Back to work in a new Covid-normal

Message from the Mayor

It’s been another week of Covid dominating the news in our local area.

Each morning we await updates of latest case numbers in our area and whilst the numbers are, for now, contained, we are certainly not out of the woods.

Please stay safe, continue to check-in and if you have any symptoms or have been to an exposure site, immediately get tested.

The latest data for our vaccination rates shows that we are amongst the lowest in the entire state. This news is not good and we really have no excuse for it now.

I have contacted our local health providers and checked that we do have plenty of vaccines available.

And it’s even easier to get vaccinated now, with our local pharmacies having plenty of both Moderna and Astra Zeneca available.

Our medical clinics also have Pfizer available and we’ve welcomed the week long pop-up clinics in Deniliquin.

I’ve also offered Council support to pharmacies who may be able to offer rural residents vaccine clinics in their areas - such as Pretty Pine, Blighty, Conargo and Wanganella.

If we can arrange that in the coming days I’ll let you know the details on Council’s Facebook page.

We are also planning to reopen our Customer Service Centre and the Library from next week, assuming Covid cases remain under control.

For now, our Peppin Heritage Centre will remain closed to the public - we do not want to put at risk our volunteers until we can be assured our vaccination rates will protect them.

We’re also planning the temporary move of the Visitor Information Centre to the former Conargo Shire building in End Street as we prepare for renovations at the Peppin.

In other capital works news, our road resealing will be kicking up a notch.

Streets and roads slated for resealing include Logie Brae Road, Millears Road, Wanganella-Moulamein Road, Mayrung Road, Aratula South Road, Cooinda Lane, Sloane Street, Junction Street, Harfluer Street, Dick Street, Edwardes Street, Burton Street and Napier Street.

Residents affected by the roadworks will be informed via letter and we’ll also publish the full details on our website.

Finally I’d like to again encourage any local residents thinking about nominating for Council to contact us about planned information sessions.

Nominations open 25 October for the 04 December election.

Stay safe.

Cr. Norm Brennan.