VACCINE PASS REQUIREMENTS REMOVED

Following a review of the present COVID-19 situation and in consultation with Council’s Leadership Team, the decision has been made to remove the requirement for vaccine passes at the majority of our offices and facilities.

Vaccine passes, introduced in January, were required for entry at Council’s main office, Event Centre, Swimming Pool and Library. This process was put in place to help protect the wellbeing of our community, staff and their families and to ensure that Council services could continue to be provided.

This was not an easy decision to make and as a Leadership Team we reviewed it on a weekly basis. In light of the fast-moving nature of the pandemic, these reviews have now shown a change in approach can safely be implemented within our district.

As the situation rapidly evolves, it is now clear we are dealing with a completely different scenario since the decision was made to introduce vaccine passes. Vaccination rates are up across our district, children’s vaccinations have become available, Omicron is now the dominant variant and the country has now fully transitioned away from an elimination strategy as we all learn to live with the pandemic throughout our community.

With the Government continually reviewing its position, including reduced isolation requirements, changes to contact tracing, border entry requirements and a relaxation of education mandates, we believe it is now time to lift the requirement for a My Vaccine Pass.

As of Monday 28 March 2022, Council facilities no longer requiring My Vaccine Pass for entry include Council’s main office, Waimate District Library and the Norman Kirk Memorial Swimming Pool (although the swimming season has now come to a close).

However, due to limited capacity restrictions under the red traffic light setting, the vaccine passport mandate will continue at the Waimate Event Centre. If we lift the mandate on this building, the premises will be limited to 25 people at any one time, rather than allowing up to 100 people in the facility if the mandate continued. Therefore, with the Government’s recent public health order allowing children to use public facilities for school-organised events, the requirements for vaccine passes at the Event Centre will remain. All teachers and parents accompanying students must still hold a valid vaccine pass.

To ensure we continue to help keep everyone safe and provide services to the community, we will be strictly enforcing the use of face masks and physical distancing at all facilities. Hand sanitiser will be available and visitors are encouraged to use it.

Thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation.

Stuart Duncan

CHIEF EXECUTIVE