Coronavirus (COVID-19) - Updates for Hawkesbury Residents

During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, we will be providing daily updates on Council services through our website www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au(External link) and our Facebook page.

In response to the advice from the Government, Council will close the following services from 12pm today:

• Richmond Swimming Centre
• Oasis Aquatic and Leisure Centre, South Windsor
• Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium
• Upper Colo Reserve, Upper Colo

Essential services will be maintained and Council will continue providing Customer Service through its telephone and online services.

Please see the document to the right of the screen under the Council Services - Daily Update heading.

During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, we will be providing daily updates on Council services through our website www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au and our Facebook page.

Please see the document to the right of the screen under the Council Services - Daily Update heading.

We would like to remind our residents that products such as paper towel, baby wipes, tissues and flush-able wipes are NOT to be flushed down the toilet. Although some of these products may state that they are "flush-able" they do not break down and can cause blockages in the sewer network leading to an overflow which can then impact private property with overflowing possible inside your home. If you need to use these products, please dispose of them in your general waste bins.

The incidence of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is increasing across the nation and represents an immediate and serious threat to our community members. In an effort to protect our community, Hawkesbury City Council will:

• limit opportunities for transmission of the virus within our local community
• ensure the ongoing provision of Council services to the community.

Council is implementing changes to its operations and services on Friday, 20 March as listed below.

Customer Service

Council will close its in-person access at its Administration Building in Windsor effective from Friday, 20 March 2020. Essential services will be maintained and Council will continue providing Customer Service through its telephone and online services (website, Facebook, email).

Council encourages everyone to use its online services at www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au and for any enquiries, including bushfire recovery enquiries, please call Council’s Customer Service on 4560 4444 or email council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

Hawkesbury Visitor Information Centre

As part this operational response, Council will also cease in-person access at the Hawkesbury Visitor Information Centre. Telephone and online services will continue to be provided by the Hawkesbury Visitor Information Centre.

Hawkesbury Central Library

• No public access to computers at Hawkesbury Central Library, however books may still be returned and borrowed and wifi still available
• Library members are encouraged to use the online Library catalogue to search and borrow eBooks, eMagazines and access many other eResources
• Members can now borrow up to 40 items
• Non-library members are encouraged to join
• People can become a member online – but go to the Library to show ID and collect library card

Council facilities listed below will be closed from Friday, 20 March 2020:

· Hawkesbury Regional Museum

· Hawkesbury Regional Gallery

· Richmond Branch Library

Events and public programs

· All upcoming community events have been postponed including the Hawkesbury Thank You Street Parade and Festival and all Library, Museum and Gallery public programs.

Council services operating as usual:

· All waste collections – domestic, recycling and green waste

· Kerbside collection

· Waste Management Facility

· Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter.

· Initial documentation for Development Applications may be dropped off for review at the front of Council’s Administration Building in the mail box at 366 George Street, Windsor.

A comprehensive list of all facilities and services included as part of Council’s operational response to COVID-19 is available at www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

Council Meetings

Council Meetings will continue, please check website www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au and Council’s official Facebook page www.facebook.com/hawkesburycitycouncil for updates prior to each meeting.

Council is monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation which is evolving daily. Council will continue to follow the advice of the NSW and Federal Governments and their health departments.

Reviewing other Council operations

Council is reviewing the operations of pools, gyms, Council Meetings and Committee Meetings.

Council will keep all community members, organisations and staff updated of any changes to Council’s operations during the COVID-19 pandemic on its website www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au and on Council’s official Facebook page www.facebook.com/hawkesburycitycouncil

Members of the public are advised to practice good hygiene guidelines, including correct handwashing and social distancing as promoted on the Federal Government’s Department of Health website at www.health.gov.au For further information and regular updates about Coronavirus (COVID-19) visit www.health.gov.au

Hawkesbury City Council is required to cancel the community session that was planned for Tuesday, 24 March at the Hawkesbury Digital Domain at the Deerubbin Centre.

This is a precautionary measure for community members and Council staff due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

In place of the drop in face-to-face session, Council is providing a phone assistance service for

1. the NSW Government’s Bushfires Inquiry and

2. the Federal Government’s Bushfires Royal Commission.

Please call Council’s Customer Service on 4560 4444 for assistance.

NSW Bushfire Inquiry Submission are open until Friday, 27 March 2020.

NSW Inquiry submissions can be made at any time at

www.nsw.gov.au/improving-nsw/projects-and-initiatives/make-a-submission-to-the-bushfire-inquiryor by calling 13 77 88 or via email inquiries@bushfireinquiry.nsw.gov.au

or in person at any Service NSW service centre or at a Mobile Service Centre.

Royal Commission Submissions open until Friday, 3 April 2020.

Community members now have the chance to make submissions to the Federal Government’s Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, also known as the Bushfires Royal Commission. Hawkesbury City Council is encouraging community members to make submissions.

Royal Commission submissions can be made at any time at https://naturaldisaster.royalcommission.gov.au/submissions

or call 1800 909 826 to make a Royal Commission submission over the phone or to request a hard copy form.

Council is also making hard copy submission forms for both the NSW Inquiry and the Federal Government’s Royal Commission available at various locations in the Hawkesbury including Council’s Administration Building, Hawkesbury Central Library Windsor, Richmond Branch Library and central locations in Colo, Bilpin, Kurrajong, Kurrajong Heights and St Albans. The forms are also available on Council’s website www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

A mobile clinic van is now set up for Coronavirus testing at Hawkesbury Hospital from 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.

The Coronavirus clinics can be accessed from outside the hospitals. Simply arrive at the hospital and follow the signs.

Patients who are tested will receive their results usually within 72 hours.

Hawkesbury City Council will be postponing major events with an expected attendance of 500 people or more following the advice from the Federal and State Government regarding the Coronavirus (COVID 19).

This includes the ‘Hawkesbury Thank You Parade & Festival’ which was due to take place on Sunday, 29th March.

Updates on rescheduling Council’s major events will be available on www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

Council recognise that there is significant concern in the community around Coronavirus.

The global management of the situation is evolving daily.