With Noosa booked solid for Easter, accommodation house owners were on tenterhooks hoping the three-day Brisbane COVID19 lockdown announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszcauk on Monday could be lifted for the holidays.
Dan Gleeson of The Retreat Beach Houses at Peregian Beach said it couldn’t have come at a worse time.
“We’re booked out for Easter with nearly all Brisbane people,” he said. “It’ll be pretty rough if the lockdown continues. We’ve had pretty much everybody who booked in ring us to see what we think. We don’t know. We just have to wait and see what happens.”
Jacinta Delahunty from Sunseeker Holiday Apartments at Sunshine Beach said they had a couple of cancellations on Monday from Brisbane people.
The apartments are fully booked for Easter with Brisbane and Melbourne guests and the phones rang hot all day Monday. “It’s very difficult,” she said.
Gareth Doran of Hastings Street resorts Ocean Breeze Resort and Saks on Hastings said they’d received cancellations and people ringing to change their dates.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty. Everyone is sitting tight,” he said.
Gareth said they were fully booked the entire school holidays with guests due to arrive from Melbourne, Tasmania and Queensland.
Tourism Noosa CEO Melanie Anderson agreed the timing of the Brisbane lockdown was unfortunate as we head into Easter and the busy school holiday period and it would have an impact on tourism operators.
“We are urging Brisbane visitors not to travel to Noosa until the lockdown is lifted and encourage any visitors to Noosa to adhere to Queensland Health’s requirements regarding mandatory masks and social distancing,” she said.
“Our tourism operators are resilient and we will get through this together.”
Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart reiterated Ms Anderson’s comments, saying Noosa was open for business but it was important we all follow the Chief Health Officer’s requirements.
She said residents and business operators needed to remain vigilant, in the wake of current restrictions placed on Greater Brisbane and across Queensland.
“Masks are now mandatory when entering any hospitality venue or eatery or on public transport, so I encourage all visitors and residents to follow the new restrictions,” she said.
“Obviously the Brisbane lockdown will have an impact on our shire, as we head into Easter, but if we do the right thing over the next few days, hopefully we can get through the Easter break unscathed.
“If you are travelling from Brisbane to Noosa, please don’t until the lockdown is lifted.
“We need everyone to cooperate,” she said.
“It’s been tough for many of our operators and while Noosa is not included in the Greater Brisbane lockdown, it’s important we all stay vigilant and keep up the social distancing,” she said.
“As the Premier said this is a highly contagious strain of the virus and if you have any symptoms, no matter how mild, go and get a test. It’s quick and painless.”
