More local governments close facilities and halt events

With the nation facing serious challenges in addressing the spread of the Coronavirus, local governments are looking to protect their communities, customers and staff by closing facilities and cancelling or postponing all non-essential events and in-person meetings.

In addition to the closure of facilities already announced by the cities of Ballarat, Geelong and Melbourne, as well as the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, Australasian Leisure Management is aware of the following:

Blue Mountains City Council (NSW)
As of Wednesday 18th March, the Council has closed libraries, pools and visitor information centres until further notice. 

This includes libraries at Blackheath, Wentworth Falls, Lawson and Blaxland although the Council advises libraries at Katoomba and Springwood "remain open for now".

Aquatic centres at Glenbrook and Lawson have also closed until further notice but aquatic and recreation centres at Katoomba and Springwood remain open for now, with the number of users capped at 100 people at any one time. 

Learn to swim, swim squads and tumbling programs will be suspended until further notice. Group fitness classes also continue, with social distancing and increased sanitisation.

Blackheath Pool closed earlier this month, for the autumn/winter seasons.

Canterbury Bankstown Council (NSW)
Canterbury Bankstown Council closed all of its six swimming pools from Wednesday 18th March, after making "difficult decisions" to ensure the health of staff and residents.

It also shut five libraries while limiting the number of people at four others to ensure "social distancing".

City of Armadale (Western Australia)
City of Armadale has cancelled all its organised events involving gatherings over 500 people. At this stage this includes the following events: Armadale Arts Festival, Minnawarra Art Awards, NAIDOC Celebrations, Outside the Frame (Youth Art Awards) and the City’s Urban Forest Strategy Workshop.

Closure from midnight on Wednesday 18th March 2020 for an initial duration of four weeks of the Armadale Fitness and Aquatic Centre (AFAC) and Armadale Arena. Memberships and payments will be suspended with effect from 18th March including the Swim School.

City of Sydney
Cancelling or postponing all non-essential events and in-person meetings, closing gyms and aquatic centres and placing restricted hours on libraries and community centres.

Closure from Friday 20th March until Friday 3rd April of all City of Sydney aquatic and fitness centres

Closure from 19th to 31st March of libraries and the Pine Street Creative Arts Centre, Harry Jensen, Juanita Nielsen, Redfern, Pyrmont, Ultimo, Ron Williams, Reginald Murphy, Cliff Noble and St Helen’s Community Centres as well as King George V Recreation Centre.

Northern Beaches Council (Sydney)
Aquatic centres, galleries, theatre, visitor information centre and environment centres have been closed from 18th March until further notice.

Shoalhaven City Council (NSW)
Suspension from Thursday 19th March Shoalhaven Swim, Sport and Fitness' Learn to Swim and Squad programs across multiple locations until further notice. 

Shoalhaven Swim, Sport and Fitness is currently contacting all affected patrons to advise of the suspension. Learn to Swim memberships and student placements will be placed on hold, and Direct Debit payments will be suspended, with no further payment being deducted.

All other programs including the gym, casual swimming, café services and all group fitness classes will remain available at this stage with staff closely monitoring attendances at indoor facilities to ensure that no breach of social distancing requirements occur.

Shoalhaven residents can visit the Council’s and Swim, Sport and Fitness’s website for updates. 

Should facilities close?
While the Federal Government ban on non-essential outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people and indoor gatherings of more than 100 people has inevitably led to many closures, the closure of aquatic facilities comes notwithstanding consensus that Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an airborne virus which cannot spread through water.

Last week, a spokesperson for the Queensland Department of Health confirmed that “COVID-19 is very unlikely to be transmitted through swimming pool water where adequate chlorine levels are maintained.”

In addition, following the announcement of the ban on non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people on 18th March, Fitness Australia Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish advised “gyms do not need to close”.

Elvish advised “it is our understanding that the 100-person limit for static indoor gatherings applies to the whole venue not individual rooms such as gym studios session rooms.”

The latest information on Coronavirus can be viewed at www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert

First published on 18th March, this article will be updated regularly.

Image shows the City of Sydney's Prince Alfred Park Pool.