Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate weighs in on Schoolies concerns as body corporate experts fear crowd control
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says body corporate experts are "wrong" to worry about Schoolies descending on the city come November - and he's revealed what he believes they can get up to while they're here.
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GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate says not to be concerned about Schoolies arguing they can go for walks and watch Netflix after warnings just three per cent had cancelled bookings.
Official Schoolies celebrations were scrapped by the State Government but the bulk of a typically expected 20,000 school-leavers are still tipped to descend on the Glitter Strip in November.
Cr Tate – who earlier this month begged potential revellers to avoid the city – has now encouraged Schoolies to enjoy the beach, go for walks and “watch Netflix” instead of excessive partying.
“It’s about communication and being welcoming, letting them know that respect goes both ways,” he said.
“If you’re sending a message out that they’re guilty before they even check in, they might decide to prove you right.
“There’s plenty of things to do (without the official program). Walk all the way to The Spit, enjoy the Federation Walk.
“If you can’t think of (anything else to do) just turn on Netflix, it’s pretty good.”
Major bodies corporate on the Gold Coast warned the Government in July about their concerns of controlling Schoolies crowds.
EARLIER THIS MONTH:
A LARGE majority of school leavers are ignoring Mayor Tom Tate’s pleas to stay away after the State Government cancelled the city’s traditional Schoolies festival.
Accommodation Association Australia says that of early this week just 3 per cent of the expected 20,000 school leavers had cancelled bookings to descend on the Gold Coast in November.
Accommodations Association CEO Dean Long said the State Government needed to provide a clear mandate “that there will still be support here for kids who are away from their family for the first time. It can’t just be about enforcement.
“Cancelling the main events doesn’t mean there aren’t other things to do on the Gold Coast. It is more than a beach party.”
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Late last week Mayor Tom Tate begged potential revellers to avoid the city in November to stop the spread of the virus.
At the time he said he wished he had “jumped up and down” early to draw out an official response about Schoolies from the Government.
The official decision was finally made last Friday when Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young has designated mass gatherings of young people over consecutive days ‘high risk’.
It can also be revealed that major bodies corporate on the Gold Coast warned the Government in July about their concerns of controlling Schoolies crowds amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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In a letter to the chief health officer Jeannette Young and Gold Coast City Council CEO Dale Dickson, the body corporate for the Hilton Residences said it held “serious concerns” regarding risk that may arise during the influx of school leavers.
Legal representation for the body corporate said there was “no way” it could control or limit those visiting units under existing powers.
It said it was also concerned about vulnerable residents living in the building.
To keep residents safe, the body corporate asked for restrictions for short-term renters to ensure they take “reasonable steps to encourage social distancing” and the ability to limit occupants to on those permitted to be in the accommodation.
The Bulletin understands this was not the only residence to pen a letter about Schoolies concerns.
Chris Irons, the state’s former body corporate commissioner and now a strata Adviser at Hynes Legal, said Schoolies had huge repercussions for tower residents, particularly in Surfers Paradise.
“Individual school leavers can still rent apartments on the Coast,” he said. “The fact remains they are still coming here for an end-of-school event, whether or not you call it schoolies.
“Whether or not a schoolie comes to the Gold Coast with the best of intensions, security costs will still be there for building owners, and one would argue that is likely to go up because there is no organised event framework.
“All they (schoolies) need to do is hop on social media to advertise a party.
“People feel powerless to do anything about it. Under body corporate legislation they can’t shut off facilities to one kind of occupant. They can’t pass on costs for damages and they have limited ability to do anything about noise complaints.”
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GOODBYE Schoolies, hello Summer of Celebration.
This is the new event the State Government is pitching to accommodation providers just days after it officially canned the traditional school leavers festival.
Top tourism and health officials wrote to accommodation providers on Friday asking they help stagger crowds through the warmer months instead of thousands of teenagers making the pilgrimage to the Coast for two weeks.
“We therefore are requesting your support to assist in facilitating this Summer of Celebration by being flexible with your booking policies and working with young school leavers to amend their booking dates and details to comply with these restrictions,” the letter said.
Indoor and outdoor gathering limits of 10 are to stay in place and all mass gatherings have been cancelled over the traditional Schoolies period in November.
But gutted school leavers told the Bulletin this week that they can’t get back deposits back from booking site Schoolies.com, because they can still technically come and check in.
On Friday, Ms Palaszczuk ruled out beachside concerts and other events at the celebrations “because there can be no mass gatherings”.
But there is nothing stopping graduates coming to the city and partying in small groups, the same as any other person.
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It prompted a concerned Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate to beg graduates to ditch Schoolies.
The government decision escalated concerns about balcony hopping, frontline services being available, policing social distancing and emergency health services in the Surfers Paradise party precinct with thousands of teenagers still expected to flood the Coast in November.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk declined to answer a number of Bulletin questions late last week about those fears.
A spokesman said “security arrangements are up to operators”.
Police presence will also still be upgraded over the period, with a focus on the directions of Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young.
Accommodation Association CEO Dean Long said providers were still expecting school leavers to arrive on the Coast in the November 21-December 11 period.
“Overall, the event is not cancelled, the beach parties and other things are, but you can still come to the Gold Coast,” Mr Long said.
TOM TATE BEGS SCHOOLIES TO STAY AWAY
“We have seen some cancellations by people, which is disappointing, but the Queensland Government really have to maintain all support services for those travelling for the first time.”
Mr Long said the association was pleased the State Government had helped to establish a task force to deal with issues facing schoolies.
“What we want to avoid is a scenario last week where an event was announced to be cancelled, with a phone call to the industry 15 minutes beforehand.
“A taskforce now allows us to work through uncertainty and confusion for operators.
“The sector is nervous about announcements that were made without consultation, which would put it at risk, but we feel now a task-force can meet the needs to ensure the safety of those involved.”
Red Frogs state director Chris George said the support group also welcomed the announcement from the Premier, but still planned to have a hotel outreach volunteer network during the old Schoolies dates.
Originally published as Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate weighs in on Schoolies concerns as body corporate experts fear crowd control