More than 300 backpackers have staged a beach party and left behind a trail of destruction in complete disregard of Covid-19 restrictions.
Angry locals awoke to find rubbish strewn across Belongil Beach at Byron Bay, on the New South Wales north coast, on Sunday morning.
No more than 100 people are allowed to gather outdoors in New South Wales, though locals claim there were upwards of 300 people gathered on the sand on Saturday.
Photos have been uploaded to social media showing mounds of rubbish piled across the beach.
Plastic and glass bottles were found heaped together with empty cardboard boxes and discarded plastic bags.
More than 300 backpackers have staged a beach party and left behind a trail of destruction in complete disregard of Covid-19 restrictions (pictured, rubbish found on the beach on Sunday)
Angry locals awoke to find rubbish strewn across Belongil Beach at Byron Bay, on the New South Wales north coast, on Sunday morning
‘There were smouldering logs from the fire & broken glass throughout the sand,’ one angry local wrote.
‘The sand had so much buried trash that I was stepping on buried bottles, cans & trash of every description. This is bl***y disgusting.’
Other locals claimed the flames from the bonfire were so big they could be seen from all over the bay.
‘The beach needs patrolling to stop this c***, maybe locals that live nearby can report to the police,’ one local said.
Local police have been breaking up large public gatherings in the area since Thursday.
They have already doled out 73 parking infringements and are considering handing out more to organisers and attendees.
Tweed and Byron Police District Commander, Superintendent David Roptell condemned the revellers.
‘It’s not fair for council workers and locals to have to clean the significant mess that is being left after each of these gatherings.
‘I urge those who are intent on meeting in parks and beaches to not only do so safely but be respectful to the environment and those around you by cleaning up after yourself.’
Superintendent Roptell warned public celebrations would be closely monitored over the coming days.
‘This year’s Christmas and New Year’s celebrations must be conducted in a COVID-safe environment,’ Supt Roptell said.
‘In saying that, we have a very clear message to those choosing to come to Byron over the Christmas and New Year period – this year is very different, there will be no large gatherings, no dance parties in the park. Social distancing is the new normal, and we all have to do our bit to stop the spread.
On Saturday, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard slammed ‘backpackers’ for not ‘giving a damn about the rest of Sydney’ after they flouted COVID-19 restrictions to party on Christmas Day.
Some 300 revellers ignored social distancing as they partied at Bronte Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs before riot police broke up the party at 3pm on Friday
Footage showed revellers wearing festive Santa hats, dancing closely together and on each others’ shoulders in a large crowd, as the Sydney outbreak grew to 118 confirmed cases
Some 300 revellers ignored social distancing as they partied at Bronte Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs before riot police broke up the party at 3pm on Friday.
Footage showed revellers wearing festive Santa hats, dancing closely together and on each others’ shoulders in a large crowd, as the Sydney outbreak grew to 118 confirmed cases.
No face masks could be seen and social distancing was non-existent.
A 25-year-old man was issued a Court Attendance Notice for allegedly failing to comply with a move on direction from police.
Mr Hazzard said the behaviour of the partygoers was ‘absolutely appalling’ and could lead to a ‘super-spreader event’ during a press conference on Boxing Day.
‘People in the Northern Beaches have been doing their part big-time to keep not only themselves but the rest of Sydney safe,’ Mr Hazzard said.
Mr Hazzard said the behaviour of the partygoers was ‘absolutely appalling’ and could lead to a ‘super-spreader event’ during a press conference on Boxing Day
‘It is absolutely appalling to see what was clearly a group of people, a large gathering of people, who didn’t give a damn about the rest of Sydney.
‘Let me tell you, that event, I am hoping, will not become a super spreader event but there is every chance that it could be.
‘In the earlier stages of the pandemic, we had some challenges with backpackers, with backpackers who clearly wanted to party in the eastern suburbs – it cannot go on.
‘There is still a major risk for us with COVID, and my message to those people and people who know any of those people, is tell them to stop it, cut it out, or you may well end up with the virus yourself or you may end up being part of a super-spreader event.’
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