Council cancels Schoolies program

WHITSUNDAY Regional Council has officially cancelled its 2020 Schoolies program.

Councillors voted unanimously at yesterday’s council meeting to cancel the SevenDay Safety Response Program due to the ongoing issues and risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, private agency Schoolies.com is still taking bookings for its 2020 Schoolies program in Airlie Beach.

The decision comes after the Whitsunday Schoolies Advisory Committee concluded “it would be a too high a risk to the community to run the program this year”.

Mayor Andrew Willcox said the event’s cancellation was a precautionary measure.

“The risk of a positive COVID case occurring if we went ahead with Whitsunday Schoolies, and the flow-on impacts to the Whitsundays as a popular tourist destination, is just too high,” he said.

“Constantly changing restrictions have made planning even a month ahead impossible so the commonsense thing to do was cancel.”

However, Cr Willcox said the region was “still open for business” and welcomed holiday-makers.

“We need to inform them that there potentially mightn’t be many Schoolies around, so come and take advantage, enjoy this beautiful part of the world and also look after our tourism operators and restaurants because a lot of the kids don’t necessarily go to the restaurants,” he said.

This argument was echoed by Mama Africa Bar and Nightclub and Gypsy Car Rentals owner Rich Close, who said cancellation of the council’s 2020 Schoolies program may not be a bad thing.

“When Schoolies is on, it keeps away your normal domestic travellers,” he said.

>>Students who have registered for Whitsunday Schoolies activities through the program website are eligible for a full refund.