Police out in force at Gold Coast restaurants for first day of eased restrictions

Police say they will be out in force this weekend, checking cafes and restaurants are sticking to coronavirus rules. Here’s what they plan to do.

POLICE will randomly check cafes and restaurants to ensure social distancing compliance when reopening tomorrow in what one major operator predicts will be a “circus”.

Pubs, clubs, RSLs, restaurants and cafes can reopen for 10 patrons at a time from midnight tonight leaving many like popular Broadbeach breakfast spot Elk Espresso feeling excited but wary of the logistics.

Owner Andrew Whiting said the phone had been ringing off the hook with patrons keen to secure a table, but the cafe would be maintaining its no-bookings policy.

“We have had heaps of people contact us by phone to book in. We’re not doing book ins,” he said.

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Elk Espresso has been selling takeaway during the lockdown. Owner Andrew Whiting is excited to open again. Picture Glenn Hampson

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“I’ve already lost count of how many DM (direct message) and email bookings I’ve received. It’s going to be a circus, I feel.”

Chief Superintentendent Mark Wheeler confirmed police patrols would move on any “large congregations” and “blatant breaches” would lead to enforcement.

“They’ve got to maintain that 1.5 metre distance from others as much as they can. We’ll certainly monitor that in our normal patrols. What’s not certain at the moment are how many venues will actually open. There will probably be those venues that choose not to (open). We’ll monitor that as we go on.

“What we’re calling on those venue operators to do is to have their COVID-19 plan in place and to make sure they can manage within their venues appropriately.”

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Elk will maintain its no bookings policy despite only being allowed to serve 10 people at once.

Elk has kept its takeaway option ticking along and Mr Whiting said there was definitely benefit in opening this weekend despite the very small table turnover.

“I’ve been torn whether to do it or not, but it’s better to have 10 people sitting down eating than not 10 people.

“We are still doing heaps of takeaway food and coffee.”

Australiana bar Rosella’s in Burleigh Heads will open tomorrow from 5pm, another venue sticking to its walk-in only policy.

Rosella’s co-owner Jon Debeere said he was not sure how the weekend would pan out but believed it was worth starting again somewhere.

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Cambus Wallace co-owner Dave Ferry. Picture: Jerad Williams

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“We don’t know what to expect, we don’t know if we’re going to have a line around the block or people are going to be timid,” Mr Debeere said.

Mermaid Beach bars Cambus Wallace and The Scottish Prince, operated by the same team, have opened up bookings for tomorrow evening.

Co-owner Dave Ferry said he has had requests to book out the whole venue for 10 people but he’s keeping tables to a maximum of five.

“It’s just feels a bit unfair when it’s been so long (without dining out),” he said. “A lot are doing one-hour or two-hour sittings, we’re just going to rotate them through naturally.”