’s all coming to a close now. Parts of the Gold Coast, including Superbank and other iconic surf spots along the stretch of coast, will be closed to visitors and locals. The closures will be enforced by police patrols.
“I didn’t want to do this, but over the weekend shows me that especially people visiting from Brisbane are not listening to us,” Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said of the closures that include Surfers Paradise, The Spit and Coolangatta. According to reports, locals will still have access to 50 kilometers of beach for exercise as long as they practice social distancing.
There isn’t an entirely clear picture painted by officials (they’re apparently still working out the details) regarding how police will enforce the closure to non-locals. But it comes ahead of the Easter weekend holiday that traditionally sees massive numbers of visitors to the area from Brisbane and beyond. Carparks in the area will be barricaded.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk added a sobering reminder to an already-sober situation as the country continues to work to flatten the curve. “It’s not the time to pack up and take your family to the beach — there is no holiday this year,” Palaszczuk said.
