Police launch traffic operation as lockdown begins

Do the right thing or expect to be caught is the clear message from police primed to catch rule dodgers with number plate recognition technology.

Now lockdown has begun, Gold Coast Police will launch a major traffic operation to swoop on motorists defying Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young’s directives.

Police patrols will intercept vehicles on the southbound lanes of the M1 heading towards the Gold Coast to ensure the rules are being complied with.

Gold Coast Police Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler said officers would seek to ensure the CHO’s orders were being followed with number plate recognition technology available to help target Brisbane-registered vehicles.

“I would ask everyone to do the right thing,” he said.

“If you’re from the Greater Brisbane area, just stay home for the weekend.

“I don’t think it’s too much to ask.”

Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Police will also question travellers across the Gold Coast suspected of coming from Brisbane at the city’s beaches, shopping centres or sporting events, including a Big Bash cricket match slated for Sunday night at Carrara

“People can expect to be stopped and spoken to by police,” said Chief Superintendent Wheeler.

“I think that is reasonable under the circumstances. We’re not trying to make things hard for anyone.”

Superintendent and District Officer Craig Hawkins outlined the Sunshine Coast police’s response to the Greater Brisbane lockdown. Picture: Patrick Woods

Sunshine Coast District Superintendent Craig Hawkins said road blocks would not be enforced, but officers would pull over drivers they suspect are from Brisbane.

There will be increased staffing during the next three days with the help of some neighbouring police districts.

He said highway messaging boards will also reflect the new restrictions.

“The Sunshine Coast is affected in some respects,” Supt Hawkins said.

“The Greater Brisbane area includes Moreton Bay, and our boundary aligns with Moreton Bay.

“As a consequence we have put in some measures to ensure the isolation component of what the (Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk) announced is being applied.”

Traffic was heavy out of Brisbane ahead of the lockdown. Picture: Richard Walker

He said the Brisbane Heat’s Big Bash game, scheduled for Sunday night, would also come under the police spotlight for travellers defying the Brisbane lockdown.

“That is not an essential reason to travel,” he said.

People can expect to see police in and around that event.

“There is an element of honesty. Ask yourself, do you really want to be that person who potentially spreads COVID-19 across Queensland?”

The traffic chaos came as reports flood in of long queues out the front of supermarkets and shelves being cleared.

As residents flee to the Coasts, some tourism operators have experienced cancellations from Brisbane travellers since the announcement on Friday morning that Greater Brisbane would effectively shut down for the next three days.

However, other tourism operators across the southeast have had an influx of last-minute bookings.

The Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Scenic Rim and areas further afield are not bound by the lockdown facing Greater Brisbane.

However, there is the risk of undetected cases of the coronavirus spreading throughout the region if people do not respect the Chief Health Officer’s warning to avoid non-essential travel.

Refunds will be offered to campers from Greater Brisbane who won’t be able to travel to National Parks.

The Department of Environment and Science has announced two of its facilities - the Walkabout Creek and Wildlife Centre and Daisy Hill Koala Centre - will be closed for the three-day Greater Brisbane lockdown.

A spokeswoman for the DES also urged anyone from Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands and Moreton Bay not to travel to National Parks and State Forests outside of their immediate area and for people outside of Greater Brisbane to stay away.

“Anyone planning on camping in or visiting National Parks in the Greater Brisbane region this weekend should stay home following the latest COVID lockdown directive,” the spokeswoman said.

“While campers who are already in the camping spots can stay, no new campers will be permitted to travel into parks.”

“Rangers will be working hard to contact anyone affected today.”

Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind urged caution to anyone considering making last-minute holiday bookings to circumvent the impending lockdown.

“I would encourage anyone to read the latest health advice from the Government and the Chief Health Officer,” he said.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate called on Brisbanites to stay away from the Glitter Strip over the coming days.

“We love you Brisbane, but right now I’m asking you to do the right thing and stay at home,” he said.

“We have done so well so far and right now is not the time to be taking sneaky trips down to the Gold Coast.

“We will all get together when this is over – which will only happen if we all work together.”

Brisbane is in lockdown for three days.

Tourism and Events Queensland issued advice for operators, reminding them that any guests arriving on Friday who had come directly from Brisbane should still isolate for the lockdown period, or better yet, postpone travel plans altogether.

Guests who had not been in Brisbane since January 2 would be free to continue their holidays as planned.

People who have travelled to the Moreton Bay islands are encouraged to either stay where they are for the duration of the lockdown, or to return home to Brisbane before 6pm Friday.

Greater Brisbane will go into a three-day lockdown as authorities scramble to contain the spread of the mutant UK COVID-19 strain after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Greater Brisbane, which includes the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton and Redlands, went into lockdown from 6pm Friday.

The Sunshine and Gold Coasts have not been included in the lockdown because the infected cleaner had not ventured outside the Greater Brisbane region.

However, anyone who has visited Brisbane since January 2 and has now moved on to other parts of the state or country will also be required to quarantine for the next three days.

RACQ has also announced changes to its services amid the weekend lockdown.

The group’s windscreen glass replacement stores would close, and insurance builders and tradespeople would be stood down.

RACQ’s retail stores, roadside assistance, towing and incident response crews would remain operational through lockdown.

“This will ensure we can attend to stranded members on the roadside and deliver banking services from our stores,” RACQ acting chief executive Glenn Toms said.

“It’s important to note though, that whilst we can tow vehicles within the Greater Brisbane area, we are unable to tow vehicles into or out of the designated Greater Brisbane area, whilst these restrictions remain in place,” Mr Toms said.

“Our contact centres remain open to take calls from our members and staff are well-prepared having worked from home for much of last year.”

Meanwhile, the NT Government announced that a Jetstar flight from Brisbane to the Northern Territory has been sent back to Queensland with all passengers on board.

The flight landed at Yulara at around 9.30am before being turned around.

“I want to thank Jetstar, they immediately turned this flight around and are returning those passengers to Brisbane,” NT Police, Fire and Emergency services Minister Nicole Manison said.

The flight was JQ667, which departed Brisbane at 6:44am bound for Ayers Rock, according to FlightRadar24.

Yulara is the airport which services Uluru.

It comes after the Territory declared Brisbane a hotspot at 9.15am today, in line with other states, territories and the Commonwealth.

FULL LOCKDOWN DETAILS HERE

Originally published as Police launch traffic operation as lockdown begins