UPDATE 6 JULY 2020
Deep breath everyone, you will need refreshments for tonight’s read hence the earlier than usual post? 😊
ADVICE TO LIQUOR LICENSE VENUES – Liquor licensees have been advised by the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) that the following COVID Safe Industry Plans are still being finalised to accommodate stage 3 of restrictions:
• QLD Hotels & Clubs
• Retail Food Services – for restaurants, cafes and caterers
• QLD Wineries
Until these have been finalised, the relevant licensees (including pubs, clubs, hotels etc) have been advised to operate under Stage 3 of QLD’s roadmap to easing restrictions; and Restrictions on Business, Activities and Undertakings Direction (No.3) which includes operating under a checklist rather than a plan COVID Safe Checklist for Dining and Drinking. For licensees with any concerns, please contact your OLGR representative.
VICTORIAN FOOTBALL TEAMS – We are waiting on confirmation from the Minister’s office, however from our understanding any Victorian football team that relocated to QLD during this period, including those in Noosa, are under 14 days quarantine in their hotel and can only leave for group training purposes until their quarantine is complete.
FLIGHTS FROM MELBOURNE – have now resumed to Sunshine Coast as part of the Federal Government’s minimum viable network to support essential travel. Essential travel can include freight and transport of medical equipment, not only passengers. Processes are in place to handle border crossing requirements for all passengers coming from other states, including strict health checks. Mandatory hotel quarantine at own expense will be enforced by police here for anyone including passengers returning home to the Sunshine Coast as for anyone arriving at Brisbane. Temperature checks are also being done in Melbourne before passenger’s board. And as an FYI in response to our inbox overload, there was only one passenger on board today’s flight!
BORDERS – If you are in any doubt about whether you can come back into QLD without mandatory hotel quarantine, you can apply for an exemption or clarification via www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-...
For more information regarding QLD border restrictions including frequently asked Q&A’s, please visit www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-...
NOOSA NORTH SHORE – Our local police and QPWS rangers continue efforts in monitoring visitors, with approximately 40 travellers denied access for not carrying a permit or possessing the additional Restricted Area Access Permits over the weekend. Please everyone, the restricted permits are in place for a reason and it is not worth risking fines or being turned away for not having them. All random breath tests undertaken this weekend were negative, however there were 8 infringements notices given for speeding and other non compliances. More information on requirements for Cooloola as a Restricted Access Area can be found at parks.des.qld.gov.au/covid-19#bookings
ARTS GRANTS – There are several new grants in the pipeline for the Arts, including to help live music and performing arts venues program QLD artists, also to assist music venues reopen. For all Arts related grants visit www.arts.qld.gov.au/aq-funding at the bottom of the page you can also subscribe to their e-news for funding information etc as it is released.
SPORT VOUCHERS – Another round of Fair Play is open from tomorrow. These $150 vouchers are available to use towards sport and active recreation membership, registration, or participation fees with registered activity providers. For more information or to apply, please visit www.qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/fairplay/apply
NOOSA RIVER SPEEDS – On Friday we had a question regarding the confusion surrounding the 20knot speed sign on the Department of Fisheries building, and a 6knot speed sign on the pole of the jetty in front of. According to Maritime Safety QLD, the max speed limit from Munna Point downstream is 20 knots. This speed limit is reduced to 6 knots during Christmas and Easter holidays. However, at all times on Queensland waters skippers must observe ‘distance off’ provisions – that is, if they operate their vessel within 30 m of a structure (such as a pontoon, or in this case, the jetty); moored/anchored vessel; another vessel that is operating; passive craft (eg kayak); or a swimmer, they must reduce their speed to 6 knots. For PWCs, the distance off provisions are increased to 60 m. More information on river speed limits throughout QLD can be viewed here :https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/Waterways/Speed-limits Please note for Noosa there are ‘permanent’ speeds and ‘holiday’ speeds to be aware of.
POMONA RAIL PATHWAY UPDATE– Previously we advised residents of the slippery surface on the new pathway in an earlier update. This was repaired by Department of Transport on 26 June and now has a safe surface. Thankyou TMR for the speedy response! 👍
FISHING 'NO TAKES' – Just a reminder that snapper and pearl perch will be no-take species in QLD waters for one month starting at 12.01am 15 July. To learn more on sustainable fishing head to www.daf.qld.gov.au/fish-identification-information/fish-species-guide/protected-and-no-take-species
BALLET – QLD Ballet’s Education Teaching Artists in partnership with Energy QLD, will be delivering school and community workshops across regional QLD and are in Noosa 3 & 4 September. For more information please visit www.queenslandballet.com.au/community/regional-and-international-programs/2020-regional-school-an...
BUSINESS GRANTS – Regional Development Australia(RDA) Sunshine Coast have a great tool for local businesses to search available grants. Please visit www.grantguru.com.au/
FOSTER CARERS NEEDED– For more information in becoming one of our incredible foster carers, please visit www.qld.gov.au/fostercare or phone 1300 550 877.
To finish. If you have stayed the distance, and some very long site links?? you have earnt a very quick signoff! 😊
Sandy 🙏
www.daf.qld.gov.au
Protected and no-take fish species in Queensland fresh waters and tidal watersMP NEWSLETTER JUNE 2020 – A 'rollercoaster' of a month! Highlights included celebrating 101 years of the lovely Merv, right through to the 'low-lights' of 4am finishes during Parliament? :). Read all about it here: www.sandybolton.com/newsletters
NOOSA RIVER – As part of creating safety for all on our river, MSQ have welcomed SAM (Speed Awareness Monitor) signs which as on the roads, give an instant digital read of vessel speeds to support safe boating behaviour. The signs will also record data to help MSQ monitor its effectiveness and provide information for future compliance activities. Thankyou to Minister Bailey and the TMR team for the new addition to our efforts. Skippers look for the ‘smiley’ face, and if it’s red, slow down! 😊
A BEAUTIFUL PRE-COVID SHARE- I am so missing this, and can't wait until this is my 'norm' again.The annual Q & A with Grade 6 students at St Thomas More Primary School Sunshine Beach was brilliant, with students in fine form!! Targeted questions on how Parliament works, what an MP’s job is like, and even how we get things done! Best of all, by the end of the session, we had quadrupled the number eager to become future community representatives, passionate about Noosa! ##nextgenpollies #ourfuture #changemakers #fromlittlethings
UPDATE 3 JULY 2020 – SPECIAL QLD BORDER EDITION
At last the details have been released regarding the strengthened borders that took effect today in response to the Victorian outbreaks. Have translated some of the queries that have come to our office so far, and if we have missed anything or anyone, can you let us know over the weekend via noosa@parliament.qld.gov.au so we can obtain answers for Monday night’s update?👍
ENTRY INTO QLD – You can only enter QLD if you are an exempt person or are granted an exemption from the Chief Health Officer (CHO). If you are eligible to enter QLD, you must complete a Border Declaration Pass before you come. You will also have to quarantine in a government mandated hotel, at your own expense, if you
• Have been overseas in the last 14 days
• Have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• Have been to a COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days (All Victoria is currently a hotspot)
• Have COVID-19
• Have had COVID-19 symptoms within the last 14 days
QUARANTINE EXEMPTIONS - There are exemptions from the quarantine requirements, and you need to read the full information online, however below are a couple of examples of exemptions:
• If you are a ‘Specialist worker’ – please read the full information available to determine if you are eligible.
• If you arrive into QLD by air and you transfer directly to another flight to leave QLD.
• If you have completed a min of 14 days of government mandated quarantine in another state without showing symptoms or having a positive test, have travelled straight from the quarantine to an airport to depart the hotspot and provide evidence as per full information online.
• If you have flown via an airport in a hotspot (transferring flights), without leaving the confines of the airport. Eg. Adelaide – Melbourne – Brisbane
TO CROSS THE BORDER INTO QLD:
• You will need to obtain a QLD Border Declaration Pass to cross the border even if you are a returning resident. Applications can be done at the border, however to avoid delays you can do so at www.qld.gov.au/border-pass/queensland-border-declaration-pass. Evidence may be requested at the border and large fines exist for falsifying declaration information.
• You should read the full health direction and Q&A’s available on the same page, to find out if you are an exempt person www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-...
• If you do not meet any of the specified categories of exempt persons, you may be eligible to apply for a special exemption i.e. on compassionate grounds, and must do so before arriving at the border. www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/public-health-...
• To enter to work in agribusiness or commercial fishing, you must have a job before you come. If you have been to a hotspot in the 14 days prior, you will be subject to mandatory hotel quarantine at your own expense.
It is vitally important that you read all relevant information on the websites carefully, as there are requirements such as for those entering from hotspots under exemptions to keep records of close contacts for 14 days as well other important information to be aware of.
As well if you are travelling, stay on alert for any other states that identify hotspots, so that you can return home quickly if need be.
For those of a more technical nature who would like to read the full Border Restrictions Direction (No. 6), you can do so at www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/legislation/cho-public-health-directions-under-expanded-p... However, be warned that this is not light reading (thank you Lisa!) and we are off to have a much needed glass of something cold 😊
Have a great weekend everyone, and I will update on our new river SAM (Speed Awareness Monitor) tomorrow!
Sandy 🙏
Queensland Border Declaration Pass
www.qld.gov.au
Apply for Border Pass for Queensland resident or travelling to take up permanent Queensland residency or border resident commuting or accessing essential goods and services