Queensland’s 'joke’ lockdown as thousands pack beaches, go maskless

Thousands of Queenslanders have defied strict restrictions on day one of the lockdown, packing beaches and refusing to don masks. SEE THE PICTURES

Thousands of locked-down Queenslanders have defied strict ‘stay-at-home’ orders, flocking to southeast Queensland beaches, ignoring mask mandates and social distancing requirements.

Beaches at Noosa were packed with school holiday-makers who took the snap three-day lockdown as invitation to spend a day lazing on the beach or go surfing.

Photos reveal hundreds of people filling the sand, without masks and clearly defying the lockdown restrictions which gives only four reasons to leave home - for essential supplies, to care for a vulnerable person, for essential work or for exercise.

Beachgoers at Noosa during day 1 of Queensland's snap lockdown. Picture Lachie Millard

Sunshine Coast police were kept busy dishing out warnings to those flouting the restrictions as Queensland faces a serious outbreak of the highly-contagious Delta strain.

The Sunshine Coast has been an epicentre of the outbreak with a Covid-positive miner visiting multiple locations around the region while unknowingly infectious with the Delta strain after she contracted the virus at an NT gold mine.

Surfers flock to the Noosa during the lockdown. Picture Lachie Millard

Minutes after Coast police addressed the media about the lockdown this morning, a Maroochydore police officer was seen warning rule breakers and handing out face masks at Cotton Tree Esplanade.

Three men had been sitting on the rock wall for at least half an hour and were returning to their van when an officer stopped them to dish out a warning and face masks.

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart has urged both tourists and local residents to do the right thing during the lockdown.

“I have huge faith in our community and we have done this before, but to hear reports that people are failing to wear masks and congregating at beaches is disappointing,” Cr Stewart said.

“We can ill afford to have an extended lockdown, so I again urge everyone to comply with the directives.”

Sunshine Coast surf breaks were full. Picture Lachie Millard

The lockdown will continue until Friday night. Picture Lachie Millard

The beaches on the Sunshine Coast were very busy. Picture Lachie Millard

On the Gold Coast, beaches were also busy and police reported many flouting the mask mandate.

It prompted Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate to slam locals for ignoring the lockdown restrictions.

“The vast majority of residents are doing the right thing but I am staggered to hear of people in coffee shops, at hardware stores and sitting side-by-side in pedestrian malls without a mask,” he said.

“The Premier announced a three-day lockdown so we can hopefully stop this latest outbreak before it becomes widespread.

“I know masks may feel uncomfortable for some and they may seem like an inconvenience to others.

“But think of the small businesses who have their entire livelihoods on the line. It’s about respect and manners.”

Surfers Paradise wakes up to its first day in lockdown due to the latest CoVid-19 scare. Crowds walking around Narrowneck without masks. Photo: Glenn Hampson

Despite the warning, Gold Coasters were still refusing to mask up.

At a 7-Eleven petrol station at Gaven, a mask wearing customer noticed only half of the six others in the store had masks on.

“I felt sorry for the checkout operator, she was having to ask people to wear a mask and was getting some not-so-nice responses from people,” said the person.

“The people without masks were quite rude and told her they didn’t have one.”