Noosa-bound Schoolies Plan apos;nightly Bush Doofs apos; And Beach Parties
Teenagers heading to Noosa for Schoolies celebrations are already planning hidden 'bush doof' parties and seeking out illegal drugs on the Queensland coast.
More Schoolies than ever before have set their sights on the Sunshine Coast for 2020 after official events were cancelled on the [/news/gold-coast/index.html Gold Coast] and flights to Bali and [/news/fiji/index.html Fiji] were grounded due to coronavirus restrictions.
Critics of the event were slammed for not trusting graduates to be safe and respectful, and instead said the teens were entitled to celebrate after enduring a horror final year of school during the Covid pandemic.
But newly unearthed messages suggest the teenagers aren't looking to come to Noosa to relax and enjoy the quiet town, as tourism bodies suggested.
'If everyone packs their sh*t and goes to Granite Bay and sets up early... It'd be a mad beach doof and far away for no cops or locals to hear,' one of the school leavers suggested.
Others agreed, while one said Noosa should be prepared for 'mass bush doofs on the beach every night'.
From November 20, an estimated 5,000 school leavers will descend on Hastings Street and surrounds - after organised events and beach parties were cancelled on the Gold Coast to stem the spread of Covid
Newly unearthed messages suggest the teenagers aren't looking to come to Noosa to relax and enjoy the quiet town, as earlier suggested by tourism bodies
More than 20,000 partygoers descended on the Glitter Strip in 2019 - and school leavers are expected to arrive in Noosa in droves in 2020
Poll Would you be concerned if 5,000 Schoolies came to your hometown this year?
Yes No Would you be concerned if 5,000 Schoolies came to your hometown this year?
Yes 89 votes No 9 votes
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The teenagers, who range in age from 17 to 18, are concerned that the few venues in Noosa they would be interested in attending will reach maximum capacity early on given the sheer amount of people expected to arrive on the coast from Friday.
The tourism and hospitality industries are hoping an estimated 5,000 school leavers will inject much-needed money into the economy, which was crippled by Covid and the subsequent lockdowns.
But some locals worried their personal safety wasn't taken into consideration before Noosa agreed to become the unofficial Schoolies destination of 2020.
Others are simply concerned the cash injection isn't worth the potential damage to local beaches and nature reserves.
In response, Tourism Noosa chief executive officer Melanie Anderson told The Courier Mail locals should not be concerned by the influx of tourists.
'We don't have nightclubs so they're not coming here to party,' she said.
'If everyone packs their sh*t and goes to Granite Bay (pictured) and sets up early... It'd be a mad beach doof and far away for no cops or locals to hear,' one of the school leavers suggested
Schoolies responded to a question asking what they were actually hoping to do for a week in Noosa
'We're not the Gold Coast, we do shut down fairly early... There are rules when you come to Noosa. You have to respect them.'
It now appears that message might not have reached Schoolies ahead of their arrival.
'We can have a massive f**k off rave on the beach... Huge beach doof,' one said in a post.
In a separate post, another teen asked 'who needs bags', which many on the post assumed was a reference to cocaine.
'I'll black out in the national park on a copious amount of substances,' one person responded.
Another reveller asked who would 'come to the Fairy Pools on caps?'. The Noosa Fairy Pools are a short hike away from the main beach and can be extremely dangerous during high tide.
Another reveller asked who would 'come to the Fairy Pools on caps?'. The Noosa Fairy Pools are a short hike away from the main beach and can be extremely dangerous during high tide
Damning photographs taken at various Schoolies events across the Gold Coast in recent years show beaches littered with rubbish from the night before. Pictured: Cavill Avenue in 2019
Tourism Noosa chief executive officer Melanie Anderson (pictured) said Schoolies who choose Noosa as their destination of choice are likely not coming 'to party' given venues close early and there aren't any night clubs
Another teen asked 'who needs bags', which many on the post assumed was in reference to cocaine
From November 20, an estimated 5,000 school leavers will descend on Hastings Street and surrounds after organised events and beach parties were cancelled on the Gold Coast to stem the spread of Covid.
Red Frog volunteers - who usually offer support to teens during their stay - will also skip the Glitter Strip, instead deploying at least 100 people north to Noosa.
Red Frogs Queensland's Chris George said they're 'bolstering support for locals in Noosa' but really aren't sure what to expect from school leavers this year.
'We're not quite sure until we get there and find out,' he said, admitting that while early estimates anticipate about 5,000 Schoolies, that number doesn't factor in private bookings or AirBnB stays.
The volunteers work round-the-clock during Schoolies week to offer support to the teenagers, from walking them home to ensure they get there safely to cooking pancakes for breakfast the next morning.
But some locals are concerned the Red Frogs won't be able to protect Noosa's pristine beaches and nature.
Some locals are simply concerned the cash injection isn't worth the potential damage to local beaches and nature reserves
'Partying til dawn in their AirBnBs, drinking, lighting fires on Main Beach... stay safe everyone,' one resident said.
'Many of us bought in Noosa so we wouldn't have to endure such a thing as Schoolies,' one longtime Noosaville resident said. 'Who in their right mind would consider it a good idea from a health risk point of view... given the age demographic of most residents in Noosa.'
Another said: 'The Gold Coast is refusing to have them. Every Schoolies year has been a disaster... The council always come out at a loss, replacing damaged infrastructure... Good luck Noosa.'
Damning photographs taken at various Schoolies events across the Gold Coast in recent years show beaches littered with rubbish from the night before.
According to Schoolies.com chief executive Matt Lloyd, the lack of school leavers travelling to the Gold Coast over the next two weeks will cost the region tens of millions of dollars.
'It's disappointing for kynghidongduong.vn building managers and unit owners but hopefully things will return to some sort of normality in 2021,' he said.
Red Frog volunteers - who usually offer support to teens during their stay - will also skip the Glitter Strip, instead deploying at least 100 people north to Noosa
Tourism Noosa chief executive officer Melanie Anderson said Schoolies who choose Noosa as their destination of choice are likely not coming 'to party' given venues close early and there aren't any night clubs. Instead, she hopes they will behave responsibly and enjoy the dining and facilities on offer. Pictured: A restaurant on Noosa's Main Beach
Pictured: Melanie Anderson
'Once the government cancelled the official celebrations on the Gold Coast, we started to see a lot of interest in Noosa and it's gathered momentum.'
'I'd say the numbers heading to Noosa will be in the thousands.'
While tens of thousands of school leavers normally descend on the Gold Coast in the last two weeks of November, others flood tour bali giá rẻ or Fiji for other official celebrations.
With international travel halted as a result of the pandemic, Noosa has become one of the most sought after destinations.
Others are choosing to still go to the Gold Coast for unofficial celebrations, while Airlie Beach and Byron Bay have proven popular choices, as well.
'They won't have events to keep them safe and occupied, so they will be roaming the street drunk and with no destination. They can't dance in a club or watch a band... It'll be chaos,' one Noosa local warned.
But most locals are excited to see the main street and beaches packed once more after the Covid pandemic flattened the economy - which relies significantly on tourism.
Investors are 'taking a chance' and renting their homes to groups of teenagers while businesses are putting on extra staff to cope with demand and security to monitor the venues.
The overwhelming response to the Schoolies criticism - particularly from the younger demographic - is to 'harden up'.
'There's more to Noosa than just being God's waiting room. Young adults are as welcome here as anyone else. They deserve to celebrate after the year they've had,' one woman said.
Most locals are excited to see the main street and beaches packed once more after the Covid pandemic flattened the economy - which relies significantly on tourism. Pictured: Schoolies at an earlier celebration on the Gold Coast