3 November 2021
Published 28 April 2020
This Labour Day weekend will be the first-time people can travel up to 50km from their home, take their boats or jet ski out on the water and enjoy a picnic in the park since stay-at-home orders came into place following the outbreak of COVID-19.
To help south east Queenslanders find permissible attractions 50km from their front door, Moreton Bay Region Industry and Tourism (MBRIT) has launched an online search portal.
Mayor Peter Flannery said all you had to do was enter your postcode and the website does the rest.
“It takes all the hassle out of knowing where you can go and what you can do in the Moreton Bay Region from midnight Friday 1 May,” he said.
“So this long weekend do go chasing waterfalls, don’t stick to the kitchen table you’ve become used to.
“Please jump in your car for takeaway coffee and meal this weekend and support our local economy, it’s guaranteed to be the best weekend you’ve had in a long time.”
MBRIT CEO Shane Newcombe said local businesses deserved the support.
“Our #MoretonBayTough campaign has showcased just how resilient our local businesses are,” he said.
“They’ve adapted and evolved to keep trading through this pandemic, now all we need is your support.
“I promise you that you won’t get a more enthusiastic reception anywhere in Queensland, than if you get in your car and come to Moreton Bay this long weekend.
“Prior to the pandemic 77 per cent of day trippers to our region were drive tourists from Brisbane and the value of tourism to our regional economy is now worth more than $1 billion.
“So it’s vital to Moreton Bay’s economic recovery that we gradually and carefully start to bring this industry back online in accordance with health advice.”
The state government has announced extra police will be out on the beat to enforce social distancing.
Mayor Flannery said he was confident locals and visitors would show the common-sense required to make the relaxed arrangements work.
“Police have actually praised locals for being some of the best in the country for abiding by social distancing restrictions,” he said.
“It’s how we’ve manage to limit the number of locally acquired cases to just 11, despite Moreton Bay Region being the third most populous Council area in the whole country.
“We’ve had no crowding at our beaches or in parks, and now as a reward we can all enjoy some relief from stay-at-home rules.
“I honestly couldn’t be prouder of my community right now, and our amazing local businesses not only deserve your support – they also need it right now.”
To find out what’s within 50km of you, head to the Visit Moreton Bay Region website.