Essential work continues to provide safe and usable public spaces during lockdown

During the current stay at home order, Council’s Infrastructure and Open Space teams are continuing to do authorised, essential work to keep the City functional and safe for residents.

The Open Spaces team is maintaining and mowing open spaces so residents can continue to use them for exercise. They’re also conducting tree and vegetation management (for safety and sightlines), precinct cleansing, litter collection and public toilet cleaning.

The Infrastructure team is also continuing work to maintain and repair local roads and footpaths. Under the Public Health Order essential services for the maintenance, safety and upkeep of public and recreational spaces are permitted. All Council staff working in the community are abiding by the COVID rules and restrictions, including wearing masks.

To ensure the safety of staff there may be occasions that require outdoor staff to remove their masks when undertaking certain activities that require other PPE. For example, staff using a chainsaw must wear a protective face shield, which fogs up if they are also wearing a mask. This obscures their vision, and makes the work unsafe.

This is permitted under section (3)(d)(i) of the Public Health Order, when the nature of the work makes the wearing of a mask a risk to the person’s, or another person’s health and safety. Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said: “During lockdown, Council staff across all departments are continuing to deliver services in COVID-safe ways, often moving them online, and our outdoor staff are working as hard as ever to keep the City safe.”

“In the current climate I understand it can be very concerning to see people out and about, and moving through the community. But I want to make it clear, Council’s outdoor staff are doing essential and authorised work.”

Council staff working outdoors have signs nearby to let members of the community know that they’re being COVID-safe.

Council’s Customer Contact Centres, at Katoomba and Springwood, remain closed for face-to-face visitors, but customer service officers are still available on the phone and online.

Go to bmcc.nsw.gov.au/eservices or phone 4780 5000.

Waste Management Facilities at Katoomba and Blaxland are open to residents (at normal operating hours), but for essential waste only.

Council sportsgrounds and ovals remain open for residents who would like to use them for exercise, during this extended period of shutdown. Lights will continue to be on, from 5pm to 9pm, at 12 sportsgrounds throughout the City while the COVID-19 stay-at-home orders are in place.

Get more information at: https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/parks.