Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to remain closed while Sydney arrivals tested for COVID

THE Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park will remain closed for at least the next 24 hours at the request of Traditional Owners

• Uluru national park closed amid coronavirus fears
• More than 3800 in the NT asked to self-isolate after NSW outbreak

THE Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park will remain closed for at least the next 24 hours at the request of Traditional Owners.

“We have asked (the Parks department) to keep the park shut for the next 24 hours until all people in the resort from Sydney have either tested negative or left the park,” said Thalia Bohl-van den Boogard, CEO of the Mutitjulu Community Aboriginal Corporation.

A flight carrying around 30 passengers from Sydney, including some from hot spot areas, arrived into Yulara on Monday.

Another plane is due to touch down at Yulara airport on Tuesday but Ms Bohl-van den Boogard said it is her understanding the inbound flight won’t be carrying any passengers.

She said it is arriving to repatriate those New South Wales residents already at the resort who wish to return to NSW rather than undertake quarantine.

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Ms Bohl-van den Boogard said despite the decision to allow travellers from hot spots to land in Yulara in the first place, she has been pleased with how the situation has been handled by the organisations involved.

“Voyages (the company that runs Ayers Rock Resort) made the decision to let the plane land yesterday and that’s a choice for them, but now we have to make a choice to protect the community.

“But I think we’ve had some really good and clear communication with Parks and Voyages. And I think people have listened to the messages that have been sent out by Voyages and Jetstar saying that if you don’t need to travel, don’t travel. That’s a good sign.”

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“We’re hoping that we can re-open the park in the next 24 to 36 hours.”