Afternoon Update 23 March, 2020

Further changes will come into effect for Gunnedah Shire Council services tomorrow as precautions increase against the Coronavirus pandemic. Following the Federal Government’s announcement of stricter measures, Council is encouraging people to use non-contact communication such as email, the internet and telephoning to carry out their council business.

Tomorrow:

Gunnedah Shire Council’s Elgin Street administration building will be closed to the public, but people can still fill in forms, find information, make enquiries and pay bills via Bpay or Bpoint online at www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au or on 02 6740 2100. If you are unable to pay online, please just give us a call and we can talk you through the process or outline some other options to you.

GoCo has also made changes, and its offices in Gunnedah, Tamworth, Kootingal, Nundle, Barraba and Narrabri will not be open to the public. Its services will continue with GoCo still working to support clients and continuing to provide essential services to Home Care Package and Commonwealth Home Support Program clients, as well as essential transport services. More information is available at http://gococare.com.au/ or 02 6740 2240

The Gunnedah Library will also continue to provide a range of non-contact services from tomorrow, but its doors will be closed to the public – more details are to come on the range of services available.

Wednesday:

Gunnedah Shire Council is looking to make changes at the Shire’s parks and gardens, including playgrounds, sporting fields and public toilets on Wednesday.

More information will be available tomorrow.

Gunnedah Shire Council is continuing to monitor and act on the situation daily, with the health and safety of Gunnedah Shire residents and council staff and customers as our first priority.

Council’s three-stage approach as included in the Coronavirus Response Strategy is outlined below. Gunnedah Shire will continue to transition to the orange stage over the next two days.

For more information about Coronavirus, visit or call:

• NSW Health – www.health.nsw.gov.au
• Australian Government Department of Health – https://www.health.gov.au/
• Coronavirus Health Information Line - 1800 020 080

 23 March, 2020

Following the Federal Government’s latest announcements increasing measures to fight the spread of Coronavirus, Gunnedah Shire Council will move to the orange stage of its Coronavirus Response Strategy over the next 48 hours.

Pubs, clubs, gyms, indoor sporting venues, cinemas, entertainment venues, nightclubs, places of worship and funerals across Australia are all being restricted from midday today, with restaurants and cafes to be restricted to takeaway and home delivery.

Today:

Gunnedah Shire Council General Manager Eric Groth said in practical terms, this meant the Gunnedah Memorial Pool would close at midday today, along with the Gunnedah Cultural Precinct, including the Bicentennial Art Gallery and the Visitor Information Centre.

The Visitor Information Centre will remain available via phone on 02 6740 2230.

The Civic Cinema is also closed.

At present, tuition is continuing at Gunnedah Conservatorium. Updates are being posted to the Conservatorium’s Facebook page and options for online tuition are being investigated.

Tomorrow:

Also on the agenda tomorrow is service changes to Gunnedah Shire Council’s Elgin Street administration centre, Gunnedah Library and GoCo.

Mr Groth emphasised that services for:

• General Council payments and enquiries will still be available online at www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au and on 02 6740 2100
• The Gunnedah Shire Library will have service changes from tomorrow, with more information to come later today
• GoCo’s essential services for older people will continue, with information online at http://gococare.com.au/ or 02 6740 2240.

The Federal Government has announced Australians should expect its new increased measures to be in place for at least six months. Schools remain open until further notice.

Gunnedah Shire Council is continuing to monitor and act on the situation daily, with the health and safety of Gunnedah Shire residents and council staff and customers as our first priority.

Gunnedah Shire will be moving to the orange stage over the next 48 hours.

For more information about Coronavirus, visit or call:

• NSW Health – www.health.nsw.gov.au
• Australian Government Department of Health – https://www.health.gov.au/
• Coronavirus Health Information Line - 1800 020 080

ENDS

Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.