Council facilities closed until further notice

In line with Australian Government recommendations and due to the ongoing public health risk, the Central Highlands Regional Council will close all council-owned facilities from tomorrow.

The closure comes into effect at midnight on 25 March 2020 and includes all arts and cultural facilities, community halls and centres, library branches, showgrounds, sports grounds and facilities and transaction centres.

This follows on from the closure of council-owned aquatic facilities earlier this week.

Council’s outdoor recreational spaces will remain open to the public. However, people are advised to follow social distancing practices.

‘The health and safety of our community and staff is our top priority and we believe this decision is in everyone’s best interest,’ CEO Scott Mason said.

‘We want to do everything we can to minimise the spread of the virus throughout the community and are actively monitoring and responding to this evolving situation.

‘We are trusting people to do the right thing. We all have a part to play.

‘Council will continue to review our business operations and service delivery as we receive updated advice from the federal and state governments, and we will update our website regularly to reflect any changes.’

Council’s libraries will continue to offer a variety of online services. These arrangements will be reviewed in the coming weeks.

Council officers will be contacting anyone who has a booking for a council facility within the next six months to tentatively reschedule their event or offer a refund.

Wedding and funeral bookings will be impacted as they must comply with the Australian Government’s guidelines.

If you have any concerns regarding these activities, please contact council’s customer service centre on 1300 242 686.

The Wally McKenzie building at Emerald Showgrounds will remain open until 5.00 pm on 27 March 2020 for local government election pre-polling.

Sapphire and Rubyvale Halls will close from tomorrow with the exception of voting for the local government election on 28 March 2020.

Council facilities that will close include:

Arts and cultural facilities

Emerald Art Gallery Bauhinia Bicentennial Art Gallery (located at Springsure)

Aquatic facilities (closed as of 24 March 2020)

Blackwater Aquatic Centre Capella Aquatic Centre Emerald Aquatic Centre Rolleston Aquatic Centre Sapphire Aquatic Centre Springsure Aquatic Centre

All community halls, cultural centres and recreation centres

Libraries

Bauhinia Honorarium Library (located in the Bauhinia Community Hall) Blackwater Library Capella Library Dingo Library Duaringa Library Emerald Library Gemfields Library (located at Rubyvale) Rolleston Library Springsure Library Tieri Library

All public showgrounds

All sports grounds and facilities

Transaction centres

Rolleston Transaction Centre Tieri Transaction Centre