COUNCIL’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19 AND THE DELIVERY OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES

Published on 23 March 2020

Recognising the unprecedented and rapidly evolving situation in which we are operating in as COVID-19 continues to impact on Australia, Council has commenced steps to ensure business continuity and the health and wellbeing of our staff, clients and community.

Council is reliant on the information being provided from NSW Health and Federal Government and is promoting NSW Health as the primary source for information and updates.

Council will continually review the situation and ongoing advice received to ensure the appropriate response is implemented. At this point in time, Council has actioned the following; 

  • Increasing hygiene protocols at all our facilities. We have installed hand sanitisers, are actively promoting hand washing instructions and conducting additional cleaning services as well as heightened awareness and training for staff and visitors.
  • Active involvement in the Local Emergency Management Committee’s response to COVID-19 which includes Police, Fire & Rescue NSW, SES, NSW Health, NSW Transport, Ambulance and Rural Fire Service plus others. This is allowing us to establish joint approaches and provide consistent advice.
  • Council’s Senior Management team is meeting weekly and is assessing business continuity risks and establishing contingency plans. This includes constantly monitoring advice and assessing the impact on Council services.
  • A COVID-19 Working Party team has been established. This team is overseeing and coordinating how our Community Service areas are responding to the situation. This ensures consistency in our communications and our operational response to the needs of our staff and community.
  • Implementing SMS notifications for important updates to all staff as required.
  • All of Council’s non-essential meetings, travel and training have ceased until further notice, with arrangements to be made for phone or teleconference where appropriate.

With new aged care restrictions announced by the Federal Government, the following has been implemented;

  • Restricting visitors to Aged Care services, including Cooee and Jack Towney Hostel as well as limiting Disability Services to essential visits only and ensuring visit time is limited.
  • Anyone who has returned from overseas in the past two weeks will not be permitted to enter an aged care facility.
  • Those who have been in contact with a confirmed Coronavirus case, anyone with a fever or flu-like symptoms and those who haven’t been vaccinated against influenza after 1 May 2020 also won’t be allowed to visit loved ones.
  • New clients for Jack Towney Hostel or Cooee Lodge will not be taken until further notice.

Council has implemented additional measures essential for the health and wellbeing of staff and members of the community at other Council facilities. This includes;

  • Continuing Meals on Wheels and Visitor Information Centre services and reviewing operations as necessary.
  • Council is engaging with our volunteers in relation to their active involvement under the current circumstances, especially where volunteers are deemed “at risk” for the Coronavirus.
  • Placing on hold activities and workshops at both the Gilgandra Library and Gilgandra Youth Services. Both facilities will remain open to the public for limited services
  • Gilgandra gym will be closed until further notice.
  • Opening of ‘the GIL’ will be delayed, however an online store option is being explored.
  • Carlginda Enterprises will cease accepting Bogan Shire recycling for the foreseeable future. Other Carlginda operations are continuing as normal.

In addition;

  • We recognise that the evolving situation is taking a toll on our local business community. Council is aware of its role in providing assistance to help navigate this period and encourages residents to continue supporting local businesses. 
  • Council is working with community organisations who hold events at Council venues and within our community. These are being assessed on a case by case basis. Ongoing updates will be provided to the community as decisions are made.

Council is currently maintaining essential services to residents during the rapidly-evolving national pandemic.

General Manager, David Neeves says,

“Water & sewer operations and regular waste & recycling collections are continuing as planned, ranger services are available and our maintenance staff are out on roads, rural roads, sports grounds and spaces implementing their planned maintenance.”

Adding,

“It is important our community knows that we are continuing to provide these essential services, and are making efforts to put in place business continuity plans to ensure these services are not impacted. We can appreciate it is a testing time for the whole community now, and into the weeks and months ahead.”

Mayor Doug Batten says,

“With the ever-changing nature of the pandemic and daily updates, it is critical Council continues to stay up to date with this evolving situation for our community and will continue to take advice from State and National authorities leading the national response to this pandemic.”

Further information on NSW Health measures and advice in combating COVID-19 are available at | www.health.nsw.gov.au/coronavirus.

Residents are also encouraged to stay up to date with Council’s response locally by visiting www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/news

  - ends –

 Contact:         David Neeves

                        General Manager

                        02 6817 8800 

 

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