29 May, 2020

With COVID-19 restrictions beginning to ease, Gunnedah Shire Council has set out a plan for reopening services and facilities.

Updates to services will be communicated through a ‘traffic light alert’ confirming whether a service is currently open, open with conditions, or closed. Additional information will outline any conditions for visiting a facility.

Gunnedah Shire Council General Manager Eric Groth said given the ever-shifting nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, service changes would be considered on an individual basis following Government advice.

“We are taking a considered approach to reopening Council facilities to the public, with the health and safety of our staff and community at the forefront of all decisions.

“Following the release of a public health order, it is a matter for Council’s to decide what should be open and the conditions to be applied. Factors to be considered include the size of the space, number of visitors, the needs of stakeholders using a facility and safety of both staff and the public.

“Given recent announcements from the NSW Government, Gunnedah residents can expect to see a return to face-to-face services at locations like the Gunnedah Shire Library and the Administration Building from Monday, June 1.

“This will be a cautious reopening, and it won’t be pre-Covid-19 business as usual. Social distancing protocols, hand hygiene stations and visitor limits will be part of our new normal.

“We are encouraging the community to put the safety and well-being of all, and particularly the vulnerable, in the community first by continuing to make payments and enquiries online or by phone wherever possible. This will help limit the risk of infection.

“We know the Gunnedah community is eager to get back into their regular routines, but we must continue to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community even as business reopens.

“We thank the community for adapting to new ways of conducting business with us, and for their patience as we all continue to navigate a complex situation.”

From Monday, June 1 service changes at the following Council facilities will apply:

• Elgin Street Administration Building reopening to the public for essential purposes.
  • Modified opening hours from 9am to 4pm will allow for extra cleaning.
  • Enquiries and payments should continue to be completed over the phone or online if possible.
  • Please phone ahead for all appointments including for Planning, Rates, Water and Animal Control as teleconferencing is still being utilised for some of these services.
• Library reopening to the public to resume normal business hours.
  • Limit of 15 people in the library at one time,
  • All returned books will be quarantined before re-entering circulation.
  • Library group programs are suspended, but housebound services are still available.
• Reopening of the Visitor Information Centre and Gunnedah Bicentennial Arts Gallery are also planned for Monday, pending the release of relevant public health orders.

For the current status of all Council services, visit https://www.gunnedah.nsw.gov.au/index.php/gunnedah-shire-covid-19-advice

To keep up to date with new service changes, follow Gunnedah Shire Council on Facebook.

ENDS

Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.