NSW pub shuts out boats after luxury yacht COVID-19 breach
Locals only as Yamba Shores Tavern cracks down on superyacht-based multi-millionaires using its jettyUPDATED: A Melbourne-based property mogul’s attempt to circumnavigate Queensland’s COVID-19 quarantine laws has resulted in a northern NSW marina slamming the doors shut to anyone but local boaters.
Yamba Shores Tavern, which has a mooring directly outside the pub, announced yesterday that it would no longer allow visiting boats to tie up at its waterfront facilities.
The move is a reaction to the Lady Pamela, a 30.5-metre Azimut charter motor yacht that travelled from Melbourne to the Gold Coast that is believed to have breached strict COVID-19 border controls as it travelled up the eastern coastline.
On board was the family of Melbourne-based new homes construction king Mark Simmonds. Queensland authorities have already fined the Lady Pamela’s skipper for breaching quarantine measures in the state.
Restrictions roll out
Even though the Lady Pamela did not visit the pub’s marina while anchored at Yamba, the Yamba Shores Tavern said yesterday it would start restricting its facilities to local boaters.
“Whilst the Lady Pamela did not dock at our venue it’s highlighted the need to make changes,” the facility said in a statement posted on social media.
“Effective immediately any vessel that does not call the Port of Yamba home are (sic) no longer permitted to moor at our venue,” it said.
“We are a COVIDSafe venue and cannot risk putting the health and safety of both our customers and staff at risk.”
It is believed the Lady Pamela made at least six stops along the coastline as it travelled to Coomera, where the boat is now moored.
The boat was given permission to berth in Queensland.
Meanwhile, Maritime Safety Queensland has asked anyone who spots a suspected interstate vessel in the state's waters to dob them in to authorities.
Once contacted, MSQ will visit the vessels to 'assess the situation and fill in necessary COVID information form and disseminate to MSQ Arrivals (our border patrol)".
MSQ said it had been actively patrolling the Queensland/NSW border "as part of the whole of government response" to the state's lockdown.
Under the lockdown, anyone from NSW or Victoria must quarantine themselves in a government-mandated motel for 14 days before officially entering Queensland.
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