Introduction
On 30th June 2020, the NSW Government enacted Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 4) 2020 (The PHO) to come into effect from 1st July 2020. The relevant portion of The PHO is as follows:
Division 3 Community sporting activities
15 Definitions
In this Division—
community sporting activity includes a training session for a community sporting activity.
organiser means—
(a) for an activity conducted by or on behalf of an entity that is registered under the Associations Incorporation Act 2009, the public officer of the entity, or
(b) for an activity conducted by or on behalf of an entity other than an entity referred to in paragraph (a), the chief executive officer of the entity, however described, or
(c) in all other cases, the person who made the arrangements for the activity.
participant includes—
(a) a person engaged in the sporting activity, and
(b) an official involved in the conduct or organisation of the sporting activity, and
(c) a spectator of the sporting activity.
16 Direction of Minister requiring COVID-19 Safety Plans
The Minister directs that the organiser of a community sporting activity that involves a gathering of more than 20 participants must—
(a) develop and comply with a COVID-19 Safety Plan that addresses the matters required by the COVID-19 safety checklist approved by the Chief Health Officer for community sporting competitions and published on the New South Wales Government website (www.nsw.gov.au), and
(b) keep a copy of the COVID-19 Safety Plan and make it available for inspection by an authorised officer as requested.
17 Direction of Minister concerning maximum number of participants
The Minister directs that the organiser of a community sporting activity must ensure that a gathering for the activity involves no more than 500 participants.
NESC has elected not to create a specific COVID-19 Safety Plan for community tennis rather electingto limit the number of participants per court to 20.
This limit on the number of participants is also in line with the current Use of Premises Condition of Consent relating to the NESC venue.
Intent of Procedure and Rules
The intent of this procedure and the rules are to demonstrate how NESC will comply with the PHO and to reduce the likelihood of spreading COVID-19. Specifically these apply to the use of NESC for community tennis.
Before attending the venue, participants should consider their individual situation noting that COVID-19 can spread very quickly and result in very serious medical complications in some people. Like any activities, there are some inherent risks involved and by attending participants are accepting those risks.
If any participant does not align with this intent; they will be denied access for further participation.
NESC Tennis Rules and Responsibilities
Any participant that does not abide by these rules and their intent may be denied access for future participation, at the discretion of the NESC Management Committee.
1. Your attendance at the venue assumes your acceptance of these rules.
2. Participants must NOT attend the venue, if:
· unwell or have any flu-like symptoms, or
· they have been in contact with a known case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days, or
· they have been overseas in the last 14 days, or
· they have had any sudden loss of smell or loss of taste, or
· they are at a high risk from a health perspective, including the elderly and those with pre-existing medical heath conditions, or
· they have been in Victoria in the past 14 days according to the Victorian border restriction order https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules/border-restrictions/guide, or
· they have been in attendance of the latest COVID-19 case locations in NSW: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/latest-news-and-updates
3. Participants must:
· follow the direction of any Official;
· provide contact details and pay at the time of booking;
· bring their own balls and other equipment and ensure they are sanitised both prior
· to and after each booking;
· arrive at their designated time, ready to play;
· collect the gate key from the NEBCC bar and return it immediately after the gates are open (padlock can be clipped shut when leaving without needing the key);
· use the correct exit and entry paths as indicated;
· wash their hands with the hand sanitiser provided, when arriving and departing;
· wait outside the fence for the participants from the previous time to depart before proceeding directly to their booked court;
· ensure only people core to playing or coaching be on the court or at the venue;
· ensure no more than 20 participants are in attendance (across both courts);
· in order to comply with relevant Child Safety guidelines, ensure one parent/guardian accompanies primary school aged children and continues to be present for the duration of the activity;
· aim to remain 1.5m from other participants when not playing;
· when leaving, collect their personal items (drink bottle, jacket, etc) and leave the court via the designated exit immediately;
· not congregate for social events before, during, or after their bookings;
· respect the neighbours by minimising noise when arriving and departing the facility;
· not spectate from the bowling green level but rather to proceed to lower levels.
4. Participants are encouraged to:
· download the COVIDSafe app, and
· adopt a “Get In, Play & Get Out” approach.
5. NEBCC toilets may be used, but consideration should be made to use your toilet at home. Participants waiting for the use of the toilets should do so at a safe distance (1.5m) from other participants.
6. NESC will:
· supply hand sanitiser, and
· display signage showing the social distancing rules and etiquette, and
· regularly clean and sterilise the venue in accordance with COVID-19 guidelines.
Commencement & Communication
This procedure is enforced as of Saturday 3rd October 2020, being the first date for which bookings for community tennis will be accepted.
This procedure (and any future iteration) will be distributed to all participants at the time that they make their initial booking covered by the then current procedure.
References
https://www.tennis.com.au/nsw/clubs/covidresources