THE sole gym in Penola will remain operational but may require its users to undertake COVID-19 marshal training to ensure the business remains compliant with state regulations.
Supermarkets, places of worship, gyms, food courts, large retail outlets and freight stations will be required to have a marshal on site to ensure patrons adhere to social distancing and hygiene requirements.
Penola Football and Netball Club gym operator Marcus Devereux said the requirement, to be introduced Friday, was unlikely to have a
major impact on the community facility.
He said members who wished to continue using the service may have to complete the 30-minute online training and present a COVID-19 Safe marshal certificate to ensure the business had a marshal on site at all times.
“If this is what we have to do then this is what we are going to do to make sure people can still use the gym,” Mr Devereux said.
“We do believe most people will do it as it is only half an hour online with no cost where they will have to answer a few questions.”
Mr Devereux hoped community co-operation would limit any financial impacts on the gym.
“If members do not want to do it we may have to reimburse which could have a small financial impact later on down the track,” Mr Devereux said.
“The fact that we can do this is great because people are still able to use the facility and it means we can function and people can still keep fit.”
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said the marshals would hold patrons accountable for their conduct and advise SA Police in the event of non-compliance but would hold no legal authority.
“We recognise these restrictions do have an adverse impact on businesses’ ability to trade,” Comm Stevens said.
“We are looking for ways to ensure high levels of safety in these gathering locations without having to put caps on their numbers.
“This is putting it back onto businesses so that we do not have to do the compliance work we are doing now to the same degree and enabling them to operate as effectively as possible.”
