All beachside carparking on Gold Coast to be closed

Mayor Tom Tate has delivered a blunt message after announcing that all carparks at Gold Coast beaches are to be closed ahead of the Easter weekend.

ALL beachside carparking is to be closed from Main Beach south to the border at Coolangatta.

The beachside carparking will be progressively closed from today ahead of the Easter weekend.

Mayor Tom Tate made the announcement this morning.

Barriers will be put up to prevent cars parking, with drivers set to face fines of more than $130 if caught out.

The situation will be reviewed again next week following the Easter long weekend.

Traffic near Sea World on Sunday. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

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Cr Tate, speaking to the media at the Evandale chambers this morning, said the move to close the car parks was a clear message to both locals and out of towners to stay away from the beaches.

“We will shut as many as we can by Easter so the message is out there: There is no point coming to the beaches, you will have nowhere to park,” he said.

“This is further enhancement of our COVID-19 containment.”

Cr Tate clarified that activities such as sunbathing and playing any kind of sport would be banned on beaches, while surfing and exercise such as walking or running would still be allowed.

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Crowds at The Spit on Sunday. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

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Some beaches remained busy this morning, with big crowds at Currumbin Alley.

Cr Tate reiterated his threats to close the Coast’s remaining beaches if crowds again flocked to the water this morning.

“The message is, stay away. If you are a local who needs to exercise on the beach, do it and then get home,” he said.

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“I am asking people to do the right thing and the simple message is this – assume you have tested positive for COVID-19 – what is your next step? You’re not going to go and spread the virus so if everyone takes that mindset, it doesn’t matter if the barricades are up, it is the right thing to not spread it.

“It is with reluctance that I have to announce this.”

The announcement follows news yesterday that Surfers Paradise, The Spit and Coolangatta beaches will close from 11.59pm tonight.