Shoppers hit the Gold Coast retail centres as COVID-19 restrictions ease across the weekend

Gold Coasters were thrilled to soak up some retail therapy over the weekend, despite temperature checks, cash payment rejection and long queues.

WHEN restrictions across Queensland eased from midnight on Friday, Burleigh Heads’ Jennifer Woodman made the most of it.

The 58-year-old spends most of her week in a hospital for work, and for the last month the rest of her time has been at home.

Ms Woodman headed straight to Harbour Town to do some shopping on Saturday morning.

COVID-19 restrictions around shopping and go out in public have been relaxed. Shoppers lining up to enter Peter Alexander at Harbour Town Premium Outlets. Picture: Jerad Williams

The premium outlet centre had prepared for a rush of people with signage reminding customers about social distancing, stores restricting how many customers were allowed inside and noticeably more security monitored the malls.

With limits on customers inside stores, Ms Woodman lined up to get into Peter Alexander at 9.20am, 40 minutes before the store opened.

“I said to my friend I’m going to queue up because that’s just how life is going to be now,” Ms Woodman said.

COVID-19 restrictions around shopping and go out in public have been relaxed. Shoppers lining up to enter Peter Alexander at Harbour Town Premium Outlets. Jennifer Woodman. Picture: Jerad Williams

“There was three lots of people already in front of me.

“Everything is changing, I went to pay for my shopping with a $50 note and the staff member said we can’t take cash.”

Pimpama couple Chloe Tucker, 28, and Lindsey Walker, 29, were also at Harbour Town shopping with two-year-old daughter Kilani.

“We had a motive to get me some sunglasses today,” Ms Tucker said.

Mr Walker added: “We’re going to Kelly’s parent’s house for lunch, now we’re allowed to go.”

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COVID-19 restrictions around shopping and go out in public have been relaxed. Shoppers Chloe Tucker, Lindsey Walker and Kilani Walker, 2, at Harbour Town Premium Outlets. Picture: Jerad Williams

Across the city at famed Pacific Fair, COVID-19 hygiene measures were taken seriously, including customer temperatures being taken at the entrance of Mecca Maxima.

Mermaid Beach couple Jolon and Kelly Taylor were doing birthday shopping at the Broadbeach mall and said they were happy to have some normality back.

“We are locals and when we came through the doors I was like wow this is the most amount of people I’ve seen for weeks, maybe even months,” Mr Taylor said.

“We‘ve missed birthdays and have some birthdays coming up, so we’re catching up on all of them,” Mrs Taylor said.

COVID-19 restrictions around shopping and go out in public have been relaxed. Shoppers Jolon Taylor and Kelly Taylor at Pacific Fair Shopping Centre in Broadbeach. Picture: Jerad Williams

Broadbeach mall The Oasis reopened a number of stores and restaurants on Saturday in anticipation of customers returning.

“We were very pleased to see the community come back to the centre and support our retailers,” Centre manager Tim Grigg said.

“It was fantastic to have over 20 retailers reopen on Saturday. Takeaway business from our restaurants had also increased.”

Pacific Fair centre general manager Shaine Beveridge commended patrons for continuing social distancing practices while shopping.

“It was exciting to see quite a few more Gold Coasters back in the centre this weekend,” Mr Beveridge said.

“We were pleased to see everyone co-operate and practice safe social distancing.”