North Stradbroke Island businesses demand State Government compensation over fears lockdown will ruin Easter tourism

Stradbroke Island businesses which rely on Easter trade are calling for State Government compensation as they brace for a second year in a row of trashed holiday tourism due to COVID. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Straddie businesses say lockdown or not, they need compensation for spur of the moment changes.

Easter holiday-makers to North Stradbroke Island are anxiously awaiting to find out if they will have to cancel their plans for the weekend if the state government decides to extend its three-day lockdown.

Campsites on the island, along with holiday lettings and cafes, are geared up for a surge in tourists after two years of no camping or tourism at Easter.

An announcement on the lockdown is expected tomorrow.

In an optimistic nod to the lockdown being lifted on Thursday, Straddie Ferries has added nine extra services starting from 5pm tomorrow to help with the backlog of customers who could not travel during the lockdown.

Island businesses which rely on Easter trade, are calling for government compensation as they brace for the second year in a row of trashed holiday tourism due to COVID.

Car barges to the island for Thursday and Friday were nearly fully booked before the three-day lockdown was announced on Monday.

But now businesses fear their preparations for a bumper weekend will go to waste with many concerned after stocking up to cater for higher-than-usual trade over Easter.

Local businesses including the bakery and local supermarkets have been on tenterhooks since two of the island’s campgrounds at Dunwich were closed to tourists and others at Home Beach, Amity and Adder Rock closed tent sites on the waterfront.

North Straddie businesses fear they will be left out of pocket from Easter after stocking up before the lockdown was announced.

Straddie Chamber of Commerce president Col Battersby said businesses deserved compensation with closures thrown on them “at the drop of a hat”.

“On Monday, we stocked up for Good Friday which is the biggest fish and chip day of the year,” he said.

“We have a full cold room and freezers of food and vegetables but plans for a busy day are now on ice and we have no idea which way this lockdown will go.

“Even with some campgrounds closed or half full, the island was expected to cater for more than 5000 tourists over the next two weeks which is why we all stocked up.

“That’s a heap of fish and chips.

“Last time around, 500 full-time, part-time and casual workers were out of work.

“This time there’s no JobKeeper, so the outlook is very uncertain for businesses over here.

“We want compensation which will cover costs of being ready to cater for all these expected people.

“JobKeeper has been replaced by a targeted stimulus program but that needs to also include tourist-related businesses affected by this shutdown at short notice.”

Fish and chips Straddie style … Good Friday is the biggest fish day on the island’s cafe agenda each year.

The State Government is considering subsidies usually reserved for disasters to support tourist operators who suffer massive losses over the weekend because of the lockdown.

Minjerribah Camping general manager Cameron Allanson said all campsites were closed to new arrivals from Monday until tomorrow but said bookings outside that period “will be unaffected”.

Those who wanted to cancel bookings could get credit for a holiday within 18 months or credit can be transferred or gifted to another person.

Refunds via transfer to credit cards were also on offer.

Campers were also warned to contact Sealink (Stradbroke Ferries) to ensure there was availability if new bookings had been made.

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Straddie businesswoman Natalie Mazzoni said the lockdown would not affect tourist numbers in Dunwich, where the two campsites have been closed for more than a year.

She said its closure due to “radioactive sands” was incongruous with building plans in nearby Sturt St.

“We have no idea why it’s okay to shut down Adams Beach campsite given the new structure they want to build at the end of Sturt Street is being built despite claims of radioactive sands,” Ms Mazzoni said.

“The swamp was cleared and filled in with concrete from the removal of the barge loading facility.

“The business community here has been neglected and has not been given a chance to take over some of the old mining leases or convert to freehold to develop or create new industries.

“There are businesses, including mine, who want to expand but there are no facilities, support, infrastructure or land to do that.

“The Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation now appears to be pulling back from tourism and we don’t know what the ramifications are for our businesses.”