Council services return in modified format

Further re-openings of some Baw Baw Shire services and facilities have been announced by council following earlier COVID-19 restrictions.

Public access to customer service centres and libraries, and the return of immunisation sessions and maternal and child health care services are among those that are available again.

However, they have re-started with some modifications.

The West Gippsland Arts Centre in Warragul remains closed.

The customer service centres at Warragul and Drouin have opened with additions such as hand sanitizing stations, social distancing floor markings and safety screens at front counters.

Libraries have also re-opened with some limits and changes in place.

Immunisation sessions are operating at the Warragul senior citizens hall, the shire’s customer service centre at Drouin and the Trafalgar community service centre (senior citizens hall).

To comply with social distancing requirements the number of visitors at each location may be limited and people asked to wait in their cars until their appointment times.

People may also be asked to wait in cars ahead of their appointments at the Warragul, Drouin and Trafalgar maternal and child health centres.

Visits will be restricted to one patient/carer per child.

Phone appointments remain available for families not comfortable with attending face-toface appointments.

The Warragul Leisure Centre is open for lap swimming, group fitness and stadium sports but bookings are required.

Council meetings are open to a limited number of community members but also require pre-registration of attendance.

Meetings can still be observed via live streaming.

Mayor Danny Goss said council was pleased to resume some important face-to-face services but encouraged people, where possible, to continue to access services via alternative methods that have been in place during the restriction period.

He thanked community members for their patience and flexibility and the manner they have embraced new ways of accessing council services online or by telephone over recent months.

The majority of the shire’s office staff, including those that live in shires to the west of Baw Baw where a second round of lockdowns came into effect last week, continue to work from home where practical since the first restrictions on movement and social distancing came into force in March.

Chief executive officer Mark Dupe said no employees had been stood down during the restriction period but shifts could not be provided for the majority of 79 casual staff.

He said a small number of staff had been temporarily redeployed to areas where there was higher customer demand.

Councils do not qualify for assistance under the Federal government’s JobKeeper program.