Blue Mountains City Council will temporarily close facilities and some services, in response to escalating NSW Government restrictions due to the spread of COVID-19 in Greater Sydney.
Mayor Mark Greenhill said Council services would be affected from 6pm today (26 June, 2021) until at least 9 July, in line with the current public health order, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the community and Staff.
“It is unfortunate that we are required to take these steps again,” Mayor Greenhill said. “But the safety of people comes before everything and we need to do our bit in the Blue Mountains, to help stop the spread of the virus.”
“Council will continue to monitor services, day to day, as the situation evolves.”
Blue Mountains Libraries at Katoomba, Blackheath, Wentworth Falls, Lawson and Blaxland will close until further notice. The current Library in the Loft service at Springwood will also close. Leisure and Aquatic Centres at Katoomba, Springwood and Glenbrook will close until further notice. Katoomba Waste Management Facility will close. Blaxland Waste Management Facility will be open to commercial operators only. Household bins will continue to be collected. Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Blue Mountains Theatre and Hub and Braemar House & Gallery will close. Blue Mountains Community Halls will close. Echo Point will close until further notice. Visitor Information Centres at Glenbrook and Echo Point, Katoomba will also close.Council’s Customer Contact Centres, at Katoomba and Springwood, will close for face-to-face visitors, but customer service officers will be available on the phone. Council’s eServices are also available. Go to https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/eservices.
Council sports grounds and ovals will remain open for residents who would like to use them for exercise, during this period of shutdown. But, in line with the current public health order, no more than 10 people can be together exercising at any one time. Sports grounds and ovals are closed for club sports during this period. Council play space equipment, skate parks and BBQ facilities at parks will also close.
Blue Mountains Tourist Parks and Council camping grounds will remain open for current guests only. Bushcare activities were suspended on Thursday, 24 June.
Council’s Family Day Care office will close, but officers will be available by phone. Families should make contact with their Family Day Educators who will decide whether to continue their service or not, during this period.
“Council’s core services will continue to operate during this period,” Mayor Greenhill said. “This includes our escalated road fixing program and the maintenance of our sports grounds, ovals, parks and public toilets.”
You can stay up to date on Council’s response to COVID-19 at bmcc.nsw.gov.au/coronavirus. Go to the NSW Health website for more information on the current public health order https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/.