People visiting the Ashburton District Council’s EA Networks Centre will need to show their My Vaccine Pass when the district moves into the new COVID-19 Protection Framework tomorrow (Friday, 3 December).

All of the South Island will enter the protection framework at Orange level.

The vaccine pass requirement is for eligible people who want to access the gym, stadium, pools or café.

All visitors will be required to enter through the main front entrance, where staff will be outside checking passes. Please have your vaccine pass ready to ensure smooth entry.

Community Services Group Manager Steve Fabish said the gym, stadium, pools and café shared ventilation systems, staff spaces and access points so the centre had to be considered as one building.

“We take the health and safety of our staff, centre users and community seriously and we have been working through advice about how to best operate under the new Orange traffic light management system.

“It is easier to manage our high volumes of foot traffic and safer for all to have the whole building under vaccine pass requirements.”

Gym members and regular users have been contacted via email today to advise them of the changes.

All visitors to the centre must also remember to scan in and wear a face mask where required.

Learn how to get My Vaccine Pass here:
https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-certificates/my-vaccine-pass/

“We thank people for their continued support and we look forward to continuing to provide a state-of-the-art facility for recreation needs under the new covid protection framework,” Mr Fabish said.

Chief executive Hamish Riach said Council was working through the implications of the Orange level rules on other Council facilities, including the Ashburton Public Library, Art Gallery and Museum, and Baring Square West administration building.

"All these other facilities still have contact tracing, mask-wearing, and physical distancing measures in place and do not require a My Vaccine Pass at this stage."

Council will decide later this month if or when vaccine passes will be a requirement at these other facilities.