In case you missed it from Motorcycling Australia…

 

When COVID-19 lockdowns and border restrictions are eased as vaccination rates increase across Australia, there are questions raised on how we continue to manage our sport to provide, wherever possible, a “COVID Safe” venue for our events.

We already implement and are familiar with the wearing of masks, washing hands and social distancing, but it is inevitable that new practices will develop such as those being implemented by an increasing number of major sporting venues and events across the world.

Many overseas venues now require participants – Officials, volunteers, competitors, and spectators – to show COVID status before entering a venue, either in the form of proof of both vaccinations (a Vaccination passport) or providing a negative COVID test taken within 48 hours of entering the venue.

This trend is already being adopted locally as sporting organisations, promoters and venue operators work with various government and health authorities to plan major sporting events.  Therefore, we all have to expect that a “no jab/negative test, no entry” system is a realistic option for major events to be conducted in Australia next year.

MA is not, at this point, suggesting any sort of vaccination policy be implemented at MA-permitted events, rather this is a timely message that there will be venues, promoters and/or Clubs who will develop their own COVID-safe policies that may incorporate vaccination/testing restrictions to access the properties/venues hosting MA-permitted events.

If you are an Official or volunteer currently involved in or planning to participate in MA-permitted events, you should be aware of any vaccination conditions and the documentation that you might be required to produce to gain entry into or return from the state / territory / region / local government area where the event will be held, or to gain entry to the venue.

If you are not vaccinated and intend to participate in an MA-permitted event, you should make yourself aware of the venue operator’s / promoter’s COVID-safe policy, and the availability and timing limitations (2^nd injection) of acquiring complete vaccination.

In all cases, seek information from promoters and venue operators well ahead of events to allow adequate time for solutions to be implemented.  

NSW Office of Sport have released an update on the new rules and restrictions around NSW that apply as of 11^th September. Please refer to below email for all the information.

 

The map below shows the rural areas in NSW highlighted in orange that are now classed as ‘General Areas’. In the General Area LGAs, major recreational facilities can now open and operate with a limit of 1 person per 4 square metres or a maximum of 5,000 people. For a full breakdown of the current restrictions for these General Areas, follow here: Regional and rural areas with limited restrictions | NSW Government

 

For our clubs in these LGA’s, this means you are now able to plan and run activity as long as the club:

• Has an updated Covid Safe Plan
• Has set up a Service NSW QR Code
• Has a strict plan to stick to the limit of 1 person per 4 square metres or 5,000 individuals max (this includes officials, participants, volunteers, family members, spectators etc.)
• Practices social distancing

 

For all other regional areas and the Greater Sydney area, stay-at-home orders still apply. We are hopeful that the vaccination rates in NSW will continue to rise, and the state hits the target of fully vaccinated people very shortly so the remainder of NSW can start to open up and run events with restrictions similar to those that are in place now for the general areas.

 

MNSW will continue to monitor and provide updates as they are received. If your club has been affected by these lockdowns and require assistance in beginning to operate again, please get in contact with the office.

 

