COVID-19 – Information for Central Highlands Community Sport

Not how it has in the past.  Community sport has been designated as a non-essential mass gathering.  As such community sport is not able to operate.

The Victorian Premier announced that the current State of Emergency will be extended until midnight on 11 May 2020. Victoria is on stage 3 restrictions since it was announced by the Victorian Premier on 30 March 2020.  

Police have strong powers to enforce these directions and can issue on the spot fines, including $1,652 for individuals and up to $9,913 for businesses. Under the State of Emergency people who don’t comply could also be taken to court and receive a fine of up to $20,000. Companies face fines of up to $100,000.

It is recommended that all clubs refer to their State Sporting Association or National Sporting Organisation position in the table we provided above.  This will have the most up to date information around potential start-up dates.

Clubs should also check with their Local Government as the recent tightening of restrictions has meant that councils have closed access to recreation reserves, parks and gardens.

Sports Central, with our Regional Sport Victoria colleagues, is in the process of developing a range of tools to help clubs stay connected, and utilise technology to function.

Please contact us at info@sportscentral.org.au and we would be more than happy to help support your club through this.

Yes, however following the Government’s direction regarding gatherings you cannot meet in person and will need to use a teleconference, videoconference or other means of electronic communication. When conducting meetings online, please ensure that your club is still adhering to your club Rules (constitution). Consumer Affairs Victoria has provided guidance on online meetings and proxy votes, for further information please visit https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/resources-and-tools/advice-in-a-disaster/coronavirus-covid19-and-your-rights 

Lex Sportiva an online sports law blog has provided some great advice for clubs regarding holding AGM’s during this time, for further information please click here 

No this is not possible under the current Victorian directions.  As per previous activities at your venue, operating a club activity, even if informal may void any insurance coverage your members are entitled to.  Further to this, if people breach these directions, they face on-the-spot fines of $1,652 for individuals and $9,913 for businesses.  Larger fines can also be issued through the courts.

Yes, exercise is still possible under the current Government directions, as long as:

• Compliance with social gatherings is adhered to
• You can only exercise with people that live at your same premises, or alternatively one other person with whom you do not reside with but must maintain the 1.5m minimum distance and other social distancing guidelines
• You must not travel for exercise, only from your residence/premises

Please do not participate in activities which risks you getting injured which may distract medical services from the current community crisis.

All social sporting based activities must cease under the current restrictions.  While there are being questions raised in the community around the applicability of these restrictions, the over arching message from the Victorian Government and peak health agencies is clear:

• If you can stay home, you must stay home

For exercise you can walk, run, jog, ride around the block or similar.  This exclusion is not intended for people to travel to a sport or recreation facility to play.

The Victorian Chief Health Officer was unequivocal on 02/04/2020, “Stop looking for loop holes”, in relation to the exercise exclusion.

Under the current restrictions owners/managers of recreational facilities must not open/operate that facility.  Victoria Police have been provided the power to issue on the spot fines of up to $1,652 for individuals and up to $9,913 for organisations who do not follow the rules.

We don’t know.

The current Victorian State of Emergency was set until midnight 13 April 2020.  As at 12 April, this has been extended until midnight 11 May 2020.

Due to the rapidly changing nature of this pandemic it is possible that this will be extended, there are positive signs that the State’s collective efforts are working.

Both our Federal and State Government have announced a range of economic stimulus packages to help survive the impacts of COVID-19. 

New announcements are continuing to be made, we will endeavor to keep this list up to date.  There is also advocacy happening around a sport specific stimulus package.

To check your clubs’ eligibility register with Business Victoria and also see the Australian Government’s announcement.