COVID-19 Melbourne Update 6/8/20
Published Thu 06 Aug 2020
Published: 6/8/20
Updated: 7/8/20
COVID - 19 Revised Guidelines:
Melbourne
From 11:59pm on Sunday August 2nd, Melbourne will move to Stage 4 restrictions.
Rowing Clubs within Melbourne are advised to remain closed.
Rowing Victoria acknowledges The Victorian Governments statement to implement Stage 4 restrictions as of 11:59pm on the 2/8/2020 for a 6-week period.
Rowing Victoria has been in continual communication with the necessary authorities to define how the latest restrictions affect rowing in Melbourne. Despite our best efforts, we are very sorry to say that unfortunately the new restrictions make rowing under your clubs approved Safety Management Plan currently unviable. Due to these restrictions if you do continue to row for ‘exercise’ please be aware that you will not be covered from Maritime Safety’s PFD exemption or the Australian Rowing National Insurance Program.
Updated 7/8/20
The following statement has been received from Parks Victoria on the 7/8/20:
From 6pm on the 2nd August all boat ramps and jetties across Metropolitan Melbourne are closed to all forms of recreational boating and fishing (ref). As such all ramps and landings on the Yarra and Maribyrnong rivers including the VRA landing are closed, as is the National Water Sports Centre.
Recreational and exercise restrictions are, as per the current guidelines and advice from the Water Police, apply to human powered craft, in that
- Duration of time away from a person’s primary place of residence must not exceed 1 hour
- The use of a vehicle to transport human powered craft to and/or from a person’s primary place of residence is not permitted (‘use of a vehicle to facilitate exercise’)
Authorities will be on patrol to ensure compliance with the restrictions. While there will be those that feel they can meet the guidelines for their use of the river for rowing, it is asked that they respect the intent of the restrictions in limiting all activities and travel beyond the essential services and emergency services. I would refer any questions on the guidance for restrictions under stage 4 to the DHHS website.
Rowing Victoria understands that these new State Government restrictions drastically limit the potential to row for Melbourne rowers for the next 6 weeks. Rowing Victoria will continue to explore every potential avenue to get the rowing community back on the water as soon as possible and will continue to plan and prepare for the future of Victorian rowing.
Please stay safe and healthy and If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free contact Rowing Victoria
