COUNCIL UNVEILS VIRUS MEASURES
THE Gold Coast City Council will close more than 600 playgrounds and all its outdoor barbecues as part of emergency measures to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Mayor Tom Tate, speaking at the Evandale chambers yesterday, said the new measures came after a meeting of the council’s disaster management group this morning.
The new measures include:
● The closure of 600 playgrounds and 347 pieces of gym equipment.
● Park bookings suspended for at least two months.
● All city community centres will close from midnight excluding usage for essential health and social services.
● The council’s free tree service will be suspended.
● Bushfire hazard reduction burn programs will be temporarily suspended and will be reassessed in two months time. The decision was taken to prevent smoke causing health issues with those afflicted with respiratory issues that can be exacerbated by COVID-19.
● Water and recycling centres remain open with social distancing measures put in place. Only every second bay will be available.
● Tourist parks will remain open for essential travel only, excluding camp grounds on South Stradbroke Island, which are closed.
Cr Tate said power would be shut off to the barbecues and urged people to take social distancing seriously.
“We are working very hard to manage this situation,” he said. “Our essential services will not miss a beat. At playgrounds and barbecues you will see signage but I am asking people to see it is closed, take note of the signage and have some goodwill.
“People are behaving on the beaches so the message we want to get out is that this is very serious.”
Despite the suspension of the Hopo ferry service, other forms of public transport will be unaffected, with buses and light rail continuing to operate on their normal schedules.
Council has offered to convert its community centres to testing locations for COVID-19 if needed by Queensland Health.
Cr Tate urged locals frustrated by the shutdown of barbecue equipment against holding parties at their private residences.
“Please look at your loved ones because they could get contaminated because of your mates, ” he said.
“It is you who did it because you organised the barbecue. you will never live it down, you will never forgive yourself if you do.”
Council on Tuesday announced its initial $3 million coronavirus stimulus package, which was expected to be followed yesterday by another focusing on rates relief for struggling locals.
However, an announcement was held off until another day.