2020-08-31 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                            31 AUGUST 2020


8.    Support for Noosa Triathlon – Business Associations

Noosaville Business Association and Hastings Street Association

These associations have provided combined feedback specifically in relation to the Noosa
Triathlon scheduled for 31 October – 1 November 2020 (see Attachment 2) and support the Noosa
Triathlon based on the following criteria:
     Origin of competitor: Queensland only
     Competitor numbers: 3,500
     No VIP or spectator stand
     No spectators in key locations to minimise large clusters and allow for physical distancing
     All spectators, workforce and athletes educated on personal hygiene and encouraged to stay
      at home if they experience COVID-19 like symptoms
     Hand sanitiser and hand wash stations in key locations
     All accommodation minimum 3 night stay
     The understanding that the COVID Safe Event Plan is approved and delivered
     Ensure volume and frequency of event shuttle buses and Noosa Ferry minimises groups of
      athletes and spectators congregating
     Event village and registration restricted to competitors only and in scheduled collection
      periods

The Associations provide further commentary in relation to the recent Ekka long weekend with
more than 5,000 rooms filled demonstrating we continue to operate with the ongoing risk of COVID.
We believe numbers managed through an IRONMAN event is significantly more manageable than
the transient public visiting Noosa.

Noosa Junction Association

The Noosa Junction Association supports the Noosa Triathlon if the event can be undertaken with
adequate COVID safety measures (see Attachment 3).

Discussion

Many of the criteria identified by the Business Associations are worthy of consideration and would
be likely part of a COVID Safe Event Plan submitted by Ironman (the event organiser), however
management of spectators including total numbers remains a key concern.

There is undoubtedly a risk of COVID-19 transmission in the Noosa community due to general
visitation from tourists, day trippers etc. However, general visitation is different to an organised
event because an event has the effect of attracting and concentrating numbers of people in an
area. If Council approves an event at the scale suggested it enlivens the risks identified in option
1 above.

9.    Conclusion

COVID-19 has severely impacted the national economy and the events industry has not been
immune to these impacts. The State has developed an Industry Framework for COVID Safe Events
which is a helpful tool to assist event organisers conduct events in the COVID environment. While
the Framework is a worthy initiative directed at providing assistance to event organisers it does not
guarantee COVID transmission will not occur at events.




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