Council outlines directives in place
orthern Grampians Shire Council has confirmed that only patrons with poof of double vaccination against COVID-19 can use a specified list of council premises.
The council announced a directions plan involving its facilities in response to the State Government’s Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan.
Council services requiring proof of double vaccination before entering a facility include – Leisure services: Stawell Sports and Aquatic Centre and St Arnaud Pool. Early years services: St Arnaud Early Learning Centre, maternal and child health centres. Council facilities: Senior citizens clubs in Stawell and St Arnaud and council chambers. Library services: Stawell and St Arnaud.
Council staff members have placed, or will place, signs at the entry of any premises or event where proof of vaccination will be required.
The council has advised that its St Arnaud Town Hall and Stawell Town Hall service centres will not request proof of vaccination from people before serving them.
But there will be no facility for unvaccinated people to meet with staff or be provided with a council service from any other council officer beyond the initial point of customer-service inquiry.
The council has provided an example such as a request to meet with an officer to discuss a building or planning permit.
Council meetings or any council-run meeting scheduled with the public will be off limits to any person who does not hold proof of double vaccination.
The council will accept two types of proof of double vaccination as valid: The first is a paper copy of the Federal Government Services Australia Medicare immunisation history statement with the COVID-19 immunisation status ticked. The second is digital proof of vaccination via the Service Victoria check-in app or Mygov app.
At this stage of the roadmap, the proof-of-vaccination request will apply to any person who is 16 and older.
The council has also declared it will have a zero-tolerance policy to people who fail to accept the rules.
It has stressed that it will refer any attempt by a person to disrupt the plan’s implementation or to verbally abuse or be aggressive to council staff to police.
Northern Grampians mayor Murray Emerson endorsed the council direction.
“Throughout the State of Emergency, the council has been responding to state and federal government directives with regards to coronavirus,” he said.
“This is just another step towards our society returning to normal and we expect very few residents will be affected and that the majority of our community will be wholly supportive of our request to only admit double-dose vaccinated people into our facilities.
“Our primary aim is to keep our community safe while we navigate through this public health emergency.
“At this point in the government roadmap, we are focusing on the service sectors and council activities where we feel the greatest need to manage proof of vaccination.”