Police investigate COVID-19 breaches after busting massive beach party
Queensland Police are investigating whether a crowd of up to 300 people at a beach party breached health directives in place to stop the spread of coronavirus. Several other charges have already been laid following the mass gathering.
Police & Courts
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Police are investigating whether a crowd of up to 300 people at a large drunken beach party – complete with a stage and a DJ – breached health directives in place to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Police broke up the party, held at a Far North Queensland beach, Saturday morning after complaints were made about the noise.
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Officers from Cairns and Port Douglas arrived at Wangetti Beach to find about 200 to 300 people, including many who were illegally camping, parked illegally and drinking on the beach.
Special Emergency Response Team officers were called in to help when a “large section” of the crowd became hostile towards police.
“Police dispersed the crowd and conducted enforcement actions which included random breath tests, consumption of liquor in a public place and being intoxicated in a public place,” a statement released by police said.
“A direction was issued under the Noise Abatement Act and the musical equipment unplugged.”
The statement said additional resources were called in to help with the “unruly and hostile” crowd.
Far North District Acting Superintendent Mark Linwood said police showed “incredible patience and tolerance” with the partygoers.
He said officers tipped out large quantities of alcohol.
A 35-year-old Cairns North man was arrested and charged with one count each of possession of a dangerous drug, possession of suspected stolen property, public nuisance and two counts of obstruct police.
Two 23-year-old men were also issued with notices to appear in court for drink driving. Local council officers also handed out infringement notices for illegal camping.
Supt Linwood said investigations were continuing into possible breaches of Queensland’s health directives.
“By and large Queenslanders have done a great job in combating COVID-19 but we cannot and must not become complacent,” he said.
“COVID-19 and the threat it poses to all Queensland communities is real. It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure they are practising effective social distancing and following the directions as set out by the Chief Health Officer.”
People who breach the directions of the Chief Health Officer can be fined on-the-spot $1334.
Wangetti resident Christina Derry said locals were sick of parties at the beach that left the area littered with rubbish.
“There were loads of cars and campervans at the far end, you couldn’t park anywhere and it was filled with people,” she told The Cairns Post.
“We went down later at 9pm and it had multiplied, there were cars, the music was blaring, people were sleeping, wandering down the road on the way to the highway.
“Wangetti has a history of large gatherings on the beach like this, the last one was about four weeks ago.
“We go down regularly, see the toilet paper, human faeces, rubbish, and garbage left all over the beach.”
– additional reporting by Jack Lawrie and Nick Dalton