2020-08-31 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                             31 AUGUST 2020


Risks
1.    There will be sectors of the community and other interest groups who will want events to
      proceed (in line with the Queensland ‘Good to Go’ messaging).
2.    Council will be subject to criticism for not allowing any events and will need to respond to
      justify excluding events given there is a State framework in place.
3.    Council might be seen as a ‘nanny state’ for not allowing any events.
4.    Not allowing any events to proceed may have negative impacts on social cohesion and
      community wellbeing.
5.    Some events will lose momentum and not return or may be attracted elsewhere.


Option 3: Allow Category 3 Events to proceed

This option sees Council allowing Category 3 events to proceed on community land in Noosa Shire

This option involves Council allowing Category 3 events and markets (fewer than 500 participants)
to proceed on community land in Noosa Shire with a COVID Safe Event Plan, meeting additional
Council criteria (see below of this report) but without insurance coverage for COVID-19.

Opportunities
1.  Allows smaller community style events to proceed.
2.  Provides the community with opportunities to connect which enhances social cohesion and
    wellbeing.
3.  Encourages event organisers to adapt to low risk event management during the pandemic.

Risks
1.    The risk of COVID-19 transmission is not entirely eliminated.
2.    Risks of suit and liability are arguably reduced.
3.    Given Council will likely not approve every Category 3 event application due to not meeting
      criteria noted below, Council may be viewed as overly cautious and a ‘kill joy’.

6.    Category 3 Event Decision Making Framework

Allowing some Category 3 events (noted as Option 3 above) to proceed will provide the opportunity
for small scale community events/markets to proceed subject to assessment against the following
proposed criteria:
     Satisfactory completion of a COVID Safe Event Checklist including a signed and displayed
      Statement of Compliance (State requirement).
     The event being targeted to Sunshine Coast participants only.
     No provision of alcohol - i.e. not licensed (if an event applicant advises the service of alcohol
      is critical to the success of the proposed event, the application will be referred to Council for
      consideration).
     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, e.g. ‘free range’ attendees
      intermingling onsite.
     Current health advice from the State.
In consideration of satisfactorily meeting the criteria above and comparatively low risk of COVID-
19 transmission, Category 3 event organisers will not be required to hold public liability insurance
for COVID-19.

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