Knox Little Athletics Centre Inc.

As everyone is aware the Victorian Government has announced the easing of covid restrictions form 11.59pm Thursday 10 June.
Knox City Council have formally advised us this afternoon that the Knox Athletics Track will reopen on Friday 11 June following the easing of restrictions.

• Only training can resume for community sport
• Density quotient of 1 person per 4sqm
• A maximum venue capacity: 100 people
• Maximum group size: 10
• 25km limit applies.
• Limited to the number required to participate in and facilitate activity
• No access to indoor facilities. Access to the track is for outdoor training only. The pavilion and underneath the grandstand remain closed, other than access to retrieve equipment/first aid facilities.

We are waiting on updated advice from LAVic with regards to training protocols for sanctioned training for Metro Melbourne areas and will post updates once we have them.

Cross Country Competition Restart

We will provide advice on cross country restarting when restrictions ease further and we have a definitive restart date. The committee is working on a number of contingency plans for when the season restarts. Please look out for updated cross country information over the coming week.

If anyone has any question please do not hesitate to contact us.

LAVic has posted a Memo to Centres today which provides an update on Regional Cross Country Carnivals and Local Cross Country resuming in regional Victoria following the easing of restrictions. You can read the LAVic Memo here.

In Summary:

• Metro Melbourne – Sanctioned Little Athletics activity – competition, training and coaching – within metropolitan Local Government Areas will remain banned until 11 June 2021
• Due to restrictions advised in the Restricted Activity Directions for Regional Victoria, the settings for which Community Sport can recommence, LAVic has decided that under these conditions, Region Cross-Country Carnivals cannot proceed once Metro Melbourne is released from lockdown, with any degree of confidence or certainty.
• The Region Cross-Country Carnivals have been cancelled.
• The State Cross-Country Championships, on Saturday 31st July at Lake Dewar, will now be direct entry. All the current registrations will be moved across into the State Championships, and the portal will remain open until Monday 5th July.
• A portal for athletes to withdraw from State will also be set up, refunds will be provided.

Local Cross-Country competition in Regional Victoria

While local Cross-Country competition can re-commence in Regional Victoria immediately there are some important points to note:
• Cross-Country races cannot exceed 10 athletes each and must be completed prior to
the next race commencing.
• Cannot involve a participant who ordinarily resides in Metropolitan Melbourne;
• Spectators are not permitted.
• Supervising parents are permitted.
• Officials and volunteers required to conduct the events are permitted to attend.
• Face coverings must be carried (by 12yo and over) at all times, and worn if 1.5m
physical spacing is not possible. Must be worn indoors.
• Access to indoor space at the facility is not permitted, except to access indoor toilets or
to pass through the indoor space solely for the purpose of accessing an outdoor space.
• QR Codes: everyone involved in conducting sanctioned Cross-Country competition,
training and coaching, including athletes, parents, officials & coaches, must register their
attendance via the State Government QR Code tool.

Without preempting future Restricted Activity Directions for Melbourne, once we move out from lockdown and we have confirmation as to what RADs will look like for metro Melbourne we will update everyone on how we will adjust our cross country to suit.

As usual if anyone has any question please do not hesitate to contact us.

Following the announcement of the Victorian Government recently to extend the current lockdown, the Cross Country season continues to be postponed and the Knox Athletics Track will continue to be closed for a further 7 days until at least the 11 June. Knox LAC training and coaching also remain suspended at this time.

Cross Country Calendar Changes

The Executive Committee met online on Monday night and agreed to extend the cross country season until the end of August to enable rescheduling any cross country weekends that could not go ahead arising from the lockdown. This will hopefully see us get as close to a full cross country as we can.

We are waiting for advice from LAVic on any date changes to the Cross Country Regional Carnivals, and State Championships as a result of the lockdown and restrictions easing. We will advise everyone once we have the details of any changes. The centre will also post an updated cross country season calendar noting any rescheduled cross country meets once dates are confirmed.

Maintenance Work at the Track

With the current closure of the track, Knox City Council is also taking the opportunity to upgrade the lighting within the pavilion and the grandstands to LED’s and undertake other maintenance on the buildings and toilets.

If you have any question please do not hesitate to contact us.

Stay Safe | Stay Healthy

As everyone will by now be aware, the Victorian Government has introduced Stage 3 lockdown for the next 7 days beginning Thursday night at 11.59pm.

LAVic have sent a memo to all centres today which advises:
All sanctioned Little Athletics activities – competition, training and coaching – scheduled to take place within Victorian state borders must cease during the lockdown period.

This means that all cross country competition will not go ahead this weekend including the Interclub club cross country meet at Yarra Ranges. LAVic have also moved the dates of State Cross Country Relays to the 14 August however at this stage Regional Carnivals remain unaffected.

In accordance with the directions from LAVic – All Knox LAC training and coaching will cease during the lockdown.

Track and Facilities Closed During Lockdown

Knox City Council has confirmed that Knox Athletics Track will be closed for all activities including individual use (this includes using the track for exercise) from Thursday night until Friday 4 June in line with the government restrictions.

State Cross Country Relay Championships

The State Cross-Country Relay Championships, due to be held on Saturday 5th June at Cruden Farm, Langwarrin, has been re-scheduled and will now take place on Saturday 14th August at the same venue.
There will be a window of opportunity to reconfirm entries and make adjustments to teams. Further information will be communicated in due course.

Athletics Victoria has also communicated the re-scheduling of Round 3 of its XCR season – originally slated for 5th June at St Anne’s Vineyards – to Saturday 7th August.

Region Cross-Country Carnivals

Entries for Region Cross-Country Carnivals (weekend of the 19th/20th June) remain open and unaffected by today’s developments.
Entries close at midday on Monday 7th June. LAVic will provide updates in due course as developments necessitate.

If you are looking for further information on the stage 3 restrictions you can click on the link below.
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-05/210527%20-%20Statement%20From%20The%20Acting%20Premier_0.pdf

The Executive Committee understands this is frustrating and its not the the news we wanted hear, but please stay safe and active. As always as the situation evolves we will provide information as it comes to hand.

David Kearsley | President

As everyone is aware, there are covid cases that continue to be identified. The Victorian Government has introduced additional restrictions from 6pm 25 May 2021. These include wearing facer mask indoors, and limits on gatherings in the home and public gatherings.

You can obtain further advice on the current restrictions here https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covidsafe-settings

At this stage there are no additional restrictions for community based sport. Therefore training sessions are continuing. The interclub meet this week at Yarra Ranges is still proposed to go ahead (see below). The Executive Committee is monitoring the situation and awaiting advice from LAVic as to any changes to training or competition requirements. If there are changes these will be communicated to families and members as soon as we can.

As a reminder if you are attending Knox LAC training sessions you need continue to sign in using the QR Code located at the entry gate and carry a face mask. Knox LAC has its Covid Safe Plan published on our website.

For those that are planning on competing at the Interclub Cross Country this Saturday at Yarra Ranges, it is still planned to go ahead.

The following has been provided by Yarra Ranges LAC for Saturdays interclub meet.

At this stage we believe that we will be able to host races on Saturday. QR code attendance register for anyone who comes along.
Of course we advise families to do what they feel is right for their family. If the direction from LAVic or AV is no races, we will cancel.
Unless the advice changes we will encourage families to ‘get in, race, get out’. So there won’t be a BBQ or anything else that suggests hanging around is required.
As we get closer, and as advice becomes clearer, we may have suggested race start times so later race athlete families can arrive later without fear of missing their race.

Further advice will be provided to everyone as the situation evolves over the next few days.

Safe Safe Stay Healthy

David Kearsley | President