22nd September 2021
Notice to Members: Our Covid Roadmap
Dear Members,
The following is a summary of what the Government roadmap means to the Warragul Country Club and its operations. The dates below assume the 70% – 80% vaccination thresholds are met, and are subject to change based on any restriction changes.
1) From Monday 27 September 2021:
No change to the current restrictions except outdoor patron capacity increases to 30 patrons, whilst indoor remains at 10. Effectively this means the Alfresco dining area (outdoor) will move from 20 to 30 patrons. Inside the venue, the cap remains at 10 which is allocated to the gaming room. These restrictions unfortunately would not allow for the bar, lounge or café services to operate.
2) From Wednesday 27 October 2021:
The inside venue patron capacity increases from 10 to 30 people. Unfortunately, this provides no operational changes as the gaming room will at this point increase its capacity to 30 and utilise the full patron capacity. Outdoors increases to 100 and is subject to 2 sq meters per person, so this provides some increases to the Alfresco dining and terrace areas.
These restrictions unfortunately would not allow for the bar, lounge or café services to operate unless that occurred in the outdoor Alfresco area or on the terraces.
3) From Saturday 6 November 2021:
This is approximately 7 weeks away and provides for the patron capacity inside the venue to increase to 150 patrons but the 4 square meter per person applies. Outdoor increases to 500 and the 2 sq meters per person.
The Covid Roadmap also indicates that the above easing of restrictions on 27 October and 6 November is dependant on patrons being fully vaccinated. It is currently unclear as to how this will be implemented and will be potentially via DHHS Public health orders. These Health Orders do not exist yet and we await the publishing of these Orders and further advice on this matter.
Golf
More clarity is also required around return to golf competition and major golf events, and members will be informed as soon as this is known. Once again, our Metro Country Members are unable to access the Club or play golf for what appears to be at least another 7 weeks.
Unfortunately for the Club, this roadmap is a slow return of our usual member services, and little will change until 6 November 2021. Even at this point, our usual services are still unfortunately restricted.
Other key factors are our staff who are severely impacted by their inability to return to work. The continuation of the government Covid disaster payments therefore remain critical to our employees and their families. Similarly, the Club receives government assistance from the Licenced Hospitality Fund and the continuation of this funding remains critical to the ongoing financial sustainability of the Club.
For the general information of Members, the Club was locked down and did not trade for a total of 27 days in July and August. The Board continues to monitor the Club’s finances closely and can report that despite this extensive shutdown of our operations in July & August, the Club met its budget projections for both these months. The Board continues to closely monitor and review these issues.
Should any Members wish to discuss any aspects of this Notice with me please call or drop me a line via email.
Yours Sincerely,
Michael Hodge
Chief Executive Officer
P: 03 5623 2135
E: michael@warragulcountryclub.com.au
