Visitors are being told to stay away from Ipswich conservation estates over the Easter long weekend.
This includes the popular bushwalking trails of Paperbark Flats, Harding’s Paddock and Flinders Plum, and trails used by runners and mountain bike riders at White Rock and Spring Mountain.
Queensland Health advice is for people to stay at home.
“It is important for people to heed that advice,” CEO David Farmer said.
“Normally, like most tourist spots, we’d be welcoming people to our city over the Easter break, but this is very different. All non-essential travel is unlawful and can’t be tolerated.
“As tempting as it might be to explore the great outdoors, now is not the time to be discovering new areas.”
Picnic areas will be strictly closed.
Conservation estates will be open to local residents who would normally use the areas for exercise, but there is the potential for police identification checks on visitors.
Mr Farmer said Ipswich was becoming a tourism hub for bushwalkers, trail runners and nature lovers.
“And rightly so. We have some of the most beautiful forests in the southeast corner, and the popular Flinders Peak hiking trail. When this is all over, we will be welcoming people back,” he said.
“In the meantime, we’ll be taking the same hard line as we’re seeing with Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast beaches, and other popular gathering places.
“The authorities are saying they’re very pleased with the progress we’re making to control COVID-19, and we don’t want that to change over Easter.”
The stay-away measure for visitors will remain after Easter.
Read more
Just wondering how the management of the weeds along sections of the north-west tourist route up Mt Flinders is going. I’ve had noreply since notifying ICC of the alarming proliferation of cobblers-peg and other weeds there. I imagine it’d be good to get them dealt with befofre they dry out and spread their seeds even furtheer afield.
What about the campers on farms digging holes for toilets.
The illegal camping at rest areas and farms.