The campgrounds managed by Gladstone Regional Council are to re-open today in an effort to stimulate the local economy which has been battered by the Covid-19 pandemic.
On July 28, the council caught many grey nomads by surprise when it closed its campgrounds including the extremely popular one at Calliope River.
That decision was taken after the local authority said it was unable to meet the public health directions surrounding virus tracking and containment.
The Gladstone Observer reports that, since that date, council has been working to find a solution to the issue that has potentially impacted thousands of people and cost the local economy tens of thousands of dollars.
Mayor Matt Burnett said that, based on advice from Queensland Health, campgrounds that were free of charge and did not have shared amenities (other than toilets) were not required to operate under an approved Covid-Safe plan.
“Gladstone Regional Council will put signage in place to encourage physical distancing, hand and respiratory hygiene and will undertake regular cleaning of toilets at these campgrounds,” he told the Gladstone Observer. “QR codes will be located on signage at the entry to campgrounds for contact tracing purposes.”
Besides Calliope, other campsites to re-open today include: Picnic Area – north and south side; Futter Creek Camping Reserve, Boynedale; The Oaks Camping Ground, Facing Island; and South End Camping Ground, Curtis Island.
“To make everyone’s stay at our campgrounds a healthy and enjoyable experience, council asks visitors to these areas to practice physical and social distancing, good personal hygiene including use of hand sanitiser, hand washing and covering your mouth if sneezing or coughing,” Cr Burnett said. “Council asks visitors to not attend one of its managed campgrounds if you have returned from overseas or a Covid-19 hotspot in the past 14 days, have cold or flu-like symptoms, or have been in contact with a confirmed case of Covid-19 in the past 14 days.”
It would be nice to think that shire employees didn’t have to clean up after people who are getting the use of area for free,
Hello? A council recognising the value of freedom campers. Great work, Mayor Matt, Hopefully some other Councils will follow…..
“ council has been working to find a solution to the issue that has potentially impacted thousands of people and cost the local economy tens of thousands of dollars. “
Goes to show there is some innovative councils well done to the mayor and his staff