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Regional Victoria COVID Third Step

What you need to know for Regional Victoria (Third Step Restriction) There are no restrictions on the reasons you can leave home.

There are no restrictions on how far you can travel within regional Victoria
If you can work from home, you must work from home

You must wear a face covering when you leave home.
As restrictions ease it is important to stay safe. You can stay safe by:

wearing a face covering when you leave home
washing your hands regularly
coughing and sneezing into your elbow
keeping at least 1.5 metres distance from others

What does Third Step mean for Pony Club?Subject to DHHS announcements.
You may:

Ride off property with members of your household or in groups of up to 10 plus an instructor if required.
Ride outdoors at agistment properties or equestrian centres subject to owner/manager requirements.
Participate in outdoor training/coaching activities with members of your household or in groups of up to 10 riders plus the instructor.
Travel unlimited distances within Regional Victoria.
Competition for adults and children can commence, with restrictions.

These allowances are for outdoor areas only – indoor arenas must remain closed.
Social distancing (1.5m) and good hygiene MUST be maintained
Face masks
If you are doing exercise or a physical activity where you are out of breath or puffing, such as cycling or running, you do not need to wear a face covering. You must carry a face covering with you and wear it before and after you exercise.
If you are doing exercise or a physical activity where you are not out of breath or puffing, then you must wear a face covering unless you have a lawful reason not to.
The approach to equestrian competition is ‘get in, compete, get out’
minimising unnecessary contact at the event.
BE SAFE, CAUTIOUS & APPROPRIATE.

Club activities
Club rallies and activities may resume under the following conditions:

A Covid Safe Officer must be appointed to monitor compliance with Covid 19 rules and restrictions.
For Rallies and club activity no more than one group of a maximum of 10 riders may be at the venue at any one time (plus the coaches and minimum number of helpers required to run the activity). The only exception to this rule is where there is sufficient space to allow more than one group of 10 separated by a distance of 100m minimum. Groups must not intermingle whilst at the venue and facilities may not be shared.
1 parent/helper per child rider only.
Facilities, with the exception of toilets, must remain closed.
Secretary’s office to remain closed to the public and competitors.
Toilets and common surfaces must be cleaned regularly.
The COVIDSafe app should be downloaded and active.
Name, mobile phone, and time at the venue must be recorded for every person present.
Clubs must have in place a management plan (Rally Plan) addressing Covid 19 risks.
Persons displaying any sign of sickness must not attend.
Equipment to be cleaned between use. No sharing of equipment.
Training for over 18 years contact sport (e.g.: polo) may be conducted provided training is modified to ensure riders maintain a distance of 1.5m.
Canteens, kiosks and at venue dining facilities can open subject to the industry restart guidelines for hospitality (See appendix for Sample COVID Plan for canteens as required by DHHS)
There must be at least 4 metres between floats and vehicles, including portable yards or other equipment associated with the float/vehicle. Yards and stables must be alternating if used.

Clubs which allow member use of locked grounds for training must put in place a booking system to limit numbers at the grounds at any one time. Rules in line with the requirements for rallies and group training must be applied.

Competitions
Subject to DHHS announcements equestrian competition may resume under the following conditions:

All competition must be held outdoors. Indoor arenas are to remain closed.
Social distancing (1.5m) must be maintained in all areas.
Where it is necessary during the conduct of an event to form groups (e.g. show classes, mounted games, marshaling areas) each group must not exceed 10 persons. Judges, event officials or essential support personnel are not counted in the group of 10.
Where it is NOT necessary to form groups i.e. individual competitions such as Dressage, Jumping, Eventing, participation is limited to the minimum number of people required for the activity.
Organising Committees must timetable events to expedite participation and avoid excessive participant numbers on site.
Pre-entries only in accordance with competition requirements.
Personnel, officials, and volunteers are to be limited to those essential for the running of the event.
1 parent/helper per junior participant. Helpers for older riders are OK provided they are necessary for safety or other reasonable reason.
No spectators. Essential support personnel only.
Persons from restricted areas may not attend or participate
Facilities, with the exception of toilets, must remain closed.
There must be at least 4m clearance between parked floats and vehicles, including portable yards or other equipment associated with the float/vehicle.
Alternating yards or stables must remain vacant.
Toilets and common use surfaces must be disinfected regularly
Temperature checks must be undertaken at entry.
An attendee’s register including name, mobile phone number and time arrived at the venue must be recorded for every person in attendance.
Persons who are sick or unwell or displaying any sign of sickness must not attend.
Face masks must be worn at all times, except if the activity results in being out of breath or puffing and must be worn immediately before and after the activity ceases. If you are doing exercise or a physical activity where you are not out of breath or puffing, then you must wear a face covering unless you have a lawful reason not to do so.
Equipment must be cleaned after use. No sharing of equipment.
Canteens, kiosks and at venue dining facilities can open subject to the industry restart guidelines for hospitality (See appendix for Sample COVID Plan for canteens as required by DHHS)
The COVIDSafe app should be downloaded and active.
Organising Committees must have a COVIDSafe Plan in place to assist in event management.
If camping is permitted you can camp with the people you live with, your intimate partner, or the household you have formed a bubble with (your household can book campsites with up to five members of your bubble household). Campsites must be separated by a minimum distance of 4m.
A Covid Safe Officer must be appointed to monitor compliance with Covid 19 rules and restrictions.