Community groups ask visitors to stay at home

Unease among Peninsula residents about the influx of visitors to the area for Easter and the school holidays, prompted leaders of community groups to put out messages asking them to return to their permanent homes.

Wagstaffe-Killcare Community Association president Mr Mike Allsop said that normally visitors were most welcome, adding to the vitality and economy of the region.

However, unfortunately now it was becoming a source of concern because of the non-essential travel restrictions to stop the spread of Covid-19.

"Our local State MP, Mr Adam Crouch, has assured us that current rules to refrain from living away from the primary residence are to be reinforced quite strongly for the school holiday break," he said.

"This is targeted especially at holiday rentals but also applies to owners of holiday homes in our area who are encouraged not to take up residence here while the movement restrictions are in place.

"If you are already here and wish to stay, please ensure it is for the long haul, and avoid travelling to and from your primary residence," Mr Allsop said.

Pearl Beach Progress Association communications officer Ms Lynne Lillico said residents at Pearl Beach were also concerned that many non-permanent residents were arriving in the lead-up to Easter.

"The police were roaming around here before Easter trying to identify people that maybe shouldn't have been here but you can't expect them to come all the time," she said.

"The beaches were crowded and a lot of the locals were disappointed," she said.

"There seems to be a considerable number of visitors in rental houses.

"I know it's a hard call if you have a holiday house here and regularly visit, some people come up every weekend.

"A lot left after Easter and it's fairly quiet now but there's still a lot of people around that you know are visitors.

"It's really hard - if they're behaving properly, what can you do?"

Member for Terrigal Mr Adam Crouch said he was pleased to hear from police that generally the community did the right thing over the Easter break.

He said both Brisbane Water and Tuggerah Lakes police reported good results but warned police would not ease up on those failing to abide by social distancing rules.

"Only a very few fines were issued to people across the Coast who didn't listen to move-on advice."

"I want to thank everyone in the community who have been doing the right thing and remind everyone that they have to keep following the regulations," Mr Crouch said.

"By doing the right thing we are keeping out community safe."

SOURCE

Media release, 15 Apr 2020

Adam Crouch, Member for Terrigal

Interview (Sue Murray), 16 Apr 2020

Lynne Lillico, Pearl Beach Progress Association.

Media statement, 4 Apr 2020

Mike Allsop, WTKCA