Tensions are high in Victoria’s tourism destinations as school holidays loom

The prospect of heaving holiday crowds has made some popular tourist areas in Victoria nervous about the spread of COVID-19.

COVID officers Joey Nguyen and Sonia O’Neill go door-to-door in hotspot suburbs to check in with residents, such as Sasha and Stephen Torsi. Picture: Nicole Cleary

The prospect of heaving holiday crowds has made some popular tourist areas nervous about the spread of COVID-19, with one ­accommodation provider banning visitors from Melbourne virus hotspots, only to backtrack a day later.

On Tuesday evening, Victoria’s Great Ocean Road Coast Committee — which manages caravan parks in Torquay, Anglesea and Lorne — announced it would not accept bookings from residents from the six Melbourne local government areas identified as having high transmission rates.

In a statement on its website, the committee said it regretted the decision to ban residents from Brimbank, Hume, Moreland, Darebin, Cardinia and Casey but stressed it was in the interests of “protecting the health and safety of our staff, visitors and coast”.

“We will not be lifting these ­restrictions until the Victorian government advises that community transmission in these areas is under control,” it said.

However, by Wednesday afternoon the statement was updated to read: “Based on advice from the Chief Health Officer, (we) will ­welcome all guests.”

Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Brett Sutton, had earlier said ­people could travel during the holidays, as long as they were well. He discouraged travel in large groups, particularly if travel companions were from different households.

However, some residents along the coast remain wary. Chris Soreman, who runs Anglesea Fruitz, said people were “very nervous” about the beginning of the school holidays next week.

“This community is very much an older community, so they are vulnerable and worried about big crowds,” Ms Soreman said.

“When we had the recent long weekend, it was like Christmas here. So many people. It was raining, and still the beach was packed.

“And there was no social distancing. People weren’t keeping their 1.5m away.”

At Easter, as COVID-19 case numbers were escalating, Surf Coast mayor Rose Hodge famously told visitors, including holiday home owners, to stay away.

This was despite the Easter long weekend being one of the busiest for the ­region, whose economy relies heavily on tourism.

However, she said the recent Queen’s Birthday long weekend had not led to any new cases in the region, despite the large crowds.

“We don’t have hospitals and ICU departments, as Melbourne does, so if people are unwell they should stay at home,” she said.

In Victoria’s bushfire-affected Alpine region, operators of the Bright caravan park and camping ground are looking forward to welcoming visitors for the school holidays, after the fires closed the township to visitors for several weeks in January. Bright is popular with outdoor adventurers, including skiers, cyclists and bushwalkers, as well as family groups.

“Everyone here is ready for people to start coming back,” a spokeswoman said. “We haven’t noticed any cancellations suggesting that people are worried.”

Travel advice on the Department of Health and Human Ser­vices website states that Victorians are per­mitted to stay in a holiday home or private residence, as well as tourist accommodation, caravan parks and camping grounds.

“As always, we are urging Victorians to use common sense in their activities,” the advice says.

“If you feel unwell, you should stay at home. If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, however mild, you should get tested.”

The Great Ocean Road Coast Committee did not return calls.