Hundreds of people apply for a 'travel ban loophole' in a desperate bid to spend Easter on an idyllic Australian holiday island
- Redland City Mayor Karen Williams urged state government to close loop hole
- Residents have applied to change their address to North Stradbroke Island
- Restrictions prevent travel to the destination amid the coronavirus pandemic
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams wants the state government to stop people from changing their driver's licence address to North Stradbroke Island after 300 applications were made in just over a week
Hundreds of people are exploiting a loophole to bypass a travel ban to a popular Queensland holiday destination, says a local mayor.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams wants the state government to stop people from changing their driver's licence address to North Stradbroke Island after 300 applications were made in just over a week.
'While some of these applications may be genuine, with so many in just over a week, it is clear some are trying to find a loophole by claiming they permanently live on the island,' Cr Williams said.
Non-permanent residents have been banned from going to the island, just east of Brisbane, as part of COVID-19 restrictions.
Non-permanent residents have been banned from going to the island, just east of Brisbane, as part of COVID-19 restrictions
The ban means people who do not live on the island cannot travel there for a holiday or any kind of recreation.
The island is an extremely popular school holiday destination.
'I realise this travel ban will be inconvenient for those with holiday homes on the island but right now, the health of the community must take priority,' Cr Williams said.
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State Disaster Co-ordinator Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said police are aware of the applications.
'It's not a game to work out how you can game the system and go to your holiday home on Straddie because you want to spend the one weekend a year that you spend there at the expense of everyone else,' he said.
Australians have been warned not to travel during the Easter holiday season as the number of coronavirus cases hit 6,104.
Queensland have taken extreme measures in regards to stopping the spread of coronavirus by closing their borders for the first time since the outbreak of the Spanish Flu in 1919.
Queensland have taken extreme measures in regards to stopping the spread of coronavirus by closing their borders for the first time since the outbreak of the Spanish Flu in 1919. Pictured: Queensland border control on April 9
Only residents - and exemptions such as emergency services, government workers or the transporting of goods - are allowed to cross the border from April 3.
Certain beaches have also been closed to avoid temptation over the long weekend.
Gold Coast Council closed some of its most famous beaches, Surfers Paradise, Coolangatta and The Spit at midnight on Tuesday, but left others open.
Oher beaches were left open for both swimming and exercise, in a move Mayor Tom Tate said was aimed at keeping 'out-of-towners' off the sand.
New South Wales has also closed beaches in the eastern suburbs, such as Bondi, on March 21 after thousands breached social distancing rules.
Australians have been warned not to travel during the Easter holiday season as the number of coronavirus cases hit 6,010.
New South Wales residents have also been warned to stay put during Easter.
'We will be going through caravan parks early issuing warnings to people that may think they can get around these laws,' Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said.
'It is important over this weekend that we continue the good work and we continue to isolate, as frustrating as that may be.'
Australians have been warned not to travel during the Easter holiday season as the number of coronavirus cases hit 6,104
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