Shire to reopen Customer Service for essential business only

Published on 22 May 2020

As the State Government takes the first steps to relax coronavirus restrictions, Corangamite Shire Council will reopen the customer service desk for community members with essential business.

Customer service at the Civic Centre in Camperdown will be open to the public from Monday 25 May with five people permitted in the foyer at any one time to maintain safe physical distancing.

It will open to receive payments (electronic preferred) from 10 am until 3 pm for the first week, after which service times will be reviewed.

Not all services will be offered immediately. Planning and building services are expected to return after the Queen’s Birthday long weekend, with appointments preferred.

VicRoads services and firearms licence photos are unavailable until further notice. Customers are asked to call before coming in to find out the best way Council can meet their needs.

Chief Executive Officer Andrew Mason said measures would be taken to protect the health and safety of community members and staff.

“We anticipate a gradual, staged reopening of services—starting with the customer service desk—which will be guided by the National COVID-19 Safe Workplace Principles,” Mr Mason said.

“We are installing screens at the customer service counter and there will be portable barriers to ensure the 1.5-metre physical distance between customers.

“Hand sanitiser will be provided and we ask people if they must come in, to pay attention to all signage so we can abide by the four square metres per person rule.”

Residents are reminded that there are other ways to do business with services such as bill payments, kindergarten enrolments and building and planning applications available online.

“Give us a call first and talk to one of our friendly Community Relations Officers to see if you really need to come down to the Civic Centre,” Mr Mason said.

Council services that have been closed due to coronavirus restrictions will be progressively re-opened, subject to the advice of the Chief Health Officer, public compliance with restrictions, and Government testing to understand the movement of coronavirus.

For more information about Council services, call Customer Service on 5593 7100 or click here.

For the latest updates on coronavirus, go to the Department of Health and Human Services website. 

PICTURE: Community Relations Officer Simone Bell is one of the friendly staff at Corangamite Shire Council’s Civic Centre in Camperdown.