Mayoral Column - Wednesday 18 August 2021

NSW Statewide Lockdown

Over the weekend, the NSW Government announced a seven day lockdown – in effect from 5pm Saturday 14 August 2021.

You must work from home if you can. You can’t leave home except for essential shopping, healthcare and exercise (with some exceptions for compassionate reasons).

I’ve included links to the NSW Health site for the latest information below. Please keep up-to-date through internet, radio, or TV news sources – things can and will change quickly.

Here’s the list of what Council facilities are open and closed:

OPEN:

•Customer Service Offices (including ServiceNSW in Bombala)

•Planning and Building services by appointment only.

•Playgrounds, skate parks and ovals will remain open

•Transfer stations

•Landfill sites

•Saleyards

•Residential Aged Care Facilities

•Cemeteries

•Council depots

•Community Services

CLOSED:

•Libraries and regional mobile library service

•Business Recovery Hub – please note support is available over the phone with Ben Verning, Regional Business Manager on 0498 855 515 or Council’s Recovery Team on email [email protected]

•Scrapmarts

•Jindabyne Pool

•Cooma Basketball Stadium

•Visitor Centres

•Raglan Art Gallery

•caravan parks and camping grounds (except for permanent residents and those under extenuating circumstances)

•Community Halls

Please visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19 for the latest information.

Council Meeting

On Monday 16 August 2021, after speaking with my fellow Councillors, I made the decision to postpone the August Council Meeting until after the current lockdown.

We will announce a new date for the meeting once the restrictions have ended.

Jindabyne Pool Closed

We had to make the sad decision to close Jindabyne Pool on Friday 6 August.In order to be sure everyone in our community stays safe and healthy, we had no other choice once mould was discovered in the heating/air-conditioning system in the pool building.

As soon as we know what repairs are needed to fix the problem, how long they will take, and how much they will cost – we’ll let you know.

If you or someone you know pays for a pass to Jindabyne Pool, you can either request a refund – or we’ll be opening Berridale Pool more than a month early (next month) and you can use your pass there instead.

Respect

The rate of abuse and bad behaviour towards our Council staff has risen quite a bit in recent months.

Our staff are human beings. They are your friends, your neighbours, your family, and they deserve – like all of us – to be treated decently and with respect.

They’re there to help, they want to help, but if abuse continues we’ll have no choice but to call the police.

Please, do the right thing.

ACT COVID-19 Restrictions

A case of COVID-19 was detected last week in Canberra and the ACT is now in lockdown.

Michelago and Bredbo do not need to apply for an exemption to travel to ACT, if you live in one of these villages you can enter the ACT for an approved essential reason under the lockdown restrictions.

If you are not an essential worker or do not have an essential reason to enter the ACT, you cannot enter during the 7 day lockdown period.

If you live outside these postcodes, including Adaminaby, Cooma, Berridale, Bombala and Jindabyne, and need to enter the ACT for essential work or healthcare reasons, you will be required to seek an exemption.

The situation in the ACT could change at any time, please keep up-to-date by visiting the ACT Government COVID-19 website: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/travel/nswact-border-residents