Dorset Flex still in limbo
• Local ladies getting it done on a Saturday morning when Dorset Flex was in full swing. Image supplied.
By Taylor Clyne
July 15, 2020
Now in their seventeenth week of closure, owners of Scottsdale based 24-hour gym Dorset Flex are looking for answers on when they can reopen.
Owners Heath Summers and Nigel Thompson say they are at their wits end with the government following ‘yo-yo’ responses on when they can operate again.
“No business in the town is better set up than us to track who is using the facility with a personalised fob key code access at the door and cameras,” Heath explained.
“I have full confidence that we can comply with the government's Covid-safe policy and have submitted our own plan for review by public health.
“Currently gyms must be staffed to be open under the current restrictions but unfortunately due to our business structure and personal circumstances it is not feasible to staff Dorset Flex.”
Early investigations saw the team seek clarification regarding the clause, "person responsible for the premises" from the government as initial answers thought a member would be able to volunteer to be responsible when they were there.
“Therefore, a responsible person would be there whenever the facility is in use, but we can't get a clear answer from MPs if this is allowed,” Heath said.
Prior to closing and stopping all membership charges Dorset Flex had over 130 active members.
“To date half of these members have actively accepted the responsibility under the proposed Covid-safe plan.
“We’ve had really great support from our community, but they want to get back into it understandably, especially given 24hr gyms in QLD, WA and SA are all currently operating unstaffed and activities that are permitted in the state include sex work and full contact sport.
“How are these less risky than attending a gym,” Heath asked.
“We are concerned about the physical and mental health impact this is having on our members.”
Minister for Health and Small Businesses Sarah Courtney said she acknowledges the ongoing impact of the public heath restrictions.
“I understand that some industries are impacted more than others.
“I met with business owners in Scottsdale last week, and as a Government we are actively looking at what we can do to further support small businesses.
“Given the situation faced in Victoria it remains important that we continue to follow public advice, to keep people safe from a second wave, which would devastate small businesses and our community.
“We'll continue to work with public health to consider flexibility on individual circumstances faced by Tasmanian businesses,” she said.
Heath concluded that if something doesn’t change within the next week, they are going to be forced to potentially man the gym around their full-time jobs in order to be able to keep up with rental payments.