2020-08-31 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                         31 AUGUST 2020


C.   Allow Category 3 events including markets with fewer than 500 people subject to Council’s
     normal permit application assessment and approval process and the following additional
     assessment criteria:
          Satisfactory completion of a COVID Safe Event Checklist including a signed and
           displayed Statement of Compliance;
          Events to be focused towards Sunshine Coast participants only;
          No provision of alcohol (not licensed) unless the applicant has sought an exemption
           from Council and the exemption has been formally considered by Council;
          Consideration of the potential for the event to attract larger attendance numbers than
           forecast;
          Events that have capacity to implement controlled seating and allocated areas will be
           preferred to those with uncontrolled movement of people, i.e. attendees intermingling
           onsite; and
          Current health advice from the State.
D.   Approve the establishment of the COVID-19 Event Reference Group as outlined in the report;
     and
E.   Authorise the CEO to review and amend membership of the COVID-19 Event Reference
     Group as required.



REPORT
1.  Background

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted communities around Australia. The events
industry has not been immune from its effects with media describing the pandemic as a wrecking
ball through the industry. Internationally, many high profile events such as Wimbledon have been
cancelled. The Olympics have been postponed to 2021 and major Queensland events such as
Riverfire and the Ekka have been cancelled. Locally, many event organisers have also cancelled
events given heightened concerns with the risk of continuing with organised activities during the
COVID-19 pandemic environment.

Recognising the many important economic, community and social benefits events provide to
communities, the State, through the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC), released the
Industry Framework for COVID Safe Events (the Framework) as part of its stage 3 relaxations for
easing COVID emergency restrictions.

Council continues to receive event applications from organisers wishing to operate events. Other
than the Framework provided by the State, Council currently has no assessment framework for
event requests in the COVID-19 environment to address what it perceives as significant risks. This
report proposes a management approach that will reduce risk for Council, businesses, the tourism
industry and the broader community.

2.   State Government Industry Framework for COVID Safe Events

The Framework is the product of a collaboration between the State Government (the State) and
Griffith University’s Mass Gathering Collaboration and seeks to assist event organisers to manage
risks associated with the transmission of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. The Framework
does not purport to eliminate the risk of COVID-19 transmission stating that there remains risk
associated with any activity involving the congregation of a significant number of people and that
event organisers should be mindful of this and manage risk effectively.

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