Coronavirus Gold Coast: Crowds flock to shopping centres

Images have emerged of huge lines outside Ikea in Logan as crowds packed into shopping centres around the Gold Coast.

IMAGES have emerged online of a huge lines of shoppers snapped outside Ikea in Logan yesterday.

The store was one of many to encounter huge crowds, with car parks full at shopping centres around the Gold Coast.

“If you were thinking of going to Ikea (Logan) today, don’t!” one patron posted online.

“Hundreds, and I mean hundreds of people lined up outside waiting to get in. Car park is almost completely full.”

A photo shared online showing a long lines outside Ikea Logan on Sunday.

The photos surfaced online as crowds sick of being cooped up flocked to Gold Coast shopping centres where patrons said it was impossible to avoid being bumped or abide by social distancing.

Just before noon yesterday, traffic jams were occurring on roundabouts at Oxenford as residents rushed to Bunnings and Westfield Helensvale for shopping.

Packed car park at Westfield Helensvale on the northern Gold Coast.

The photos surfaced online as crowds sick of being cooped up flocked to Gold Coast shopping centres where patrons said it was impossible to avoid being bumped or abide by social distancing.

Just before noon yesterday, traffic jams were occurring on roundabouts at Oxenford as residents rushed to Bunnings and Westfield Helensvale for shopping.

Further south, at Nerang, a resident caught in traffic told The Bulletin: “There are huge line-ups here at Bunnings. At Aldi, we saw the biggest crowds since before the coronavirus restrictions started.”

At Pacific Pines, after major shops were closed for Anzac Day on Saturday, the line-up of shoppers before 11am was outside the centre as staff continued with number counting of entrants.

“There are a lot of people inside. It’s incredibly busy. It’s disappointing to see so few shoppers are social distancing. It’s just a mad rush,” a female shopper said.

Line-ups for shoppers at Westfield Helensvale on the Gold Coast.

At Westfield Helenvale, the crowds were larger, with the main car park full and customers having to park in the overflow car parks south of the centre.

The fruit market at the southern end was packed with few shoppers showing concern about social distancing as they rushed for supplies.

Several older shoppers, some wearing face masks, chose to stay outside under the shade of trees.

“The crowds in there are insane,” a shopper said.

Busy morning shopping at Pacific Pines shopping centre on the Gold Coast's northern end.

A Pacific Pines resident said social distancing was not happening at the fruit market and Woolworths at Westfield was “chocka”.

“I tried to keep my distance but some people just keep bumping into me, it was impossible to keep 1.5 metres away from everyone. There was also a queue to get into Target, but further down the centre wasn’t busy at all.”