IMPACT IN REGION

The Southland District and the Invercargill City councils will hold extraordinary meetings today to plan their response to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Southland District Council is looking to create an emergency committee that will be able to make decisions as needed without calling a full council meeting.

The proposal for the emergency committee nominates Southland District Council mayor Gary Tong as chairman, with Deputy Mayor Paul Duffy as deputy chairperson and Councillor John Douglas as a third member.

Councillors Christine Menzies and Rob Scott are expected to step in when needed.

In response to the Government’s move to alert level four regarding the coronavirus outbreak, the council’s offices and the majority of community facilities will temporarily close.

This includes the council’s head office in Forth St, Invercargill, from 5pm today.

All of its area offices and libraries closed at the end of last week. The council has closed its area offices.

The Invercargill City Council has moved meetings from its council chambers to the Victoria Room at the Civic Theatre.

The Gore District Council held its extraordinary meeting yesterday, and created an emergency committee and reduced its quorum from six to two.

While all councillors will be involved in the committee, many would only be able to attend meetings via video conferencing.

While the emergency committee has the power to make decisions, it will have to report to the full council.