2021-03-02 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                            2 MARCH 2021


•    Any decision to relax Council’s current position to align with the Framework will be seen as
     reckless by some community stakeholders given the pandemic is ‘live’, and a ‘safe’ COVID
     environment can rapidly escalate prompting border closures and new restrictions (NSW
     Northern Beaches Outbreak over Christmas and Greater Brisbane lockdown).
•    This option does not have the support of local resident and ratepayer groups who recommend
     Council continue to take a precautionary approach.

Option 2 - Allowing Category 3 events to proceed with fewer than 1,500 people
Council allows Category 3 events to proceed with fewer than 1,500 people on community land in
Noosa Shire.

This option involves Council allowing Category 3 events and markets with fewer than 500
participants indoors and 1,500 participants (outdoors) to proceed on community land in Noosa Shire
with a COVID Safe Event Plan, but without insurance coverage for COVID-19, and subject to
Council’s normal permit application assessment and approval process.

Opportunities
•   Allows larger low risk events in outdoor environments to proceed.
•   Supports those commercial and community organisations who rely on event revenue over 500
    people for ongoing financial viability.
•   Provides the community with increased opportunities to connect which enhances social
    cohesion and wellbeing.

Risks
•     Ongoing criticism from business associations, tourism groups and event organisers because
      Category 1 and 2 events will not proceed.
•     The risk of COVID-19 transmission is not entirely eliminated.
•     Going concern challenges for some commercial and community organisations who rely on
      event revenue over 500 people.
•     Risks of suit and liability are possible if an outbreak occurs.
•     COVID compliance for community event organisers for larger events can be logistically more
      difficult.

Option 3 - Allowing Category 3 events to proceed with fewer than 500 people

Council allows Category 3 events to proceed on community land in Noosa Shire with fewer than 500
participants.

This option aligns with the current position and involves Council allowing events and markets with
fewer than 500 participants indoors and outdoors to proceed on community land in Noosa Shire with
a COVID Safe Event Plan, but without insurance coverage for COVID-19, and subject to Council’s
normal permit application assessment and approval process.

Opportunities
•   Allows smaller community style events to proceed.
•   Provides the community with opportunities to connect which enhances social cohesion and
    wellbeing.
•   Encourages event organisers to adapt to low risk event management during the pandemic.
•   The pandemic has encouraged some event organisers to innovate and incorporate new ideas
    rather than an annual ‘rinse and repeat’ event model.



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