New council protocols for red setting
Vax pass needed to visit libraries and some other venues
Whanganui District Council has updated the community with information about what council services and facilities will look like under Whanganui’s current Covid-19 Protection Framework traffic light setting of red.
Whanganui District Council chief executive, Lance Kennedy says, “The Government has announced the Covid-19 framework — the traffic light system, to help protect both at-risk people and our health system from an unsustainable number of hospitalisations due to Covid-19.
“At red, we are all asked to continue the safety measures and Covid19 protocols we have all become so familiar with. The council is no different in this regard and we ask all visitors to council buildings to please carry on record keeping or scanning in with the Covid-19 Tracer App, sanitising and wearing face coverings.
“We are also carefully working through any new protocols under our district’s current red traffic light setting, and what these means for services and facilities.
“We understand that services like rates and entry into council facilities will be top of mind for Whanganui residents in terms of getting on with our day-to-day lives.”
Many council services such as rates payments, dog registrations, building and planning services can be accessed online. To access these services, visit: https://www. whanganui.govt.nz/Online-Services
“We understand that some people prefer to get things done in person and we welcome that. Residents can still visit customer services about rates.
“For many of our other services, we encourage people simply to get in touch with us first on the phone [06 349 0001]. This will help us accommodate people’s needs and provide our services in a safe way,” says Mr Kennedy.
“The red traffic light setting will see some differing entry protocols in place across council facilities and we are working to make things clear for everyone. For entry into some council facilities and venues a My Vaccine Pass for people aged 12 and over will be required.”
“Council staff provide services right across the community and we are considering putting measures in place to keep our employees and the people they work with safe,” says Whanganui District Council’s general manager people and performance, Catherine Dutton.
“As an employer, the council is considering whether our staff need to be fully vaccinated. We have begun consultation with all staff around the implementation of an organisational policy that would require all our staff to be fully vaccinated.”
From Friday, December 3, under the Red Traffic light setting, New Zealand Glassworks, Sarjeant Gallery Te Whare o Rehua Whanganui, the Whanganui War Memorial Centre, the Royal Whanganui Opera House (excluding the box office) and the Cooks Gardens Function Centre all require a My Vaccine Pass for entry.
Animal management services will continue to operate under the red setting, with entry to the animal pound restricted to one person at a time and people encouraged to book online at/httpss://wdc.whanganui. govt.nz/appointments/AnimalPound
From Monday, December 6, a My Vaccine Pass is required to enter the council libraries. These are the Davis, Alexander, Gonville, and the mobile libraries.
The libraries also have a number of services available online (more information at https:/ /whanganuilibrary.com/online) and will also provide their safe and contactless ‘Book & Collect’ service, offered to the public during recent lockdowns, under the traffic light setting.
The Splash centre will be open under the red setting with the usual Covid-19 sign in measures required and people encouraged to book online at: www.splashcentre.co.nz. From Wednesday December 15 a My Vaccine Pass will be required to enter.
For council outdoor parks, playgrounds, public toilets, the aviary, Winter Gardens and cemeteries a My Vaccine Pass is not required for entry, unless the park is being used for a community event. Council staff are looking at protocols for such events and more information is to come.
The council has published information on the red traffic light setting and what it means for services and facilities on its website and will continue to update with more information as it becomes available. To view all information visit: www. whanganui.govt.nz/ServicesAmenities/COVID-19-Response
Whanganui Mayor Hamish McDouall is being kept closely informed of the council’s operational protocols under the Covid-19 protection framework.
“The traffic lights may feel like a new system for all of us,” says Mayor Hamish. “But remember many of the things we need to do as a community remain the same — your health is important, the health of everyone in our community is important.
“Please, follow the safety measures we have all been so carefully sticking to — sign in, wear your mask. And if you feel unwell, stay home and call your doctor or Healthline on 0800 358 5433.”