Statement on events and sponsorships amid COVID-19

City of Newcastle is continuing to work with the State and Federal Government on limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Following restrictions placed on events under the NSW Government Public Health Order, which states outdoor events of more than 500 must not be held before 14 June 2020, the City is implementing a number of measured responses.

Since the Order was issued, the City has been notified of around 30 cancellations or postponements of public events on community land.

For licensed events that have notified the City of cancellation, we will refund the application fee. Similarly, application fees will be refunded for any sports licences that have been issued for events now cancelled.

The City is also supporting event organisers postpone to another date free of charge, providing their preferred new date is available.

Given the current uncertainty around events, the City’s annual Event Sponsorship Program (ESP) will be deferred until after the Public Health Order is repealed. This will give event organisers more certainty when planning their event and related sponsorship applications. The City will provide more information as soon as a new opening date for the program is confirmed.

The City continues to plan a proposed flagship cultural event previously scheduled for later in 2020. While it had been scheduled to fit the national cultural festival calendar, the timing is now under review as we work with the cultural and arts sector on new programming.

The City’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Team meets daily to assess the latest advice and formulate plans for maintaining services.

The health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce are its paramount concerns, and the City has implemented a daily update for employees on the response, including advice around social distancing and hygiene.

The response to COVID-19, including how social distancing should work for City of Newcastle employees, is developing in line with advice from our Government partners daily.

Should it be necessary, the City’s indoor workforce is well placed to work from home given the recent rollout of laptops and migration to cloud-based services.

For more information on cancellations and events and programs at our facilities, go to https://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Council/News/Latest-News/Events-and-public-gatherings.

For further information on City of Newcastle’s response to COVID-19 please visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/COVID-19