Queensland COVID restrictions for bodies corporate

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Queensland has introduced vaccination requirements which commence on 17 December 2021 – the aim of this newsletter is to provide some general guidance on how your body corporate can navigate these new requirements. Each body corporate community is different, if you have specific needs please discuss those with your BCsystems strata manager.

Meetings held in private residences or common areas

Body corporate meetings in private residences, and common areas (e.g. BBQ areas) can occur in person, subject to capacity limits.

  • If all persons are vaccinated – 100 people may attend.
  • If one or more persons are unvaccinated – the lower of 20 people; or 1 person per 4 square metres applies to the meeting area.
It is therefore important to ask the vaccination status of people attending body corporate meetings, as that will determine the maximum capacity of the meeting. BCsystems will assist your committee to ask about the vaccine status of meeting attendees. BCsystems continues to offer virtual meeting options to our clients at no cost, via Microsoft Teams. To discuss options for your upcoming meeting, please speak with your BCsystems strata management team.

Meetings held at external commercial venues (e.g. sports club)

Some bodies corporate hold their meetings at local hospitality venues (e.g. local sports club or RSL). For those meetings, the attendees will be subject to the rules of the club or venue, even if the persons attending the meeting are not eating or drinking.

Any unvaccinated persons will generally not be permitted to enter the venue at all. Committees should consider these restrictions when booking meetings at outside venues.

Meetings held on-site in mixed-use areas or licensed areas

Some body corporate developments include liquor-licensed residents areas, cafes and restaurants as part of the body corporate land. These areas will generally be subject to the hospitality restrictions, and unvaccinated persons will generally not be permitted to enter those parts of the property at all.

Pools & recreation facilities

If your body corporate has private outdoor facilities for residents and their guests (e.g. open-air swimming pool, BBQ area) – these areas will generally remain open without any restrictions for residents.

If your body corporate has indoor recreation areas (e.g. gym, community room) – those areas would be limited in capacity to the lesser of 20 persons or 1 person per 4 square metres if an unvaccinated person is present.

Hotel or short-term accommodation

If your body corporate includes a hotel-style or short-term accommodation component, then facilities may be subject to restriction if they are available to hotel or short-term rental guests or their visitors.

Vaccine status of owners and tenants

It is reasonable for the body corporate committee to ask the vaccine status of owners and residents who are attending meetings, or who are using any body corporate facilities which may be subject to a capacity restriction. It is necessary for the committee to know the status of each person in order to work out the capacity of a particular meeting space or facility.

QLD COVID check-in app

We have previously recommended creating a check-in location for the QLD COVID check-in app. For example “BUILDING NAME – POOL” or “BUILDING NAME – GYM”.

If your body corporate has not yet taken up this advice, this is a good idea to allow residents and visitors to check into your common property areas. This will allow the committee to more easily manage notifications in the case of a contact trace being required.

Your COVID vaccination status

All Queenslanders will need to get used to displaying proof of your vaccination status. If you have not yet done so, you can link your vaccine status to your COVID check-in Qld app by following these directions: Add your proof of vaccination status | Queensland Government (covid19.qld.gov.au)

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