North Stradbroke, Moreton and Fraser islands to open tonight

Visitors to south east Queensland’s holiday islands have been urged to have patience as locals frantically rush to prepare for reopening. They say they’ve been given ‘no time’ to prepare for a rush of travellers during the pandemic.

VISITORS to southeast Queensland’s holiday islands have been urged to have patience as locals frantically rush to prepare for tomorrow’s restrictions to be eased.

North Stradbroke, Fraser and Moreton islands will be open to day trippers from midnight but Redland City Council Mayor Karen Williams said businesses, police and transport providers did not have enough time to prepare.

She said the shock news for the tourism-driven island, which has been closed since the end of March, was “frustrating” and meant operators would need to spend today scrambling to bring their businesses back to normal.

PREMIER’S CONCERN: TWO CASES, QANTAS FLIGHT ALERT ISSUED

“To make it the best possible experience will be difficult,” Cr Williams said.

North Stradbroke Island is one of three of the state’s most loved holiday spots re-opening to the public from tonight. Picture: AAP/Cheryl Goodenough

Cr Williams also questioned the time given to police to pivot from checking licences of people travelling to the island from Toondah Harbour, to policing day trippers during a pandemic.

“How do they make sure day trippers come back?

“I don’t know what preparations can be made in 12 hours.

“What we would have liked is a couple of weeks’ notice ... to give businesses enough time to get supplies onto the island,” Cr Williams said.

Cr Williams is also chair of the Local Disaster Management Group which has been monitoring the state of North Stradbroke Island — an island with a large population indigenous and elderly people especially vulnerable to the COVID-19 — since the virus arrived on Australian shores.

“We implore (visitors) to be very respectful of the island’s vulnerable population ... and maintain social distancing.”

She urged those who did decide to visit the island this weekend to be patient and to call ferry providers before they set off.

“(The island) may not have the regular businesses that service their needs.”

Meanwhile, Brisbane City Council Mayor Adrian Schrinner said it was a step in the right direction for the Moreton Island.

“This is great news for the island’s business community and residents and also the businesses that service the island, such as barges,” he said.

The islands will open for day trips from midnight tonight.

Families will be able to visit North Stradbroke, Moreton and Fraser Islands from this weekend, a welcome ease to Covid-19 restrictions which saw the islands closed to visitors more than a month ago.

While beach driving will be allowed on Fraser, Moreton and North Stradbroke, 4WD vehicles will not be able to hit the sand on Bribie Island.

Beach driving has been banned on Bribie since Easter, while the island itself remained open.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the re-opening this morning, saying there was a view to welcome back campers and holiday makers in time for the next school holidays.

“So that is really good news,” she said.

However she said while restrictions were beginning to ease across the state, people still needed to be vigilant.

“It doesn’t mean Queensland is out of the woods.

“It is really important for people as we are opening up these restrictions for people if they’re sick to stay at home and get tested also.”