Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Major venues pivot to become mass vaccination centres

Major venues pivot to become mass vaccination centres
August 30, 2021

Major venue across Australia and New Zealand have swapped sport and entertainment for vaccines, becoming locations for mass vaccinations against COVID-19.

On Saturday, the day when it had at one time been scheduled to host the third Bledisloe Cup test, Wellington’s Sky Stadium opened as drive-through Coronavirus vaccination clinic.

Open to the public after launching on Friday to essential workers, is being run by the Capital & Coast District Health Board, offering vaccinations by appointment only.

Commenting on the change, Sky Stadium Chief Executive, Shane Harmon said a month ago they were planning for a Bledisloe Cup match, telling the Stuff news website “the loss of the match hurt, but it gave us an opportunity to assist in a small way towards keeping our community safe and getting our lives back to normal.”

In Palmerston North, the Central Energy Trust Arena and the Fly Palmy Arena are also being used as drive-through vaccination clinic.

On LinkedIn, John Lynch, Manager Venues Palmerston North for Palmerston North City Council, advised “great that community assets can be utilised during lockdown … (the change)  shows the versatility of our new Speedway pits area.”

In the ACT, Canberrans will be able to access a COVID-19 vaccination centre at the AIS Arena as of Friday 3rd September, with the AIS Arena COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Clinic to replace the mass vaccination clinic currently located at the Garran Surge Centre.

ACT Chief Minister, Andrew Barr stated “this move to the AIS means more Canberrans will be able to access a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination faster.”

With the AIS Arena owned by the Federal Government as part of Canberra’s Australian Institute of Sport campus, Federal Minister for Sport, Richard Colbeck noted “the vaccination clinic at the AIS Arena will play an important role ensuring those who are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine can get vaccinated as quickly as possible, and is aligned with the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy.”

In South Australia, Adelaide Venue Management (AVM) Corporation Chief Executive, Anthony Kirchner reinforce the importance of the vaccination uptake among staff, advising that they need to get vaccinated “as soon as you get the opportunity”, warning “venues are going to have to demonstrate that their staff are fully vaccinated” to lure major clients.

As reported by InDaily, Kirchner told staff “we’re all going to need to be vaccinated if AVM is to achieve its full potential”, advising that in the context of “winning new business”, it was “becoming increasingly evident that venues are going to have to demonstrate that their staff are fully vaccinated against COVID in the not-too distant future”.

Image: The drive-through Coronavirus vaccination clinic at Palmerston North’s Central Energy Trust Arena. Credit: John Lynch, Manager Venues Palmerston North.

Related Articles

29th August 2021 - What employers need to consider about vaccinations for staff and consumers

26th August 2021 - National Cabinet to consider access to leisure for vaccinated Australians

25th August 2021 - Australians’ travel plans yet to rise after vaccinations

25th August 2021 - New Qantas adverting campaign promotes travel for a vaccinated nation

24th August 2021 - Lockdowns see closure of all ski resorts in Australia and New Zealand

24th August 2021 - Sydney Roosters advise of plans to ban unvaccinated fans from NRL fixtures in 2022

23rd August 2021 - Royal Life Saving provides guidance on COVID-19 vaccinations and aquatic facilities

20th August 2021 - New Zealand’s nationwide lockdown sees facilities closed

20th August 2021 - Outback music festival organiser to demand proof of vaccination for attendees in 2022

19th August 2021 - Qudos Bank Arena’s new role as NSW Health mass vaccination centre

12th August 2021 - New Zealand Government looks to quarantine-free travel for vaccinated from early next year

7th August 2021 - Intrepid Travel to make vaccines mandatory for travellers and staff

4th August 2021 - Vaccine Passports to be required for NSW sporting venues in 2022?

30th July 2021 - Australia’s lockdowns to end once 80% of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19

28th July 2021 - Unvaccinated Australians could be barred from festivals, theatres and sport and entertainment venues

14th February 2021 - Wellington’s Sky Stadium hosts largest crowd for a concert anywhere in the world for nearly a year

11th February 2021 - Redevelopment nears completion at Palmerston North’s Central Energy Trust Arena

30th June 2020 - Sport Australia to keep Canberra’s AIS Arena closed for remainder of the year

7th April 2020 - Adelaide Venue Management repurpose venues to help community catering organisations

15th October 2019 - Adelaide Venue Management Corporation warns fans over unofficial Coopers Stadium website

9th September 2019 - New artificial turf field revealed at Palmerston North’s Central Energy Trust Arena


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

GEOFF NINNES FONG AND PARTNERS

Geoff Ninnes Fong & Partners (GNFP) is a structural, aquatic and civil engineering consultancy with broad experience in the design of new municipal and institutional swimming pools, hydrotherapy…

read more

Aquatics / Consultants / Design / Venues

 
 

PerfectGym

Perfect Gym Solutions is a software as a service (SaaS) solution purpose-built to service the fitness industry, with over 1000 clients servicing over two million gym members across 40 countries making…

read more

Access / Fitness / Marketing / Recreation / Technology

 
 

HIDROPLAY

Hidroplay welcomes you to the exciting world of children's Playscapes, waterslide's and Water Attractions. Appealing to families, Hidroplay increases patronage in your facility during those…

read more

Aquatics / Play / Recreation

 
 

BH Fitness

BH Fitness, part of the long-standing and iconic bike manufacturer BH Group, is a global leader in fitness equipment for both Commercial and Home markets. The company, with the headquarters based in…

read more

Fitness / Recreation / Sport / Technology / Wellness

 
 

AMPD Academy

Originally founded to meet the specific training requirements of its own venue management operations, Ampd Academy now embraces a broader mission to combat skill shortages across Australian…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Education / Recreation / Safety

 
 

Intelligenz Solutions

Intelligenz provides Leisure Management Software for managing all your Program Registrations, Facility Bookings, Membership Sales and POS Transactions; including detailed Reporting, automated…

read more

Access / Billing / Finance / Marketing / Technology

 
 

WATERPLAY Solutions Corp

Whether your goal is increasing your centre's revenues or creating an engaging environment, why not add play to your project? If you're looking for stylish aquatic play features, kid-tested…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Play / Recreation / Waterparks

 
 

Aussie Strength

Commercial gym equipment supplier Aussie Strength was wound up at the end of 2022.    .aussie p { padding:20px; }

read more

Fitness / Technology / Wellness

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business