Golden Plains Shire Council will be implementing a number of changes to its operations in line with the upgraded Coronavirus (COVID-19) Stage Three restrictions that come into force this week.
On Sunday, the Victorian Government announced regional Victoria, including Golden Plains Shire Council will return to Stage Three restrictions in order to combat the spread of COVID-19 throughout the state.
Under Stage Three restrictions, residents must stay home, and only leave the house for: food and essential supplies; medical, care or compassionate needs; exercise in compliance with gathering restrictions; and work or study if it cannot be done from home.
As the situation evolves, further changes will be posted on Council’s website and social media, with weekly updates on the Council News page in the Golden Plains Times. For any questions, please call Customer Service at 5220 7111.
Changes to Council’s Services: From 11.59pm, Wednesday 5 August
From 5pm, Wednesday 5 August, Council’s Bannockburn and Smythesdale Customer Service Centres will close for face-to-face interactions until at least Sunday 13 September. Customers will still be able to contact the Customer Service team during this time by:
- Phone: 5220 7111
- Email: [email protected]
- Online: goldenplains.vic.gov.au/forms/portal
Customers will be able to still attend in person at the centres on Wednesday. Customer Service Centre visitors are required to follow social distancing guidelines and health and hygiene protocols, including wearing a face covering, a limit on the number of people in the centre at a time and application of hand sanitiser. Customer visits with Council Officers including planners are available by phone. Customers seeking more information about attending Council’s Customer Service Centres are welcome to call 5220 7111.
Residents who use Council's sharps containers collection and drop-off service in Bannockburn and require sharps containers, are encouraged to contact Council’s Customer Service team on 5220 7111 to discuss new arrangements. In line with Stage Three restrictions, playgrounds, skate parks, camp grounds, stadiums, community centres and change and club rooms at recreation facilities in Golden Plains Shire will be closed from 11.59pm, Wednesday 5 August until at least Sunday 13 September.
Essential services of Council including Community Care will continue to operate on a priority basis and subject to staff availability. The Bannockburn Family Service Centre, Bannockburn Children’s Service and Council’s Kindergartens in Bannockburn, Teesdale, Rokewood, Inverleigh and Meredith remain open and operating as usual. Council’s waste collection services will continue as usual with the Rokewood Transfer station open as usual on Sunday.
There are a number of changes to Council’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services. From yesterday, Monday 3 August, Council’s MCH service will prioritise essential services for families with 0 to 18-month-old babies, and for families who require additional support. Health screening of clients will take place prior to appointments, and families will be asked to wait in their car before being contacted by a nurse. For more information, visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au/coronavirus or call 5220 7230.
The Bannockburn Library and Mobile Library Services delivered by Geelong Regional Library Corporation (GRLC) will close from end of day, Wednesday 5 August for at least six weeks. From Wednesday 12 August, GRLC will operate a Click and Deliver service in Golden Plains Shire for members to select 20 items to be home-delivered with no contact. For more information on this service, visit grlc.vic.gov.au.
For detailed changes to Council’s services and operations, please visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au/coronavirus or call 5220 7111.
For the most up-to-date public health information, Council encourages residents to visit the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services’ website at dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus.
Golden Plains Shire Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey says these changes are disappointing, but reflect the reality of the COVID-19 situation in Victoria.
“Unfortunately the continued spread of COVID-19 beyond Melbourne and the Victorian Government’s renewed restrictions for regional Victoria mean that Council will again close and alter a number of our services.”
“While our Customer Services Centres may be closed to physical visits, our dedicated Customer Service team will continue to provide their important service to residents over the phone, email and online during this challenging period.”
“As any further changes are made, Council will continue to keep the community updated through weekly updates in the Golden Plains Times and on Council’s dedicated webpage: goldenplains.vic.gov.au/coronavirus.”
“Our Shire is full of supportive people and strong communities, and I know that together we can and will get through this second lockdown.”