2020-08-31 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                            31 AUGUST 2020


The Framework includes a number of Chief Health Officer approved COVID Safe Event Plans and
divides events into 3 categories:

     Category 1 – an event involving more than 10,000 people onsite at any given time. Typically
      these events are large scale participation events in the public domain, e.g. festivals. The
      event organiser must obtain approval of its COVID Safe Event Plan from the State’s Chief
      Health Officer;

     Category 2 – an event involving 500 – to fewer than 10,000 people onsite at any given time,
      e.g. medium scale participation events in the public domain such as an expo in an outdoor
      venue with managed access such as a showground. The event organiser must obtain
      approval of its COVID Safe Event Plan from a QLD Public Health Unit; and

     Category 3 – an event involving fewer than 500 people on site at any given time, e.g. a small
      scale participation event and small scale market/stall event in the public domain. The event
      organiser must complete and adhere to the COVID Safe Event Checklist and sign and display
      a Statement of Compliance.

The Framework notes the State assumes responsibility for monitoring and enforcing compliance
with approved COVID Safe Event Plans while Council will continue to perform its role in relation to
the non-public health aspects of event plans and issuing permits.

3.    Public Liability Insurance

Council requires event organisers to obtain public liability insurance cover to protect Council
against insurance claims. While the Framework is a valuable management tool to assist event
organisers plan for and deliver events in the COVID-19 environment it does not address insurance
requirements for COVID-19.

Council’s investigations have highlighted there are currently no insurance products available which
are free of COVID-19 exclusions. Council takes on increased financial risk by allowing large events
to proceed without adequate insurance coverage for COVID-19 due to the risk of incurring COVID
related litigation.

4.    Reputational Risk

There has been significant effort expended over many years by different interest groups including
tourism bodies and businesses regarding the development of the ‘Noosa Brand’ (the Brand). The
Brand has iconic status within Australia and has global recognition in international tourism markets.
The tourism industry is a critical economic driver within Noosa Shire and gives rise to a number of
symbiotic relationships in market supply chains. The extent of this level of interdependence was
exposed during recent COVID-19 lockdowns with border closures and free movement restrictions
severely impacting local businesses and economic activity.

For many years, event tourism has been encouraged to inject money into the Noosa economy
outside the main holiday periods. In the COVID-19 environment, however, this strategy presents
significant risks to the business and tourism sectors. The key risks to these sectors in the wake of
COVID-19 transmission are immediate financial damage and longer term reputational damage to
the Brand from a second wave lockdown. Arguably, business owners and tourism bodies will lose
much more by reintroduced lockdowns than they would have ever gained economically in the short
term from an approved event.

If the Brand is damaged as outlined above important questions include - Is the Brand irrevocably
damaged or can it be rebuilt with concerted effort and resources? What is the nature of the overall
impact? Will there be a recovery and how long will it take?

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