Fears over Perth tourists

Augusta-Margaret River shire residents are increasingly calling for visitor restrictions to kerb the spread of COVID-19 in the region.

Despite a Federal Government edict banning all but non-essential travel, some residents fear the Easter long weekend and looming – and perhaps early – school holidays could so a rush on vacant accommodation options.

Vasse MLA Libby Mettam has flagged those same concerns this morning.

“There is fair concern in the community regarding the number of visitors coming to the region for holidays and Easter,” she said.

“Today, I will be writing to the Ministers for Health and Tourism, to ask them to urgently request people not to make non-essential travel to this region.

“It is imperative we also are supported with additional capacity to cope with the pandemic.

“I appreciate there will be a number of students and people who will be coming home to properties they own here,” Ms Mettam said.

“While this is an extremely difficult time for small business, our efforts must be to ensure we have additional resources to cope with the natural population increase.

“With many of our hospitality businesses scaling back, now is not the time for leisure travel.”

More to come.