COVID-19 FORCES SOME CLOSURES AND CHANGES AT COUNCIL FACILITIES

Published on 30 March 2020

As the international COVID-19 pandemic increases its impact on communities, Council has been implementing a range of operational and procedural measures to ensure the continued safety of our community and staff and business continuity.

Council is reviewing operations to ensure the health and safety of our workers, including increased hygiene procedures, implementing split teams to ensure business continuity and working remotely where possible.

General Manager, David Neeves says while the situation is evolving rapidly, it is important to ensure decisions are being made in an orderly and measured approach.

“The situation we are facing is unprecedented and Council, as with other businesses, has been forced to review a number of operations and ways of doing business. Teams and individuals have been strategically separated to give resilience to our business and ensure the continuity of services into the future.”

Adding,

“Decisions have not been made lightly and Council’s team of Directors have been working together in analysing and responding to the situation as information comes to light, in addition to taking proactive measures where appropriate.”

The list below shows the changes implemented across Council’s facilities: 

  • Council's Administrative Building in Warren Road is now closed to the public and all non-resident staff, however customer requests will continue to be received by phone or online. 
  • At this stage, Service NSW will remain open to the public in a restricted form allowing for essential transactions only. Strict social distancing and hygiene arrangements are in place to ensure health and safety of staff and customers.
  • Gilgandra Shire Library is closed, with click & collect service available.
  • Coo-ee Heritage & Visitor Information Centre is closed.
  • Gilgandra Youth Services is closed.
  • Gilgandra Fitness Centre & Swimming Pool is closed.
  • Hunter Park, Tooraweenah Park and the Gilgandra skatepark are all now closed.
  • Meals on Wheels and Community Transport Services will continue for essential appointments only such as medical and grocery shopping, with redeployed staff assisting. If clients have any enquiries please call 6817 8750.
  • The Gilgandra Waste Facility remains open for waste disposal, with the Op Shop now closed.
  • Orana Living is changing its operations by closing the Orana Living Life Skills centre and focusing on supporting individual household groups. All families have been notified that visits are also restricted to essential visits only.
  • Cooee Heritage Centre, Hunter Park and McGrane Oval public toilets have been closed. Miller Street CBD public toilets remain open.
  • Opening of ‘the GIL’ has been postponed, with an online store option being explored.

Council has also taken precautionary measures to ‘lockdown’ Cooee Lodge and Jack Towney Hostels and is encouraging families to stay connected with their loved ones through telephones and video call technologies. This decision is made in the interest of the health and safety of staff and residents.

While the administration building is now physically closed to the public, 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 collections are continuing as planned, ranger services are available and our maintenance staff are still working and responding to any issues with our local assets.”

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 have reviewed our operational risks and implemented a strategic plan to separate key decision makers from one another, so we don’t have managers fall ill together. This means changes however staff and residents can be reassured, it is a way Council can build reliance and maintain business continuity.”

“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.”

Council has actioned the following across its operations: 

  • Increasing hygiene protocols at all our facilities.
  • Active involvement in the Local Emergency Management Committee’s response to COVID-19.
  • Weekly meetings for Council’s Senior Management team
  • Weekly meetings for the COVID-19 Working Party team for community services.
  • SMS notifications for important updates to all staff.
  • Engaging with “at risk” staff and volunteers.
  • Cessation of all non-essential meetings, travel and training until further notice.
  • Working from home using phone or teleconference technologies are being used.

Council will continually review the situation and ongoing advice received to ensure the appropriate response is implemented.

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

Further information on NSW Health measures and advice in combating COVID-19 is 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


 

Tagged as:
Back to top