Cleansing & sanitisation blitz

Look out for the Working for Victoria cleansing and sanitisation crew out and about in Bayside.

Funded entirely by the State Government, the Citywide Service Solutions managed crews are providing disinfecting services on top of Council's standard cleaning regime, at no cost to Council ratepayers.

They use eco-friendly, EPA approved professional grade disinfectant to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Popular areas and communal touchpoints such as public seating, bike hoops, bins, pedestrian signal buttons, handrails, street furniture and bus shelters will get extra cleansing and disinfecting over the coming weeks.

The initiative is providing work for people who lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic to help prevent the virus spreading through contact transmission.

Chef Jordan Lakin was on the verge of setting up his own restaurant consultancy when his professional dreams were scuppered by COVID-19.

He is relishing the opportunity provided by the Working for Victoria program to keeping working during the pandemic, which has taken a huge toll on the hospitality sector.

"I'm out in the open every day, doing an important job, and everyone we meet is genuinely happy to see us," Mr Lakin said.

"People are always stopping to say thank-you and getting off park benches and tram stops so we can clean them. And at least five or six times a day, a car will stop in the street and someone will shout to us what a great job we're doing and how much they appreciate it. How nice is that?"

The $500 million Working for Victoria program is matching people who have lost their jobs, including those affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19, with employers who need staff.

More than 2,750 Victorians have found positions through Working for Victoria since the program was launched last month, providing a quick return to work and access to training where required.

Bayside is one of the 27 councils in the greater metropolitan Melbourne region, from Wyndham and Melton in the west to Yarra Ranges, Cardinia and Mornington Peninsula shires in the east and southeast, to be employing and training people to perform tasks including deep cleaning of public assets such as drinking fountains and disinfecting surfaces such as handrails, street furniture, traffic signal boxes and mailboxes.

Find out more about cleansing and sanitisation blitz

Find out more about the products used by the cleansing and sanitisation crew

Find out more about the Working for Victoria program