Sport and Recreation Sector Update – Friday 10 September 2021

The Minister for Health has made the Public Health (COVID-19 Additional Restrictions for Delta Outbreak) Order (No 2) Amendment (No 7) Order 2021. The Amending Order amends the Public Health (COVID-19 Additional Restrictions for Delta Outbreak) Order (No 2) to: move a number of areas of the State out of the stay at home area to the general area from the beginning of 11 September,  vary the rules for general areas as well, from 13 September, make changes to the rules in the areas of concern and the stay at home area in relation to outdoor recreation for vaccinated persons  repeal the Public Health (COVID-19 Mandatory Face Coverings) Order (No 3) 2021 Details are below. Parts of regional NSW move out of lockdown – rules for the general area will apply From 11 September, the following LGAs will still be considered to be a stay at home area: Bathurst Regional, Bega Valley, Blayney, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, City of Broken Hill, Cabonne, Central Coast, Central Darling, City of Cessnock, Dubbo Regional, Dungog, Eurobodalla, Forbes, Gilgandra, Goulburn Mulwaree, Kiama, City of Lake Macquarie, City of Lithgow, City of Maitland, Mid-Western Regional, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Narromine, City of Newcastle, City of Orange, Parkes, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional, City of Shellharbour, City of Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro Regional, Upper Hunter Shire, Walgett and Wingecarribee. The rest of NSW (other than Greater Sydney) will move out of the stay at home area and be considered a “general area”. For clarification, please refer to Regional and rural areas with limited restrictions webpage. Note: if a person who lives in a general area goes to a stay at home area or an area of concern after 12.01 am on 11 September, the person will be subject to the direction that they can only leave home with a reasonable excuse for 14 days after they were last in the stay at home/area of concern. Changes to the rules in the general area The following gathering limits and rules apply in general areas. You can take part in exercising and outdoor recreation activities that comply with the Public Health Orders and are not held in a venue required to be closed. Restrictions relevant to exercising and outdoor recreation activities in the general area include: There are capacity limits for outdoor events For COVID-19 safe outdoor public gatherings (outdoor events with a COVID-19 safety plan) – the limit is 50 persons For a controlled outdoor public gathering (which are seated ticketed events held in enclosed area), the limit is 500 persons For major recreational facilities – the density limit will be the lesser of 1 person per 4 square metres or 5000 people. For other outdoor gatherings – the limit is 20 persons Masks are not required at a major recreation facility or any outdoor gathering Dance and gym classes limited to 20 per class (masks must be worn at all times, including when undertaking strenuous exercise). For a recreation facility (indoor) and indoor swimming pools, an occupier of premises in the general area must not allow more than 1 person per 4 square metres of space. Masks must be worn in all indoor premises except when undertaking physical strenuous exercise unless exempt.  Changes to the stay at home area – outdoor gatherings for vaccinated people  From 13 September, a person in a stay at home area can participate in an outdoor gathering in a public place subject to the following limits If all persons at least 16 years are fully vaccinated (i.e. two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or a person with a medical contraindication certificate)– no more than 5 persons but not including persons who are 12 years and under. In addition, a person over 16 years of age must carry evidence of the vaccination evidence and produce it to a police officer on request. Otherwise – no more than 2 persons The outdoor gathering must take place either within your LGA or within 5km of your place of residence. There is a new reasonable excuse for leaving your place of residence – being to transport a member of your household who is authorised to leave their house (this will permit, for example, a person to leave the house to drive a household member to work). Area of concern – limited outdoor recreation for households  From 13 September, a person in an area of concern will have a reasonable excuse to leave their home to engage in outdoor recreation no more than 5 kms from your home if  The person is fully vaccinated (i.e. two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or a person with a medical contraindication certificate) or under 16, and the outdoor recreation is only with persons who live in the same household and, if over 16 years has been fully vaccinated the outdoor recreation can only be for 2 hour per day persons over 16 must carry vaccination evidence and should it to police on request There is a new reasonable excuse for leaving your place of residence – being to transport a member of your household who is authorised to leave their house (this will permit, for example, a person to leave the house to drive a household member to work).   For further information, please access the links included or email sectorcapability@sport.nsw.gov.au

Today’s update from the NSW Government is exciting, especially for some of our Regional clubs who can hopefully look at getting back open and running activity as of this Saturday 11^th of September (with conditions).

 

The NSW Government has today announced that the Stay at Home orders will be lifted at 12:01am Saturday 11^th September for parts of Regional NSW allowing some freedoms. This freedom includes Major outdoor recreation facilities to open with one person per 4sqm, capped at a maximum of 5,000 people. For the full media release and details on all the freedoms you can head here: Lockdown lifted in parts of regional NSW.

