ICP
ICP is an Australian-based company focused on indoor climbing. ICP will manage your project from initial design to completion and beyond, whether you're building an international-level climbing…
read moreThe Northern Territory Government has announced the easing of lockdown measures, but while hairdressers, hospitality establishments and the Darwin Festival can reopen, fitness facilities will shut for at least another week.
The lifting of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions will allow people to travel freely in the region while some restrictions, including the wearing of masks, will remain in place for another week.
As a result, the Darwin Festival has reopened, an event which will attract thousands into the CBD, although organisers say dancing and singing will not be permitted but gyms remain closed.
The decision has baffled gym owners, who say their stringent cleaning regimes and social distancing requirements will keep people safe.
Fitness Works owner Chloe Scheppard said she was "really disappointed" to hear the news, telling the ABC
"Why are clubs and pubs allowed to reopen and we're not? … we have more checks and balances than them, no one's coming in inebriated, forgetting to wear their mask or to social distance.
"It just doesn't make any sense."
Scheppard said her gym is able to track the comings and goings of attendees, adding another layer of protection, explaining “we know every person who comes into the business we can track them, we have security cameras we have cleaning in place, we're able to social distance all the time
However, at a press conference on Thursday, Northern Territory Chief Health Officer Dr Hugh Heggie said the main reason indoor fitness centres would need to stay closed for now was because of "fomites" (objects likely to carry and transmit infection).
Dr Heggie said gyms had a lot of fomites (such as gym equipment) which were typically shared, making the risk of transmission high despite cleaning regimes.
University of Queensland Professor of Medicine Paul Griffin said Dr Heggie's call was "not unreasonable" considering how highly infectious the Delta strain had proven to be.
Professor Griffin said indoor gyms were often confined places with "relatively poor ventilation" and lots of contact surfaces, noting "even with really good cleaning protocols it's hard to be completely reassured that every touch point in the entire venue is sufficiently clean that transmission is addressed.”
Professor Griffin said because gyms were used for strenuous exercise, people often sweated heavily and were prone to removing or adjusting their masks while doing so, which increased the risk of transmission.
The Darwin Festival, which restarted as of yesterday, has updated its COVID-19 safety plan in line with new regulations.
Darwin Festival Artistic Director Felix Preval said the team was "incredibly excited" to be able to present the final three nights of the event.
Preval told the ABC “miraculously, we have been able to reprogram almost all of the final performances across those final three days.”
Image: The Aurora Spiegeltent at the Darwin Festival.
20th August 2021 - Fitness Australia slams Northern Territory Government’s decision to keep gyms closed
20th August 2021 - Northern Territory events remain an economic driver
4th August 2021 - Darwin Festival to deliver diverse and vibrant program including circus and live music acts
10th June 2021 - Skyline Attractions brings Ferris Wheel to Darwin’s Stokes Hill Wharf
11th February 2021 - Darwin Entertainment Centre stages 89 performances since July reopening
17th September 2020 - Darwin to host Australia’s first post-Coronavirus live concert
3rd July 2020 - Free Fitness Tutorials launched to accompany Darwin’s new outdoor exercise stations
20th May 2020 - Modified Darwin Festival to be a local celebration of strength and resilience
3rd June 2021 - Parrtjima light festival delivers significant boost to Northern Territory economy
13th April 2021 - AGB Events deliver Parrtjima Festival including travelling light installation
1st March 2021 - Parrtjima - a Festival in Light announces full program for 2021
19th August 2021 - Fitness clubs shut and with no ‘take away’ for 30% of days since March 2020
18th August 2021 - Industry resigned to ongoing lockdown closures
18th August 2021 - Global Health & Fitness Alliance sets out to prove the exercise industry’s value to society
29th July 2021 - Fitness Australia advises of concessions achieved for gym reopenings
21st July 2021 - Fitness Australia calls for ‘JobKeeper 2.0’ as Coronavirus lockdowns widen
3rd July 2021 - Fitness Australia invites input on industry trends survey
23rd March 2021 - Fitness Australia says industry ‘continues to strengthen’ 12 months since COVID-19 shutdowns
4th January 2021 - Fitness Australia calls for Federal government to introduce national plan to improve physical activity rates
17th November 2020 - Fitness Australia Chief Executive questions why gyms must close but pubs can stay open
6th August 2021 - New and expanded lockdowns impact more than half of Australia
30th July 2021 - Australia’s lockdowns to end once 80% of the population is vaccinated against COVID-19
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.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
ICP is an Australian-based company focused on indoor climbing. ICP will manage your project from initial design to completion and beyond, whether you're building an international-level climbing…
read moreHeadquartered in Brisbane with an Australia-wide network of satellite offices, PaySmart is one of Australia’s largest and longest-standing direct debit billing companies. In 1996 we began…
read moreA leading designer and manufacturer of innovative waterslides and attractions, Australian Waterslides and Leisure (AWL) is also able to advise clients in the areas of concept and design, feasibility…
read moreSeatGeek is a search engine and mobile-focused ticket marketplace that allows fans to buy and sell tickets for live events. As of August 2018, SeatGeek has exited the Australian, New…
read moreWelcome to AAC – makers of the world’s best wristbands, lanyards, tickets, tokens and full-service print solutions. We are Australia’s premier global manufacturer and supplier of…
read moreQuayclean are a national cleaning and waste services partner with proven results in the understanding and delivery of cleaning needs and challenges faced by facilities including; major venues and…
read moreAbout: Momentus Technologies is a global provider of industry-leading venue and event management solutions that empower organizations to create extraordinary moments. With over 50,000 users in more…
read moreCentaman has been a market leader in Enterprise Software Solutions for the leisure and recreation industry and both profit and not-for-profit attractions since 1991. It offers a wide range of software…
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!