To our sport and recreation colleagues

As you would be aware, today the Premier announced that the strict conditions implemented for the recently impacted Local Government Areas (LGAs) will be lifted at 4pm Friday 20 August 2021, which is earlier than previously advised. The restrictions in the Cairns and Yarrabah Council areas will now align to the rest of Queensland.

Due to Queensland’s strong response, we are pleased to advise community sport and recreation will be able to recommence. While this easing of restrictions is great news for clubs, organisations and activity providers within these regions, some additional requirements will remain in place in the 11 South East Queensland LGAs to ensure the ongoing safety of Queenslanders.

Masks

• While masks are not required when you are outdoors, you must carry your mask with you at all times
• masks must be continued to be worn in indoor spaces, when at stadiums, at an airport, and on a domestic or international flight departing or arriving in Queensland.

In summary, from 4pm Friday 20 August 2021, community sport, including training and competition, can resume with spectators, in line with indoor and outdoor venue event requirements.

Indoor sport and recreation

• Indoor sport and recreation can have one person per four square metres or 75% allocated seated and ticketed capacity
• compliance with the COVID Safe Checklist. This includes the collection of contact information through the Check In Qld App
• occupant density and physical distancing measures do not apply to the field of play
• it is not possible to observe physical distancing while undertaking activity however attendees must observe physical distancing off the field of play, to the extent possible.

Outdoor sport and recreation

• Outdoor sport and recreation can have one person per two square metres or 75% allocated seated and ticketed capacity
• compliance with the COVID Safe Checklist. This includes the collection of contact information through the Check In Qld App
• it is not possible to observe physical distancing while undertaking activity however attendees must observe physical distancing off the field of play, to the extent possible
• indoor spaces associated with outdoor based organisations such as clubhouses, will need to comply with the occupant density of one person per four square metres or 75% allocated seated and ticketed venues.

Stadiums and indoor and outdoor events

• Stadiums for over 20,000 will now be capped at 75% ticketed capacity with allocated seating (with COVID Safe Site-Specific Plan)
  • patrons must wear a mask at all times, including when seated. Masks can be removed when eating or drinking
  • patrons must be seated to eat and drink.
• Events are also capped at 75% capacity (with COVID Safe Checklist)
  • 75% allocated seated and ticketed capacity for indoor events and outdoor events or one per four square metres indoors and one per two square metres outdoors.

The above restrictions will remain in place at least until 4pm Friday 27 August 2021. The updated roadmap for easing of restrictions has additional information about this upcoming easing of restrictions.

I appreciate that these recent restrictions have presented challenges for our sport and active recreation industry. On 2 August 2021, the Queensland Government announced the COVID-19 Business Support Grants of $5000 for eligible businesses affected by the COVID-19 lockdown in South East Queensland (SEQ) that commenced on 31 July 2021, and lockdowns in other states.

In addition to this, the Australian and Queensland Governments have reached an agreement that will see the value of the Queensland COVID-19 Business Support Grants rise from $260 million to $600 million.

As a result, specific relief for businesses and not-for-profit organisations has been made available including a $1000 one-off grant to non-employing sole traders across Queensland, and tiered payments based on payroll size for all businesses.

Applications for these grants opened on 16 August 2021, with more detailed information available online via Business Queensland, including an eligibility checker to streamline the process.

I trust that the above information will be of assistance and thank you for your cooperation throughout this recent lockdown and resulting restrictions.

Regards
Andrew Sly
Assistant Director-General
Sport and Recreation
Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport