Panic hits North Stradbroke Island as ferries, barges limited and grocery stores, ATMs swamped

Tourists on Straddie are in danger of being stranded on the island for days with ferries limited after the 6pm lockdown.

Huge lines outside the Foodworks and butchery at North Stradbroke Island as tourists expect to be stranded for days on the island.

Tourists on North Stradbroke Island are in danger of being stranded on the island for days after the state government issued a lockdown notice for greater Brisbane which comes into effect at 6pm.

Mass confusion and panic buying hit shops across Logan and Redland including on the island as households stock up for a three-day lockdown designed to contain a deadly strain of COVID-19 which started in the UK.

Lines outside the North Stardbroek Island shops.

Both of the council areas were mentioned in a state government announcement this morning officially locking down the southeast and four council areas.

More than 30 people were in a queue for food at the North Stradbroke Island Foodworks and butchery in Dunwich this morning, minutes after the announcement.

There were growing fears that tourists on the island would be stranded there for at least three days.

Stradbroke Flyer owner John Groom, who runs ferries to the island from Cleveland’s Toondah Harbour, said services would be cut back from 15 to seven after the last service from Toondah Harbour today at 5.25pm.

Cars queue up to get on to the Strddie barge to head back to the mainland before the 6pm lockdown.

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Mr Groom said the Flyer would operate seven services over the three-day lockdown but would not be allowed to take the public.

He said there would also only be one vehicle ferry a day leaving Toondah which would only take essential services and not the public.

The island’s four grocery stores were swamped as tourists and residents stocked up ahead of the weekend lockdown.

Island residents said demand was so strong for groceries from campers, tourists and residents that the store was limiting the number of people inside due to social distancing.

ATMS and EFTPOS machines on the island were also struggling to keep up with demand as hundreds of tourists and residents hit the island’s main shopping strips at Dunwich, Point Lookout and Amity.

The island bottleshops were doing a roaring trade just after 10am opening with hundreds of residents and tourists stocking up for the weekend lockdown.

Cars were queuing up at the island bottleshop and people stocked up for a three-day weekend lockdown.

Tourists were still arriving on the island this morning ahead of tonight’s 6pm lockdown.

Barges and ferries were still operating to a normal timetable with the obligatory masks rule due to come into effect at 6pm.

Sealink, which operates ferries and barges to the island fromToondah Harbour added extra services for those wishing to leave the island on Friday.

“If you do not have a booking please go to the terminal and wait on standby,” a Sealink spokeswoman said.

“Our staff and crew will work to get everyone off the island as soon as possible.”

Those who want to leave the island on Sunday should email Sealink at [e-mail]

as staff are experiencing a high volume of calls.

Staff said ferries and barges would continue to run over the weekend but only as part of the island’s essential services and will only be availabel for those undertaking essential travel.

All passengers will h ave to wear masks or remain in their vehicles at all times.

There are four grocery stores on the island, which has experienced one of its busiest Christmas tourist periods since 2018.

Residents were concerned that there were still caravan tourists getting off the barge at Dunwich this morning after the lockdown announcement.

The whole island was locked down and sealed off from the main land in March last year when the state when into its first COVID lockdown.

At the time, police were permanently stationed at the ferry terminal at Toondah Harbour to stop people travelling over to the island.

In Logan, shoppers rushed to Beenleigh Marketplace and Aldi in City Rd to stock up with supplies of bread and fresh fruit depleting at both stores.

Panic buying at Holmview shops this morning as people grabbed everything from bottled water to meat and bread.

The carpark at Holmview Shopping Centre was also crowded with people rushing into Woolworths to stock up on items including bottled water, bread and meat.