Zhivago nightclub to contest $5000 fine for coronavirus breaches after 10 Adelaide venues found with no COVIDSafe plans
A Currie St nightclub will fight a $5000 fine for breaching social distancing rules, criticising police for a “lack of consistency”. Ten venues were found to have no COVIDSafe plan.
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Zhivago nightclub has criticised SA Police for what it called inconsistent enforcement after it was fined $5000 for breaching COVID-19 restrictions at the weekend.
The Currie St nightclub and Tequila Sunrise Hostel were both slapped with $5060 fines for breaching COVID-19 restrictions. A total of 10 venues were found to have no COVIDSafe plans.
Police checked 111 venues for COVID-19 compliance at the weekend across metro Adelaide.
In addition to fines, Zhivago and Tequila Sunrise Hostel, and another bar in Topham Mall were issued Emergency Management Act directions.
A statement from Zhivago said the venue’s management would contest the fine, and had made a formal complaint to police.
Police issued three breaches to the venue, including trading with DJ entertainment, trading with lights at a low level, and patrons gathering without social distancing.
“We made every endeavour to adhere to social distancing and density rulings,” the statement said.
“We filled our usual dance floor area with bar tables and chairs to make it obvious that we were doing our absolute best.
“We are extremely disappointed in the lack of consistency between police, especially during this confusing time.”
The club’s management said they were confused to receive the fine after attempting to comply with restrictions.
“It's a frustrating time for all bars and nightclubs, because we did not create this virus nor have we aided in the spread of it in this state whatsoever.”
Police went to the Tequila Sunrise, a Waymouth St backpackers, about 5pm on Friday to carry out a compliance check when they found the businesses did not have a COVIDSafe Plan in place.
The officers also noticed patrons were not physically distancing themselves.
Four people were found to have recently arrived from Victoria and were self-quarantining at the hostel.
SA Health moved the three men and one woman to a North Tce hotel to finish their self isolation.
Despite the breaches, police said they were pleased with the majority of businesses who were complying with directions.
“Businesses involved in a defined public activity must have a COVID-safe plan in place in order to trade,” a police spokesperson said.
“If you have not completed a COVID-safe plan, do not have this available at your premises, or do not comply with current directions, you can be fined up to $5000.”
Earlier authorities warned that high-risk activities such as reopening nightclubs could be revoked if a new coronavirus outbreak erupts amid a “high level” of complacency among the young.
Nightclub and licensed venue operators are frantically reviewing operations after delays with official guidance on how to safely reopen dance floors to drinking patrons.
Almost a fortnight after clubs were allowed to open, SA Health late on Friday published a special COVID-19 “management plan” template.
Under the new rules, each venue, or event with at least 1000 people, must now have a plan approved before they can relaunch their dance floors.
But the Transition Committee has decided high-risk activity, such as nightclubs reopening or dancing while drinking, will be among the first to be scrapped if the Victorian virus crisis escalates.
Victoria recorded 177 new coronavirus cases overnight, bringing the state’s number of active cases to 1612.
A man in his 70s died in hospital, bringing the state’s death toll to 24 and the nation’s to 108.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews described it as “a dangerous time”.
