Coronavirus QLD: Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate ramps up beach closure threat

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has doubled down on his threat to close beaches if crowds continue to gather on the Glitter Strip’s golden sands.

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate has doubled down on his threat to close beaches if crowds continue to gather on the Glitter Strip’s golden sands.

Cr Tate says CCTV cameras are monitoring beach numbers police and he will ‘absolutely’ shut beaches if too many people flock to them.

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He says police will be called and offenders also risk being shamed on social media.

His comments after The Courier-Mail published photos of large crowds on Surfers Paradise beach on Monday, some ignoring social distancing.

Crowds flock to Main Beach despite fears over the Covid-19 pandemic. Picture: Lea Emery

Cr Tate was also angry at people continuing to use outdoor gym equipment in foreshore parks.

“The Premier and I are at one on that and we’re monitoring that (potentially closing beaches),” he told a media conference on Tuesday.

“If they (beachgoers) can’t help themselves, we’ll have no choice.”

Cr Tate said Gold Coasters loved their beaches but urged them to stay home.

He said if they had to go to the beach to exercise, they should strictly observe the two person limit and practice social distancing.

Cr Tate warned that continuing breaches of restrictions could mean even harsher measures like those introduced overseas.

Closing the beaches completely would take away ‘the essence of the Gold Coast’, he said.

“Don’t make me do that,” he said.

“We don’t want to use any stick or hard infringement laws but if we head down that path we don’t have a choice “.