Racing Victoria (RV) wishes to advise of changes to the biosecurity protocols in place in Victoria to allow for the safe continuation of racing and training during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The protocols serve to protect the health of industry staff, participants and the wider Victorian community; maintain 25,000 full-time equivalent jobs; and ensure daily care and exercise can be afforded to all thoroughbred racehorses.
Victorian & New South Wales Cross-Border Community
The Victorian Government has declared that from 11.59pm tonight (Thursday, 2 September) six Victorian Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, City of Benalla, Buloke, Loddon and Yarriambiack, along with two New South Wales (NSW) LGAs of Broken Hill and Edward River, will no longer be included as part of the Victorian-NSW cross border community.
This means residents in those LGAs will no longer be eligible for a cross-border extreme risk zone permit to enter Victoria or return from NSW and that the following Victorian racecourses are no longer included within the Victorian-NSW cross-border bubble: Bendigo, Benalla, Donald, Tatura and Warracknabeal.
As a result, any licensed or registered person who resides in or visits the NSW LGAs of Broken Hill and Edward River from 11.59pm (AET) tonight is not permitted to attend any racecourse or licensed premises in Victoria until otherwise advised.
For the avoidance of any doubt, any licensed or registered person who resides in a NSW border community within the updated cross-border bubble (such as Albury or Moama) and visits the LGAs of Broken Hill and Edward River after 11.59pm (AET) tonight is not permitted to attend any racecourse or licensed premises in Victoria until otherwise advised.
Further, any licensed or registered participant who resides in a NSW border community within the updated cross-border bubble (such as Albury or Moama) is not permitted to attend a racecourse or licensed premises in Victoria outside the updated Victorian-NSW cross-border bubble until otherwise advised.
Any Victorian licensed or registered participant who resides in a Victorian border community and enters one of the NSW border communities within the updated cross-border bubble after 11.59pm (AET) tonight is not permitted to attend a racecourse or licensed premises in Victoria outside the Victorian-NSW cross-border bubble for 14 days upon their return and until such time as they receive clearance from RV Stewards upon receipt of a negative COVID test.
Any Victorian licensed or registered participant who does not reside in the updated Victorian-NSW cross-border bubble and enters a NSW border community (such as Albury or Moama) after 11.59pm (AET) tonight is not permitted to attend any racecourse or licensed premises in Victoria for 14 days upon their return and until such time as they receive clearance from RV Stewards upon receipt of a negative COVID test.
Conclusion
RV continues to monitor the situation both interstate and within Victoria and will make changes to the industry’s biosecurity protocols as required to ensure the safe continuation of racing and training in Victoria.
Where changes are made further updates will be provided, so please remain alert to further communications from RV and/or the Victorian Government.
All licensed participants and owners in Victoria are asked to follow all public health advice and to stay home and get tested if they, or anyone they live with, is unwell and displaying any COVID-19 symptoms.