Be alert ‘but not alarmed’ in Qld strata communities: expert
While the Sunshine State has closed its borders to travelers from other states due to the escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic, Archers the Strata Professionals partner Grant Mifsud said that bodies corporate and residents in strata communities are urged only to be alert but not alarmed.
Developments have prompted the Queensland government to declare all of Victoria, NSW and the ACT as coronavirus hotspots, but Mr Mifsud said that this should be no cause of alarm for bodies corporate and residents of the state.
COVID-19 has had significant impacts on the ability of bodies corporate and building managers in Queensland to conduct their affairs as they have done historically.
This includes how they run meetings, arrange inspections including records for property sales and rentals and as well as the management of on-site facilities such as swimming pools, gymnasiums and barbecue areas.
However, according to Mr Mifsud: "Committees have managed to adapt to these challenges by holding meetings via electronic means such as online [videoconferencing] and making decisions by electronic voting to minimise the risk of transmission.”
Despite the challenges of strata living and working under COVID-19, there had been positives through accelerated adoption of technology allowing meeting participation to continue efficiently and with added flexibility.
Ultimately, bodies corporate in Queensland have benefitted from the experience of electronic meeting and facilities as well as health practices adopted during prior COVID-19 restrictions and can revert to those full practices again, if directed, to protect their communities.
“The use of technology to make decisions quickly in light of social distancing and health directives has been utilised by the early adopters, who are ready to act if new restrictions are directed in future,” Mr Mifsud said.
“There is a realisation from the adversity that we are all in this together and if the situation in Queensland escalates as it has done in the southern states, then I believe our strata communities can rise again to the challenge.”
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