Coronavirus restrictions have banned nightclubs from allowing dancing and drinking alcohol at the same time in South Australia.
Nightclubs were allowed to reopen under stage three coronavirus restrictions on Monday, but Adelaide club owners have been halted from returning to regular trade due to a delay in processing COVID-19 management plans.
Clubs are required to submit a COVID-19 management plan to outline risks and strategies to run their venue while implementing correct social distancing and monitoring high risk activities.
SA Health must approve the plans, but club owners were told on Wednesday they were not yet able to present their plans, which have a minimum two-week wait for processing after being submitted.
Coronavirus restrictions will not allow South Australian nightclubs (Dog and Duck in Adelaide pictured) to have drinking and dancing at the same time without a COVID-19 management plan
Documents from SA Health obtained by The Advertiser state both drinking and dancing is allowed, but without a management plan ‘both activities cannot occur together’.
This has left nightclub owners frustrated, with many forced to abandon plans to reopen this weekend.
Dog and Duck club owner Dave O’Connell said the rules mean his patrons will be banned from bringing drinks near the dance floor.
‘You are not going to open a nightclub on Hindley St with just dancing and no drinking,’ he said.
The COVID-19 management plan outlines are still being finalised and will effect all licensed venues that host drinking and dancing.
Nightclubs are being considered as locations with a high potential risk of community transmission due to contact between large numbers of patrons in confined spaces.
While both dancing and drinking are allowed separately, without a COVID-19 management plan they can’t be done at the same time. This has meant some clubs like Loverboy (pictured) are remaining closed
West End Association president Andrew Wallace noted many hoteliers have questioned why the government announced clubs could reopen without any management systems in place.
‘As much as we completely understand the need for a considered approach towards reopening … when a decision is made, the processes need to be in place so small businesses have a clear application,’ he said.
South Australia Police Commissioner and state co-ordinator Grant Stevens said without management plans nightclub will operate more as a bar or traditional venue.
‘I would be surprised if there would be many, if any, that have been able to work through the process before this weekend,’ he said.
The rules mean patrons in the Dog and Duck (pictured) will be banned from bringing drinks near the dance floor
Source:
