Members Update
The rest of Australia is cheering for our NSW cousins as they head towards the first significant step to reopening this Monday. What a mighty effort from the NSW community, and our congratulations to all of you for your dogged success in vaccinating yourselves to “freedom”.
Let’s also take this opportunity to send a shout out to ACWA members in the ACT, who are due to come out of lockdown next Friday the 15th October. Your vaccination efforts have also been massive.
We are also thrilled to advise that the Victorian Government approved that car wash premises can operate in a fully contactless manner earlier this week. This was a small but hard-fought win in a state that has taken a hard-line and, some might argue, a fatally uncompromising position on small to medium business during the State’s COVID pandemic.
For more than a year, ACWA has relentlessly pursued the Government to change its position and supported by those members who petitioned the local politicians, together we finally managed to move the mountain! We trust that this change, along with the $2 million in ACWA negotiated car wash grants that have flowed to operators, will help in some way to get Victorian operators to the COVID finish line.
New South Wales
Changes to the NSW Roadmap
Yesterday NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, announced changes to the NSW Roadmap for Recovery. There appears to be little in the announcement that will impact car wash businesses; however, several changes to “freedoms” will be of great personal interest. The media release can be seen here https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/nsw-on-road-to-reopening?_cldee=c2NvdHRAcHJvd2FzaC5jb20uYXU%3d&recipientid=contact-7a039c0287e8e81180e6000d3ae0def9-0f0b5bee152843269781cd7602a7d83c&esid=db5a1f02-1a27-ec11-b6e6-002248111f3d.
Preparing for Your Business to Reopen in NSW
From Monday, October 11, the first of the significant relaxation of restrictions come into effect. ACWA’s take on the situation is that car wash sites are free to open, providing you take reasonable steps to ensure your business is COVID safe.
Ongoing COVID safety includes implementing the general safety plan as outlined on the NSW Government’s Website here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/covid-safe/general-safety-plan. Please also ensure your site is QR code compliant you can do this by heading here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/covid-safe/customer-record-keeping.
Importantly take the time to check out the business requirements here https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/businesses-and-employment/covid-safe-business. This website area also houses the Government’s support resources, including posters and signage that will help keep your car wash covid compliant and safe.
Victoria
Vaccination for authorised workers from October 15 2021
Specifics regarding the Public Health Directions for the new mandatory vaccination rules for “authorised workers” that become effective from October 15 2021, are not yet available. ACWA will relay them to members as they become available.