Coronavirus Gold Coast: Council closes Spit carpark after crowds ignore social distancing
The Spit’s carparks has been shut down by council after crowds of locals flocked to the beach in defiance of social distancing.
Beaches & Fishing
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A FURIOUS Mayor Tom Tate has shutdown the public carparks on The Spit after crowds flocked to the beach in defiance of social distancing.
The Bulletin yesterday revealed images showing packed carparks on The Spit as surfers, dog owners and bored locals went out for weekend recreation.
It came just days after Cr Tate threatened to close the Coast’s beaches if people continued to defy measures put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus.
In a statement late yesterday afternoon, a fed-up Cr Tate said council would close the carparks this afternoon, saying he had been left with “no choice”.
“People are just not listening so we have taken this measure to discourage visitors,” he said.
“The message is clear: We can no longer be gathering in groups larger than two and we should only be out for essential activities and exercise.
“A lazy day at the Spit should not be on the cards right now.
“Staying home is the best way to keep us all safe.”
When The Bulletin visited The Spit at 1.30pm yesterday, the carpark was full, with families and crowds of surfers out enjoying the day.
Few paid attention to social distancing rules as people walked around the carpark carrying surfboards, walking dogs or getting an ice cream.
The Bulletin earlier reported that a Gold Coast man feared a popular beach will become a “coronavirus melting pot” after coming across dozens of surfers, divers and dog walkers ignoring social distancing rules.
The man, who wished to remain anonymous, snapped images of The Spit car park packed with cars, stating the area is still attracting recreational divers and people partaking in other water sports from afar.
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“This morning it was chockablock tight full of cars,” he said.
“My pet hate is there’s all these scuba divers coming to dive from Brisbane. That’s not essential travel.
“If someone is driving 20 or 30 minutes to take their dog for walk, that’s not essential travel.
“There’s groups of people, Brazilians, backpackers, they walk in groups, they’re touching each other, they don’t social distance.
“This is going to be a coronavirus melting pot at The Spit.”
The man has reported the issue to police who he said have been patrolling nearby but not in the vicinity of The Spit.
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He said come high tide tomorrow, there will be dozens of divers taking advantage of pleasant water conditions at the area.
“At 5pm tomorrow they will line up. They think they’re immune,” he said.
“Diving and snorkelling people are going to get a bad reputation because some will risk this coronavirus.
“I don’t want a coronavirus outbreak to occur.”