Arthur Gorrie
Last year’s health emergency affecting Inskip Point campers may yet lead to a permanent reduction in camper numbers, according to Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon.
Ms Scanlon responded on Tuesday to a question about when the area’s camping capacity of 1100 would be restored to its pre-Covid capacity of 2300.
It may never happen, the Minister’s response indicated.
The question, from Gympie MP Tony Perrett asked about “any proposals to permanently reduce the camping capacity from 2300“ after stomach bug outbreaks led to the evacuation of camping areas near one set of waterless toilets”.
“The Department of Environment and Science is assessing camping capacity based on latest health advice and as a result is not currently planning to adjust capacity for the foreseeable future,“ she said.
But she said reducing the density of campers at peak visitation periods was “the most appropriate preventative public health response”.
“A detailed analysis of the setting and transmission circumstances of the most recent, and historical norovirus outbreaks at Inskip Peninsula has been undertaken.
“It has been determined that high densities of campers during peak visitation periods represent an unreasonably heightened risk of community transmission of the highly contagious norovirus strains should an infected person enter the site.
The virus was one of the most prominent gastro viruses in Australia, infecting around two million people annually.
“The most appropriate, preventative public health response is to reduce density of campers at peak visitation periods when outbreaks have been most prevalent,“ she said.
