Golden Plains Shire announces COVID-19 measures

11.50am, 18 March UPDATE:

Essential services still operating at this stage including community care and maternal health

GOLDEN Plains Shire has announced it has closed its customer service centres Linton, Smythesdale and Bannockburn due to the COVID-19 pandemic for an indefinite period.

However, residents can still access council information by calling 5220 7111, emailing [email protected] or visiting goldenplains.vic.gov.au/forms/portal.

Along with shuttering the service centres, a range council run community events, education opportunities and feedback sessions have also been cancelled or postponed

“Council is being proactive here,” said mayor Owen Sharkey. “We’re in unchartered and strange times.

“This is changing hourly and daily. Being such a small council and small population numbers, we’re just falling into line like other councils are.”

While as of Tuesday, 17 March the council meeting set for Linton on Tuesday, 24 March was still scheduled with social distancing is being advised and appropriate personal hygiene requested for those seeking to attend, if it does go ahead.

“We were scheduled to have a council meeting briefing today [17 March] and we’ve cancelled that briefing,” Cr Sharkey said.

“Heading into next week’s ordinary meeting, who knows? It’s still going ahead at this stage but at this stage it’s seven days away and seven days away feels like seven months away at the moment.

“With everything changing so rapidly, who knows.”

While somethings are closed, postponed or cancelled, essential services provided by the council will still operate.

They in include: community care and maternal and child health services – which will function on a priority basis and are subject to staff availability, the Bannockburn Family Service Centre and Bannockburn children’s service, as well as Shire run kindergartens in Bannockburn, Teesdale, Rokewood, Inverleigh and Meredith.

“This is the area of concern for council,” Cr Sharkey said. “We are a first point of call for people.

“The community is rallying together on these fronts and council is going to eb there to help people as much as possible.”

Waste collection services will also continue as usual and the Rokewood Transfer station open as normal on Sunday.

Events cancelled and postponed by the municipality or partner organisations include: the face-to-face consultation on the Bannockburn Growth Plan at Bannockburn Plaza on Thursday, 19 March – although online and telephone feedback is still welcome. The Community Grants Information Session on Thursday, 19 March at The Well in Smythesdale. The This Girl Can Twilight Walk in Inverleigh on Wednesday, 25 March and the Barwon regional event in Geelong on Saturday, 28 March – other This Girl Can events in Golden Plains Shire are still to be decided on.

The weekly youth groups in Smythesdale and Bannockburn, the Mark Smith Creative Writing Workshop on Tuesday, 24 March, and the Barwon South West Skate, Scoot and BMX Competition at Bannockburn Skate Park on Saturday, 28 March will also not run.

Golden Plains Shire will be providing regular updates on services and events online, via social media and in the Golden Plains Times.

ORIGINAL STORY:

GOLDEN Plains Shire has announced it has closed its customer service centres Linton, Smythesdale and Bannockburn due to the COVID-19 pandemic for an indefinite period.

Residents will still be able to access council information by calling 5220 7111, emailing [email protected] or visiting goldenplains.vic.gov.au/forms/portal.

While the council meeting set for Linton on Tuesday 24 March at 6pm is still set to go ahead at this stage, a range of other events have been cancelled or postponed.

They include:

• The face-to-face consultation on the Bannockburn Growth Plan at Bannockburn Plaza on Thursday, 19 March.
• The Community Grants Information Session on Thursday, 19 March at The Well in Smythesdale.
• The Business Victoria workshop Finance Fundamentals on Wednesday, 18 March at the Bannockburn Cultural Centre.
• This Girl Can Twilight Walk in Inverleigh on Wednesday, 25 March and the Barwon regional event in Geelong on Saturday, 28 March. Other This Girl Can events in Golden Plains Shire are still to be decided on.
• Weekly youth groups in Smythesdale and Bannockburn, the Mark Smith Creative Writing Workshop on Tuesday, 24 March, and the Barwon South West Skate, Scoot and BMX Competition at Bannockburn Skate Park on Saturday, 28 March.

Services that will continue to run as normal include:

• Community care and maternal and child health services
• The Bannockburn Family Service Centre
• Bannockburn children’s service and council kindergartens in Bannockburn, Teesdale, Rokewood, Inverleigh and Meredith.
• Waste collection services will continue as usual with the Rokewood Transfer station open as usual on Sunday.