Victoria’s COVID Roadmap / City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire and Mitchell Shire enter a 7-day Lockdown
Victorian COVID Roadmap Plan
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday released Victoria’s Roadmap for easing COVID restrictions.
Victoria’s 4-Phase Roadmap roll-out plan is based on the level of vaccinations of eligible people 16 years old and over. The phases are listed below. Please note the dates are indicative, and the community vaccination level triggers the change:
- Phase A – 80% single vaccination dose – 26 September 2021
- Phase B – 70% double vaccination dose – 26 October 2021
- Phase C – 80% double vaccination dose – 5 November 2021
- Phase D – 80% double vaccination dose (12+ years old) – 19 November 2021
As has become the norm for Government COVID communications, things are neither simple nor straightforward. The Premier’s detailed statement and explanatory attachments and plans can be found here https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/victorias-roadmap-delivering-national-plan .
Significantly, Mr Andrews has not yet proposed any immediate changes to the Victorian Authorised Providers list. Indeed under the Government’s plan, Victoria’s beleaguered businesses appear to get no relief until 26 October 2021, when the state is predicted to achieve 70% double dose vaccination.
Further Regional Lockdowns
Yesterday, Mr Andrews also announced the City of Greater Geelong, Surf Coast Shire, and Mitchell Shire entered a 7-day lockdown from 11:59 pm last night (19 September). Rules and restrictions for these regions are similar to the metro area and are explained in detail in the Premier’s press release here https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/seven-day-lockdown-geelong-surf-coast-mitchell-shire
What is ACWA Doing, and How Can Members Help?
Members should be aware that ACWA has not and will not give up the fight for common sense, and we continue to advocate for car washing to be included explicitly as an Authorised Provider. The current list of Approved Providers can be found here https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/authorised-provider-and-authorised-worker-list
To this end, we have two submissions before the Department of Health Panel for consideration. One of our submissions focuses specifically on getting our completely COVID safe automatic car washes authorised. We believe that this submission has the support of several Government sectors.
ACWA asks for members to support our work by lobbying their local members, particularly those whose local members represent the Labour Party. If you wish to be part of the solution, please let ACWA know, and we will provide dot points to help with your submission contact@acwa.net.au
In further news, ACWA Director Andrew Triant (Wash World) has taken a lead role in tackling media coverage of the unnecessary closure of car washing’s COVID safe businesses. Keep your eyes on the Herald Sun and the Channel 9 News in the days ahead. We are calling on passionate ACWA operators who have closed their sites to be involved on air onsite in Cheltenham this week (exact date and time to be confirmed) – please email your interest in attending and being involved to contact@acwa.net.au.