Milky Lane’s Christian Avant shares video of hundreds partying at Burleigh Heads bongo bash on Gold Coast, police investigating

Revellers, musicians, fire twirlers and other performers packed a Gold Coast park in defiance of coronavirus rules – until police pounced on the party. SEE THE VIDEO

POLICE are combing through body-worn camera footage and may take further action after shutting down a bongo-driven party flouting COVID-19 rules in a Gold Coast park on Sunday night.

The event at Burleigh Heads featuring musicians, fire twirlers and other performers, seemingly attended by hundreds of people, was targeted by police about 10pm.

Gold Coast City Council was aware a gathering was occurring on a much smaller scale, but it spiralled out of control, with a number of attendees seen failing to social distance.

“This is not deemed to be an official event however the City is well aware it takes place on a regular basis and responds to any issues as required, a spokeswoman said.

“We remind people to abide by the social distancing guidelines at all times in an effort to reduce the risk of COVID.”

Screenshots of a gathering at Burleigh Heads flouting COVID-19 restrictions.

Some commenters on social media have alleged there are often large gatherings at Burleigh Heads in defiance of Queensland’s tough coronavirus rules.

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Venues above 200 sqm can have one patron per four sqm and those under 200 sqm can have one patron per two sqm, but with a cap of 50. The number of people allowed at private and public gatherings on the Gold Coast is 10.

The owner of Milky Lane burger bar Christian Avant shared the video on his Facebook page this morning, unhappy to see “hundreds of people dancing side-by-side” while his establishment is turning away customers. He said the large gathering at the park “gets under my skin”.

Milky Lane’s Christian Avant. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I’m still only allowed 30% capacity at my Milky Lane restaurants and it’s HEAVILY policed. “We’ve probably lost $500k-1m in potential revenue due to the limitations during COVID.

“I have friends that own bars, clubs and venues where if ONE SINGLE PERSON dances or stands up, you get a heavy fine.

“But 100s of people dancing side-by-side to bongos in a park gets past every current law and rule set by the Queensland Government.”

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Speaking to the Bulletin, Mr Avant said “it’s frustrating when this s--t happens” while Milky Lane and other hospitality venues face heavy scrutiny from authorities checking COVID-19 rules are followed.

Fire twirlers at the Burleigh Heads gathering on the Gold Coast.

“The rules and regulations seem so skewed and disjointed,” he said.

“Places like restaurants are keeping the highest level of hygiene and have COVID marshalls coming through non-stop. We’re running 45-50 seats out of a possible 160. Our Brisbane store is running at 55 out of 160.

“I’m not raging so much about people having fun, but the rules need to be fair and they don’t seem to be at the moment. There was hundreds of people there.

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“Queensland has had such a good control of COVID for months and I think restrictions really need to be pulled back at some point. There’s still contact tracing, customers are still signing in. We have the border closures too. Queensland needs to open up.”

The gathering was broken up by police about 10pm.

Mr Avant noted back in May police were forced to move on crowds on Burleigh Hill after a major breach of social distancing measures, when thousands of people flocked to Goodwin Terrace to watch the sunset

“We’re so close to the COVID finish line and everything opening back up. It would be a disaster to see everything go backwards,” he said.

“I see (Burleigh gatherings) online all the time, I see it on my Instagram story all the time. It gets packed.

“This is all so frustrating. We want to make money. The hospitality industry in Queensland is f---ked at the moment. There’s a lot of businesses hurting at the moment.

“And how do you fine every individual who was there? That opens up a can of worms. You’re going to police everyone not 1.5m apart?”

A Queensland Police spokesman confirmed officers shut down the gathering “under the Noise Abatement Act”.

“Police are reviewing video captured in the area to identify those involved and any possible breaches to the Queensland Chief Health Officer’s public health directions,” he said.

“Local police are engaging with the City of Gold Coast about the matter.

“Police will continue to proactively patrol popular areas to ensure members of the community are complying with the Chief Health Officer’s (Dr Jeannette Young) directions.

“Officers will use their discretion and take action against anyone who is blatantly disregarding the directions such as issuing a penalty infringement notice amounting to $1334 for individuals.”

The State Government pointed the Bulletin to Queensland Police for comment.

Another screenshot of the Burleigh gathering.

INITIAL:

A LARGE crowd of revellers has been caught on camera apparently flouting coronavirus rules during an enthusiastic bongo drum bash at a Gold Coast park.

The owner of Milky Lane burger bar Christian Avant shared a video on Facebook this morning showing “hundreds of people dancing side-by-side” at Burleigh Heads last night, alongside musicians and fire twirlers.

There appears to have been little if any social distancing occurring at the event.

Mr Avant took aim at the Queensland Government and said he can still only accommodate 30 per cent of his normal maximum capacity of customers under current COVID-19 restrictions.

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Venues above 200 sqm can have one patron per four sqm and those under 200 sqm can have one patron per two sqm, but with a cap of 50. The number of people allowed at private and public gatherings is 10.

Mr Avant pointed to “Burleigh park last night on the Gold Coast” and wanted to explain “why this gets under my skin.”

“Let’s even for a second look beyond the COVID virus factor and go into the current rulings and regulations around it,” he said.

“I’m still only allowed 30% capacity at my Milky Lane restaurants and it’s HEAVILY policed. “We’ve probably lost $500k-1m in potential revenue due to the limitations during COVID.

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“I have friends that own bars, clubs and venues where if ONE SINGLE PERSON dances or stands up, you get a heavy fine.

But 100s of people dancing side-by-side to bongos in a park gets past every current law and rule set by the Queensland Government.”

Mr Avant called on the State Government to wind back business restrictions.

“I believe that Qld only a week or two ago moved the max number of people at an outdoor gathering to 10pax – so where does this sit?” he said.

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“AND not to mention the poor girl recently who couldn’t attend her Dad’s funeral and was forced to hotel quarantine whilst he was dying, after coming from a place with NO CASES for 60 days.

“I’m all for people having fun but there seems to be different sets of rules for different scenarios and if things like this are ‘allowed’, then the state needs to open up and let hospitality operators have a piece of the pie too.”

Queensland Police Service and the State Government have been contacted for comment.