SCHOOLIES CROSSROAD

THE State Government is at a critical turning point in its relationship with Schoolies.

In 2019, most schoolies will be of legal drinking age due to changes in the schooling system. This has sparked calls for the taxpayer-funded babysitting of the event to be downgraded.

The argument behind the emergency services initiative in Surfers Paradise has been to encourage underage drinkers to get out of their apartments and sober up with a dance party on the beach.

What today’s report shows is the carnage which occurs in the apartments.

Owner-occupiers who spent $500,000 to buy their apartment are heartbroken by the trail of damage in common areas, let alone having to clean filth from their balconies and wait 30 minutes for a lift after sleepless nights.

They want to meet with State Government ministers when the Palaszczuk Cabinet “Governs from the Regions” tour reaches the Coast on July 31-August 4.

Their clear message to the Government is start developing an “exit strategy” for the event.

A unit owner explained the argument of residents when he said “I don’t want to get rid of Schoolies, I want to get rid of them from our building”. Q1 has banned schoolies, the owners of the new look Island have put up the no vacancy sign and at least another four major towers could follow.

The clear messages for a listening government are not to encourage promotion of the event and remove every possible obstacle to body corporates wanting to ban the Year 12 school leavers.