Softball NSW provides the following advice to our Associations, Clubs & Stakeholders in relation to the extension of the lockdown in Greater Sydney and also provides information in relation to the Pathways, State Championships, and rescheduling of the Under 12 State Championships.

GREATER SYDNEY LOCKDOWN EXTENSION INFORMATION

In response to the evolving Delta outbreak, NSW will extend the current lockdown in Greater Sydney until the end of September and introduce new rules for the local government areas of concern, where the vast majority of new cases are emerging.

These additional COVID controls for the state are to reduce transmission and ensure compliance.

Greater Sydney

• The current stay-at-home restrictions will remain in Greater Sydney until the end of September.
• From 12.01 am Monday, 23 August, the following additional rule will also be introduced for Greater Sydney (including regional NSW until 28 August)
• Mask wearing will be mandatory when outside your home, except when exercising.

Additional rules for the LGAs of concern

From 12.01 am Monday, 23 August the following additional rules will apply for residents and businesses in the LGAs of concern:

Curfews will be introduced from 9 pm to 5 am (except for authorised workers, emergencies or medical care) to help reduce the movement of young people;

Outdoor exercise is limited to one hour per day.

The government will provide further information on its education plan in due course.

The following new restrictions around workplaces and authorised workers from the LGAs of concern will be introduced:

• Childcare workers and disability support workers who live or work in the LGAs of concern must have their first vaccination dose by 30 August.
• Authorised workers who work outside their LGA of concern are only permitted to work if rapid antigen testing is implemented at their worksite or they have had their first vaccination dose by 30 August.
• From Saturday, 28 August, authorised workers from the LGAs of concern are required to carry a permit from Service NSW declaring that they are an authorised worker and cannot work from home; and
• From Saturday, 28 August, anyone entering an LGA of concern for the purposes of work must carry a worker permit issued by Service NSW
• From 12.01 am Monday, 23 August, workers from the Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland and Fairfield LGAs will no longer have to have been tested for COVID-19 in the previous 72 hours to work outside their LGA

We appreciate that our Regional Associations, Clubs, and their members are awaiting advice about restrictions in regional NSW beyond 28 August. This information will be communicated once announced by the NSW Government.

FAQ’S COVID LOCKDOWN AREAS

The overarching advice from NSW Health is to stay local, minimise movements outside your home, and minimise unnecessary interactions with others. Softball NSW agrees with this advice and strongly encourages our community to always follow the NSW Health Advice.

This information is correct as of Friday 20 August 2021, 11:30 am AEST. For the most up-to-date information, refer here.

VACCINATION

Similarly, to the NSW Government, Softball NSW strongly encourages our community to get vaccinated. NSW Health has advice relating to COVID-19 vaccination for the NSW Community and this can be viewed here.

SOFTBALL NSW PATHWAYS & STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The extension of the lockdown in Greater Sydney, as well as impacts of lockdown in regional NSW, severely impacts the capabilities of Softball NSW to deliver the State Championships and associated pathway programs for 2021.

As acknowledged in the recent President’s meeting on August 16 in relation to any revised or possible calendar, Softball NSW will be engaging with our Association leaders on such a schedule for the State Championships and pathway programs. This next opportunity for engagement will occur at the President’s meeting on September 20.

Understandably, Softball NSW is guided by the NSW Government and NSW Health advice and pending the release of the roadmap out of lockdown, we will present a number of scenarios in which a revised schedule could exist for the delivery of the postponed State Championships. This session will provide an excellent opportunity for each Association and key stakeholders to provide feedback to the SNSW Board and Staff.

UNDER 12 STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS RESCHEDULE

Softball NSW wishes to provide our Associations and the wider community an update for the 2021 Under 12 State Championships.

On advice from Orange City Council, and in collaboration with Orange and District Softball Association (ODSA), we can advise that the Championships have now been rescheduled in the best interests of the event and the whole community.

The Under 12 State Championships will now be held at Sir Jack Brabham Park in Orange on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 November 2021.

RESCHEDULING RATIONALE

Softball NSW has been made aware of new rescheduling dates for the Repco Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama, from Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 November 2021. This is a direct clash with the originally scheduled dates for the Under 12 State Championships, which were to be held in Orange on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 November 2021.

With Orange as a primary location of accommodation for the Bathurst 1000, an event clash of this magnitude would pose significant problems for our members in and around the city. Travel in and around the area would be restricted, with accommodation severely limited and potentially inflated in price. For these reasons we do not wish for these limitations to be passed onto members of our Softball community attending the Championships.

Furthermore, with the current COVID-19 restrictions in Greater Sydney now extending to the regional areas of NSW, and with no confirmed end to all lockdowns at this stage, a postponement of the Under 12 State Championships by two weeks will hopefully allow the event to go ahead in some capacity and under fewer restrictions in late November.

Softball NSW appreciates the community’s understanding and support on this matter. For any further information regarding the 2021 Under 12 State Championships, please contact Aimee Sutton via events@softballnsw.org.au.

Any questions in relation to this community advice, please contact Daniel Rushworth via ceo@softballnsw.org.au.