Gold Coast City Council to close hundreds of parks, gym areas and playgrounds

The Gold Coast City Council will close hundreds of playgrounds and all outdoor barbecues as part of emergency measures to halt the spread of coronavirus.

THE Gold Coast City Council will close more than 600 playgrounds and all its outdoor barbecues as part of emergency measures to halt the spread of coronavirus.

Mayor Tom Tate, speaking at the Evandale chamber this afternoon, said the new measures came after a meeting of the council’s disaster management group this morning.

The new measures include:

- The closure of 600 playgrounds and 347 pieces of gym equipment.

- Park bookings suspended for at least two months.

- All city community centres will close from midnight excluding usage for essential health and social services.

- The council’s free tree service will be suspended.

Pirate Island Palm Beach playground. Photo: Jerad Williams

- Bushfire hazard reduction burn programs will be temporarily suspended and will be reassessed in two months time. The decision was taken to prevent smoke causing health issues with those afflicted with respiratory issues which can be exacerbated by COVID-19.

- Water and recycling centres remain open with social distancing measures put in place. Only every second bay will be available.

- Tourist parks will remain open for essential travel only, excluding camp grounds on South Stradbroke Island which are closed. Cr Tate said power would be shut off to the barbecues and urged people to take social distancing seriously.