Police to ramp up presence
POLICE will pour extra resources into the Gold Coast this weekend to keep tabs on an expected “influx” of visitors as lockdown restrictions are eased.
Queensland’s coronavirus lockdown measures will be relaxed from Saturday and will allow for people to travel within 50 kilometres of their home.
Most Gold Coast residents will be able to travel freely along the coastline, but some in northern suburbs, such as Ormeau, will be restricted from commuting to Coolangatta beach under the new rules.
Up to 60 additional officers will swarm the Gold Coast as part of a “robust” high-visibility operation at the weekend targeting social distancing and health direction compliance.
It comes as police revealed about 80 $1334 infringement notices had been issued across the region, three of which were for “deliberate” border breaches.
Gold Coast Police Chief
Superintendent Mark Wheeler said officers would be patrolling popular beaches and national parks.
“This weekend … we expect an influx of people into the Gold Coast area. There will be people who will take advantage of the easing of restrictions,” Supt Wheeler said.
“We would ask people to act reasonably and to act within the guidelines.”
The southbound lanes of the M1 will also have a high police presence to ensure motorists are sticking to the rules.
Supt Wheeler said digital maps would be used to measure the distance of travellers, but discretion would be used with enforcement.
“The first thing to establish is why they are coming down here. If they are coming down here for an essential reason … the 50km does not apply,” he said yesterday.
“We will look at the reason … and then we’ll look at where they’ve come from.
“Our last resort is to issue infringement notices and I think the operation that we’ve run to date, where we’ve intercepted 460 vehicles and turned 30 around without having to issue any COVID-19-related infringement notices, is a testament to that.”
State Disaster Co-ordinator Steve Gollschewski said yesterday authorities did not want to see “large-scale movement of people going from Brisbane to the Gold Coast” at the weekend.
“The intention of this is allowing people to get out and about, living their lives,” he said of the easing of restrictions.
Meanwhile, police yesterday revealed 51,700 motorists had been intercepted driving into Queensland at the Gold Coast as part of the strict border entry conditions. More than 1400 cars have also been turned away since March 27.
“Almost half of all border crossings into Queensland occur here on the Gold Coast, and our officers, along with Australian Federal Police and Australian Defence Force personnel have been working around the clock to safeguard our state,” Supt Wheeler said.