 

While it has been suggested in the media that Community Sport is not allowed as yet, we are seeking clarification from the NSW Office of Sport to confirm if Ride Park Days and Coaching Days can be permitted under the new Public Health Order. Given the nature of our sport and the fact that it is conducted in large outdoor areas, we believe that motorcycling events should be able to take place under these new restrictions and therefore we will continue to place pressure on the NSW Government through the Office of Sport to have them consider allowing motorcycling events within these new restrictions.  Once we have clarification from NSW Office of Sport, we will communicate this to all our clubs and members.

 

While the stay-at-home orders have lifted for some LGA’s, there is still a list of regional LGA’s, along with Greater Sydney, that the order still applies to and unfortunately need to hang in a little longer. The below map indicates in red the LGA’s that the stay-at-home order still applies to while the regional areas in white indicate the LGA’s that the order will be lifted for. For a full list of LGA’s still included in the stay-at-home order please hear here: Lockdown lifted in parts of regional NSW

 

 

HOWEVER, there is still positive news about when it is likely that restrictions will ease for the LGA’s of concern and Greater Sydney. Today, the NSW Government has also released a media statement outlining the ‘Roadmap to Freedom’ that begins when NSW hits a 70% target of double vaccinations. Fully vaccinated people and those with medical exemptions will have access to some freedoms.

 

From the Monday after NSW hits the 70% target, one of the freedoms indicated in the Roadmap is the opening of major outdoor recreation facilities with one person per 4sqm, capped at a maximum of 5,000 people. For a full list of restrictions once this target is hit, follow this link: Roadmap to freedom unveiled for the fully vaccinated (nsw.gov.au).

 

Again, it has not been confirmed that Community Sport has the go ahead under these Restrictions but we are seeking clarification and will advise our clubs and members as soon as we have answers.

 

This news does give hope for our community and clubs that we are getting closer to activity being up and running. In preparation for the re-start of activity, we urge all clubs to update their current Covid-Safe plan and ensure they have their Service NSW QR code set up ready to go. It is compulsory for our clubs to have these tools in place so if your club would like any guidance/support updating your Covid safety plan, please contact your MNSW Sport & Event Officer. If you have not set your facility up with a Service NSW QR code, please contact your MNSW Sport and Event Officer and they will explain how to do so or do it for you with your assistance (providing the details required).

 

We will continue to provide updates to you all as soon as it becomes available to us. In the meantime, if your club is experiencing financial hardship due to the current lockdowns and believe you may need assistance to open back up and conduct activity when the restrictions allow, please contact the MSNW office – mnsw@motorcycling.com.au.

Greater Sydney Parklands published the draft Vision and Indicative Masterplan (the Masterplan) for the Eastern Creek Motor Sports Precinct. Interested parties were encouraged to view the draft and submit comments or questions by 5pm 20 August 2021.
 
Greater Sydney Parklands prepared this Masterplan to guide the future development and operation of the Eastern Creek Motor Sports Precinct. The Masterplan has been prepared in consultation with a range of stakeholders between 2019 – 2021, including the Office of Sport, existing operators within the Precinct, Motorsport Australia, Motorcycling NSW and a range of motorsport clubs.
 
This 50-year vision explores opportunities to enhance the Precinct to cater for more users from club level motorsports, karting, motorcycling and various non-motorsport users. Potential enhancements include exploring the potential of expansion into adjoining land, sharing infrastructure and  coordinating events across multiple uses.
 
The Vision and Indicative Masterplan for the Eastern Creek Motor Sports Precinct establishes a long-term plan to enhance Sydney’s motorsport offering and position the Precinct as a world class motorsport destination.
 
Following stakeholder consultation in 2019 and 2020, the draft Masterplan addresses community feedback including:
 

Increasing access for motorsports codes;

• Creating access to the precinct by general community across non-motorsport activities;
• Increasing club level participation to allow activation throughout the year;
• Encouraging community participation;
• Exploring the potential to partner with universities and companies to perform research and development;

Creating a space where older members can mentor younger juniors.

 

Please feel free to view the Motorcycling NSW submission here