New Fraser Coast Covid clinic hours, event cancellations

The Hervey Bay Seafood Festival is the latest event to fall victim to the SEQ COVID-19 situation. Here’s a full list of cancellations and extended Fraser Coast fever clinic hours.

The Hervey Bay Seafood Festival is the latest event to fall victim to the unfolding COVID-19 situation in the state’s southeast.

Fraser Coast Tourism and Events confirmed on Monday, August 2, the remainder of the Whale Festival program, which includes the Seafood Festival, had been postponed.

The Blessing of the Fleet and Whale Parade and Concert were called off on Saturday and on Monday morning it was announced a plan for rescheduling all events was being developed but would “depend on the timing of the current Covid outbreak coming under control”.

It was explained that along with the health threat to the Fraser Coast as the closest northern region to those local government areas in lockdown, many suppliers for the Seafood Festival were residents in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and grounded by the lockdown extension until this Sunday.

FCTE General Manager Martin Simons said 30% of pre-gate sales were from out of region, mostly southeast Queensland.

“By postponing we give these people the opportunity to come when it is safe,” Mr Simons said

“Given the traffic on the highway travelling north after the lockdown announcement on Saturday, we do not think it is wise to be staging large events or encouraging further travel.”

Fraser Coast Tourism and Events is now reviewing the whale festival program and looking at rescheduling all events, including the Blessing of the Fleet, Paddle Out for Whales, the Whale Family Day, and Hervey Bay’s iconic Seafood Festival in September.

Dozens of cars were queued at the Hervey Bay fever clinic in the midday heat on August 2, 2021. Picture: Isabella Magee

Schools across the region remain open with students and teachers who have been in hotspot areas told to get tested and stay home.

At Hervey Bay High the athletics carnival planned for this week has been postponed and will instead take place on August 10 and August 11.

Hervey Bay Fever Clinic on Monday. Picture: Isabella Magee

Meanwhile, Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service has extended opening hours at the region‘s fever clinics which remained busy on Monday with some people waiting more than an hour in Maryborough.

St Stephens in Hervey Bay was also busier than usual, as dozens of cars filled with locals were in queue through the hot midday sun on Monday.

Picture: Isabella Magee

Maryborough’s Fever Clinic, located at Maryborough Hospital, entrance via Yaralla Street, is now open Monday to Saturday from 8am until 3.30pm.

While Hervey Bay’s Fever Clinic, located at St Stephen’s Hospital car park in Urraween, is now open Monday to Sunday from 8am until 3.30pm.

Many other events have also been postponed on the coast, including;

• August 6: Prada Clutch’s at the Brolga, postponed to January 22, 2022
• August 6 – August 8: All events from the Hervey Bay Whale Festival, to be rescheduled during September
• August 18: World of Musicals at the Brolga, postponed to April 22, 2022

While with other events, it remains unsure if they will be rescheduled, including;

• July 31:Wynnum Manly Seagulls V Papua New Guinea Hunters at Eskdale Park in Maryborough
• August 5: Paul Kelly at the Brolga
• August 14: The Fraser Coast Wings and Wheels
• August 19: The Australian Bee Gees Show at the Brolga

Maryborough Eisteddfod, from August 7 until August 13, and the Adam (Moroccan) MRAC Cinema Night, both at the Brolga, are currently still going ahead.