All Community Sport Given the Green Light, With Adult Sport to Resume from July 1st

BY ISABEL EVERETT 

All Community Sport has been given the green light by the State Government, with adult sport and under 18's competitions to resume from July 1st. 

Rules are still being determined around crowds, however Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said, on the basis of health advice, currently crowds could not at this point gather in the stands.

“Today’s announcement is about a staged re-opening of the sports economy in a way that minimizes the risk to the public. This makes a level playing field for sports stadiums, in line with the clubs and pubs re-opening to patrons,” Mr Hazzard said.

‘‘With no vaccine and no treatment for COVID-19 there is an obligation on all of us to continue to maintain physical distancing and good hand hygiene. The virus has not gone away.”

Food and drink premises in stadiums can open subject to the same requirements that apply in other food and drink premises and pubs and registered clubs.  

Stadium operators will be required to;

•     Develop and comply with a COVID-19 safety management plan;
• Operate with restricted numbers (One person per four square metres and up to 50 people in each of the existing seated food and drinks areas, whichever is the lesser excluding staff members, on the premises.); and
•  Keep contact details of persons entering the premises.

“Sport is the lifeblood of our community and it gives me great pleasure to say adult sports can return to their competitions at the same time as 18 years and under,” Acting Minister for Sport Geoff Lee said.

“We have reduced the spread of COVID-19 to the point where further restrictions can be lifted. It is only because communities have followed the strict social distancing guidelines that this announcement is possible.”

Gyms, Yoga Studios, Massage and Tattoo Parlours, and Kids Sport Next to Re-open Across the Hunter

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Gymnasiums, yoga, indoor pools and dance studios can reopen within a fortnight and kids’ sport can resume across NSW from 1 July, as more COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

From June 13th, Fitness, gymnasiums, pilates, yoga and dance studios can reopen with up to 10 people per class and 100 people in an indoor venue.

Community centres, including their recreational facilities can reopen and some indoor recreational facilities including pools and saunas can also reopen with restricted numbers.

Tattoo and massage parlours can also reopen with up to 10 clients.

The four square metre rule must be applied at all venues at all times.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro says he's proud of people across the State for following health advice and flattening the curve. 

“We can now re-introduce kids’ sports and open gyms, sport and exercise boosts morale and this is exactly what NSW needs right now,” Mr Barilaro said.

From July 1st, community sport competitions can restart for those aged 18 years and under.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said COVID-19 safety plans for each activity or sport are critical to enable this re-start.

“Sport and businesses will need to do things a little differently than in pre-COVID-19 times and following their safety plan is key to keeping people safe,” Mr Hazzard said.

“Re-opening kids’ sporting competitions on 1 July gives groups and local government which manages many of these facilities, time to work through all the new changes.”

A decision on a potential return date for adult community sport will be made at a later stage.

Plans lodged for $35 million Hunter Sports Centre expansion

BY LILLY HAINES

Lake Macquarie City Council has released a new $35 million plan to upgrade the Hunter Sports Centre at Glendale, lodging a development application for the site last week.

The plan proposes a three-storey state of the art gymnasium and athletic centre with an athletic warm-up and testing area, a 1,975 square-metre trampoline hall housing a 450-seat grandstand. 

Proposed expansion to the Hunter Sports Centre Facilities. Image: EJE Architecture

Lake Macquarie mayor Kay Fraser says these new facilities would see the centre given tier-one athletic status which would provide greater opportunities for regional athletes. 

"We don't have anywhere really in regional NSW where young people and people who want to be in this sporting arena can actually come and participate and hone their skills.

"This is an area that is growing, we know that a lot of young people are going to athletics, we know gymnastics is really popular and we need a facility here to accommodate our needs and at the moment we are nearly at capacity." Cr Fraser said.

If funding for the project can be secured the proposed plans would see additions to the current track and field facilities, new community function areas and meeting rooms, new road access to the centre, landscaping upgrades around the site, and bus and car parking spaces.

Proposed upgrades to the Hunter Sports Centre Facilities. Image: EJE Architecture

"Visitation of the centre has grown to the point where we really need this Hunter Regional Sports centre because there is an increase in demand for event and community use in the growing Hunter region.

"This extension will improve community access to the facilities and programs and it will support many community groups in a state of the art sporting facility and given the other sporting facilities in our community, this fits in nicely with the overall plan for our city," Mayor Fraser said.

Other proposed facilities in the area include a $25 million basketball facility holding 10 courts and 4000 spectators on Hillsborough Rd, which the NSW government promised to deliver in the lead up to the March election.

Last year Lake Macquarie City Council outlined plans for a $10 million Trampoline Centre also at Glendale but was unable to secure state funding, which Cr Fraser said has not deterred the council from advocating for sports infrastructure funding for the region.

"Unfortunately, it hasn't received funding in the past, but we continue to advocate for funding to deliver this project.

"Once we receive a development application approval we are shovel ready.

Which means we are more in a position, if there are funds available, to start building this facility straight away," Kay Fraser said.

Image: EJE Architecture