‘CLOSE GREAT OCEAN ROAD’
Senator’s push after coast crowds ignore rules Outdoor groups larger than two now banned Geelong a virus hot spot as cases climb to 37
SENATOR Sarah Henderson says the Great Ocean Road should be closed to tourists and day trippers after people ignored social-distancing advice by flocking to local beaches on Saturday.
SENATOR Sarah Henderson says the Great Ocean Road should be closed to tourists and day trippers after people brazenly ignored social distancing advice by flocking to local beaches on Saturday.
Senator Henderson welcomed decisions by councils to close beaches but said that more action needed to be taken to save lives.
“It was very disappointing to see the high number of visitors travelling to our region and gathering on local beaches,” Senator Henderson said.
“This is in blatant defiance of the directive from both the Prime Minister and Premier.
“This puts lives at risk and really makes my blood boil.”
Senator Henderson said anyone who did not live in the area should be banned from travelling along the Great Ocean Road.
“With another warm day forecast for later this week, I believe we may need to restrict access to the Great Ocean Road to stop the day trippers and tourists,” Senator Henderson said.
The State Government would not say if was considering the ban but has urged Victorians to stay home.
“No one needs to spend the day at the beach or the weekend touring regional Victoria,” Bellarine MP Lisa Neville said.
“That will only spread the virus and will mean more people will die.”
Travelling to beach houses is not banned but social distancing must be adhered to.
Beachgoers flocked to Ocean Grove, Torquay and Point Addis and ignored social distancing in a display one local described as an “almost literal wave of stupidity and selfishness”.
While the beach was only moderately busy and most people on the sand were spread out — in the water it was a completely different story.
“These people were treating it like a holiday, not a global pandemic,” the witness, a longtime resident, said.
“There were clusters of swimmers and surfers bunched tightly together in what was an almost literal wave of stupidity and selfishness.”
Surfers could be seen clearly defying advice to stay 1.5m away from other people.
Surf Coast Mayor Rose Hodge on Saturday afternoon said it was inevitable beaches on the coast would also be closed if people defied social distancing advice.
Cr Hodge said she was “flabbergasted” by the behaviour of beachgoers. “People aren’t being responsible — it’s really sad,” Cr Hodge said.
“It’s inevitable if the rules aren’t being followed, the beaches will be closed.”
And just hours after Cr Hodge’s comments, beaches and several access roads and carparks in the municipality were closed in an action co-ordinated by the Surf Coast Shire Council, Great Ocean Road Coast Committee and the State Government.
Beach closed signs are now in place between Torquay and Lorne.
Gathering and sitting on beaches is outlawed but surfing, swimming, running, walking or exercising dogs are permitted.