A suggestion that Georges River Council light up its recreational parks and sporting fields after dark to encourage exercise during the pandemic is expected to be given the flick.
Councillor Nick Katris asked whether the council had given consideration to lighting of recreational parks and sporting fields across the local government area from 5pm to 8pm on a daily basis, to facilitate outdoor exercise during the NSW Public Health Order restrictions.
But the St George Police Local Area Command (LAC) has recommended that Council does not take any action that will encourage residents to leave their homes while the current NSW Public Health Order and the resulting restrictions are in place that require residents to stay at home, according to report expected to go to tonight's council meeting..
Football St George has also formally requested that sport field floodlighting remain off, at this time, to assist in enforcing the NSW Public Health Order with local teams and players across the local government area.
"Currently, Council has turned off all sporting field floodlighting to encourage residents to limit their movements in the community and adhere to the restriction imposed by the current NSW Public Health Order in order to eliminate the spread of the virulent Delta variant of COVID-19," the council's report stated..
"In addition, Council is reliant on the LAC to monitor and enforce any breaches of the NSW Public Health Order, which would be in addition to their current COVID-19 enforcement commitments.
"Council's current position is consistent with the approach taken by neighbouring Councils, including Bayside Council, City of Canterbury-Bankstown and Sutherland Shire Council.
Some metropolitan councils are currently turning sporting field flood lighting on at selected locations. At the time of writing, those local government areas were experiencing lower comparable COVID-19 infection rates in comparison with Georges River.
"As Public Health Orders (PHOs) in Greater Sydney have restricted the mobility of many people, government and non-governmental organisations have both strongly encouraged people to remain physically active while maintaining physical distancing.
"The Department of Health (Australian Government) has published a number of recommended activities that people under PHOs can undertake regularly at home in order to maintain appropriate physical distancing.
"Council will promote these resources to the Georges River community through the online "Stay Home | Stay Active" campaign.
"Additional non-budgeted funds of $1,700 per day would be required to fund the flood lighting at 10 sport fields between the hours of 5pm and 8pm. The total estimated cost for a two-week period is $24,000."
