Queensland Conference and Camping Centres’ Mapleton and Noosa facilities lose 70 staff amid Covid ban

An extended Covid ban on school camps has prompted a large Sunshine Coast camping business to stand down more than 100 staff as restrictions take their toll on the industry.

A prominent camping operator has stood down staff across its Sunshine Coast sites after an extended ban on school camps is set to hit the industry hard over the coming months.

About 70 staff members across Queensland Conference and Camping Centres’ Mapleton and Noosa facilities have been temporarily left out of work or on reduced hours after the company was forced to cancel its bookings with schools.

Education Minister Grace Grace said in a press conference on Sunday school camps would be suspended until March 7.

Director Andrew Grant said the move couldn’t have come at a worse time as the beginning of the school year was one of the company’s busiest periods.

Queensland Conference and Camping Centre director Andrew Grant wants certainty around when school camps can resume.

He said 95 to 100 per cent of school bookings happened in February to March.

“At this time of year its everything we do and it’s just brought us to a halt, term 1 is prime time for school camps,” Mr Grant said.

“When the press conference happened on Sunday it completely sideswiped the industry, we had no indication, we had a very different understanding of what was going to take place and there had been no consultation.

“We’ve effectively been locked down for seven weeks minimum, there’s no certainty from Education Queensland and there’s no suggestion of industry support.”

The company stood down 110 of the total 135 staff it employs throughout Southeast Queensland along with 25 contractors including at its two other facilities in Brookfield and Tamborine.

It has estimated more than $1m in losses from booking cancellations for January, February and March.

Mr Grant said its drastic drop in business would have a ripple effect for businesses around its Mapleton and Noosa sites, which together accommodate more than 35,000 guests a year.

He said the company’s largest site in Mapleton employed up to 80 staff.

Students partaking in games and activities at Queensland Conference and Camping Centres

“We’re the largest employer here by a long way, through February we would be delivering 12,500 meals, so that’s a lot of supply for local businesses,” Mr Grant said.

Sunshine Coast-based High Ground chief executive Rod Field said the local industry which employs about 1000 people would be impacted beyond March from the prolonged camping ban for schools.

“Several times camps have been suspended with late notice, and we only find out about it at the press conference like everyone else,” Mr Field said.

“Many schools are dubious about their bookings, after March 7, trying to cancel even though contractually they’re locked in. It would be a great help to the industry if it was confirmed camps could proceed after March 7.”

The Sunshine Coast Daily reported in May 2020 that school camp operators were desperate for certainty amid continuous changes in Covid-19 regulations.

An Education Department spokesman said it recognised suspending school camps and excursions had an impact on the outdoor education sector.

He said the focus of the back to school plan was on ensuring a COVID-safe environment in schools for the start of the 2022 school year.

“Suspension of camps and excursions allows symptomatic students to be isolated and returned home more quickly, as well as reducing potential spread from students sleeping in close quarters (such as bunks/cabins/etc),” the spokesman said.

“Discussions with the outdoor education industry about the impacts of COVID-19 are ongoing.”