SCHOOLIES COAST SURGE

COVID FEARS: Lorne flooded with bookings as teen school leavers plan post-pandemic party

HUNDREDS of Melbourne teens have booked a spot in Lorne for schoolies this December, but coronavirus uncertainty shrouds the celebrations. Authorities are working on COVID-safe measures to prevent the highly infectious virus spreading during the festivities.

HUNDREDS of Melbourne teens are booked in to descend on Lorne for schoolies this December, but uncertainty caused by coronavirus shrouds the celebrations.

Authorities are working on COVID-safe measures to prevent the highly infectious virus spreading through festivities.

Schoolies.com chief executive Matt Lloyd said the company had just under 700 Year 12 students booked with it to celebrate schoolies at Lorne.

“The majority of these are from the Melbourne metropolitan area,” Mr Lloyd said.

School leavers are set to travel between December 3 and 10, he said.

“We are closely monitoring government restrictions to see if these students will be permitted to celebrate with their friends,” he said.

Under current restrictions, Melburnians are not allowed to travel in regional Victoria, but Premier Daniel Andrews has indicated he will lift the ‘ring of steel’ in November.

However, no hard date has been announced.

Current accommodation caps don’t allow large group bookings.

A Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman said upcoming changes in restrictions would be made subject to trigger points and public health advice.

“Schoolies is no different to any other party or gathering and will be subject to the same rules and public gathering limits,” she said.

“Directions in place at the time will apply.

“We’re working in partnership with government agencies to have careful and safe approaches to significant life and public events such as the Cup Day, schoolies and summer holidays.”

Surf Coast Shire general manager of culture and community Chris Pike said it was impossible to tell how many schoolies would hit the coast this year, but in a normal year it was about 2000.

“Preparations to implement the Good Times, Great Breaks safety response initiative are well under way,” Mr Pike said.

“The initiative aims to enhance the safety of school leavers and ensure respect for the communities where they gather.

“Council works with Victoria Police, Great Ocean Road Health, Red Frogs Australia, Great Ocean Road Coast Committee, security services and Lorne traders and accommodation providers to co-ordinate this harm minimisation initiative.”

Mr Pike said this year, the DHHS joined planning to ensure events such as schoolies were linked into their COVID summer planning.

In a normal year, school leavers generate more than $3m of expenditure in the Surf Coast Shire, Mr Pike said.