Dunsborough Leavers given go ahead but entertainment zone shut down over coronavirus fears

Leavers will go ahead in 2020 but there are fears the cancellation of Dunsborough’s “entertainment zone” because of COVID-19 will see the return of impromptu rave parties. WA Police said the Health Department had given the green light for the end of school celebrations to take place in the South West holiday town as planned between November 23 and 26. But the organised entertainment zone, which usually caters for about 8000 leavers each night, had been cancelled because of concerns about large gatherings during the pandemic. Plans are being drawn-up for a series of smaller replacement events, but City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley said he was worried the leavers would organise their own fun. He said leavers was a “rite of passage” for WA youth and the reality was that it would be difficult to “hold back the tide” so it needed to be properly managed. “Prior to my time on council, leavers was a dreaded time of year for Dunsborough, but it evolved into a great success thanks to the police, council and not-for-profits,” Mr Henley said. “We don’t want to see kids miss out this year, it’s a rite of passage, but we are a bit trepidatious about them not having anything to do in the absence of the entertainment zone. “Previously there were impromptu gatherings which led to damage and ill will. It’s going to be a difficult job to manage the expectations of the leavers without a central gathering area.” The mayor said he respected the police being cautious about the threat of coronavirus, but in the age of social media the leavers could quickly organise “rave parties” that stretch the force’s resources. Another challenge is that with half of the Year 12 cohort already 18, those of legal drinking age will pack out the local pubs. With the 2020 leavers unable to travel to Bali or the Gold Coast this year due to the travel restrictions, accommodation in Dunsborough is in demand. The Leavers Committee will be meeting in the South West this week to discuss the plans, which comes as Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate warned their three-week event could be cancelled. Mr Tate yesterday said if Queensland health officials advised the event was too risky, it would be called off, suggesting an online chat party as an alternative. WA Police Leavers manager Clint Browning said bookings in Dunsborough were tracking similar to last year and he was expecting about 8000 leavers would flood the town. “There’ll be no entertainment zone this year as in previous years, but our focus has always been on the safety of the young people attending the celebrations and also the host community of the South West,” he said. “So with that in mind, due to the dynamic and uncertain environment, we’re undertaking planning to enact smaller and more flexible events within the requirements of the public health advice that can better withstand any potential changes in the future landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic, as related to November. “A great outcome of this is we’ll be bringing on the local community in the South West more than ever to support our delivery and furthermore, I think that this will be the most diverse and interesting school leavers.”