A LOCAL sporting club president has hit out at the state government's coronavirus restrictions surrounding regional sports games.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In order to host this season's AFL North West grand final, the Gunnedah Bulldogs president Hamish Russell believes the club will have to erect a 500m-long fence around Wolseley Oval, to ensure the crowd does not exceed 500 people.
"The way we interpret the Public Health Order means we have to take everyone's details as they enter the ground to ensure we don't exceed the 500-person limit," Mr Russell said.
"Basically, the only way we can picture keeping an accurate headcount is to erect a fence to ensure people enter through one place and can be counted properly.
"I think this is totally unnecessary because it is unlikely 500 people will attend the game and it will be played at an open-air public park where social distancing won't be a problem.
"I'm all for public safety and compliance, but we're imploring the powers that be to re-investigate these restrictions and to grant us an exemption."
Read Also:
Mr Russell said he believed the guidelines were "far more applicable for metropolitan areas than for regional centres".
"The fact of the matter is, Gunnedah luckily hasn't had any cases of COVID-19 and our region hasn't had a case in several months, so these restrictions are a bit overboard," he said.
"On top of that, we are a club run by volunteers and putting up a fence like this will really stretch our resources for a game that historically doesn't attract crowds of that size in our region."
Deputy Premier John Barilaro shared Mr Russell's frustration and said he would do all he could to help.
"This is ridiculous, there has not been a single COVID-19 case north of Newcastle in 100 days and yet the regions are being strangled with bureaucratic red tape," Mr Barilaro told the NVI.
"I understand the importance of social distancing and keeping each other safe during this pandemic, but we have to strike the right balance between safety and sanity.
"I will continue calling for restrictions to be lifted in regional NSW because this madness cannot continue."
AFL North West community development officer Paul Taylor said compliance was a top priority for the league.
"There has been a lot of conversation around the government recommendations in regard to the grand final," Mr Taylor said.
"The recommendation we have been getting from the government is to discourage people from coming along and the discussion from our perspective has been about how do we manage that for a grand final.
"Gunnedah nominated to host the grand final provided they implement measures to meet the recommendations and if the club is successful in obtaining an exemption, we would for sure support it, provided it is compliant."
The NVI contacted the NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard was contacted for comment.