Five westside places where police have caught COVID-19 lawbreakers

Westside police have had to hand out only a few fines for breaking social distancing rules, but they’ve been kept busy at some scenic areas.

Police talk to people at the New Farm farmers markets. Westside police have handed out several fines. Picture: AAP/John Gass

Only a handful of fines have had to be issued to westsiders and inner-south residents for flaunting social distancing rules, police say.

They praised locals for obeying the rules, although police said they were still cautioning many people in scenic areas from Yeronga in the south to Mt Nebo in the west.

Acting Snr-Sgt Roy de Vries, from Sherwood police, said only one person had had to be fined in the past four weeks.

“This had resulted from a complaint about a noisy gathering at a private residence in Sherwood,’’ he said.

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“The person had been coming and going from the property and had no valid reason for his travel.

“Sherwood police have been responding to public reports of COVID-19 breaches on a daily basis, at least one a day.

“These mostly relate to larger groups of persons undertaking a sporting activity in a park, or having a party at home.

“There have been occasions where a warning was only required; for example two persons found drinking in a park in Tennyson; or the complaint was unsubstantiated, for example a business in Corinda was deemed to be complying with regulations due to an appropriate number of clients being present.

“Generally speaking, local residents have been complying with the current restrictions.’’ Snr-Sgt de Vries said Sherwood police would continue to monitor local sporting grounds and parks.

He praised residents for being very considerate, as well as appreciative, of how police were carrying out their duties.

The Gap officer-in-charge, Snr-Sgt Rob Wann, said there were some fines handed out over the Easter long weekend for non-essential travel, including by police patrolling Mt Nebo Rd.

The road is a scenic, popular route for day trippers, cyclists and motorbike riders which winds its way through Brisbane Forest Park.

“We had to issue warnings at Mt Coot-tha Lookout as well for people taking selfies and congregating without a good reason,’’ Snr-Sgt Wann said.

“We’ve been patrolling Enoggera Reservoir, although there has been no trouble there since it was closed.’’

SEQWater shut the reservoir, an often crowded swimming and kayaking spot, and the tracks around it, after hundreds of people crammed into the area on two hot weekends late last month.

Snr-Sgt Wann said police had also been patrolling Jolly’s Lookout and Bellbird Lookout, two short walking tracks in Brisbane Forest Park.

“We’re not trying to be heavy handed. My team has a chat to people and educates them if they are confused about social distancing rules,’’ he said.

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Indooroopilly police were unable to confirm numbers of fines or warnings in their area.

But over the river at Annerley, officer-in-charge Snr-Sgt Chris Allanson said locals had heeded warnings so they had not been forced to issue even one fine.

“We’ve given a few people warnings for travelling in vehicles without good reason, but 99.9 per cent have been obeying the law,’’ he said.

“We’ve been patrolling The Corso (a Brisbane River waterfront strip at Yeronga popular with dog walkers, cyclists, pedestrians and joggers) but, once again, everyone is doing the right thing and not walking in groups.’’