Central Coast Council has released the following statement regarding their actions and recommendations in regard to the emerging coronavirus situation.
‘In response to the evolving situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19), we are continuing to take measured precautions to ensure we keep our staff and community safe.
We are monitoring information supplied by NSW Health and Federal authorities daily and will provide updates to our community regularly as information comes to hand.
We encourage you to stay up-to-date with the latest information and advice from NSW Health
www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx
What we are doing
To ensure the safety and wellbeing of those within the community, we are implementing precautionary measures in line with evolving local and international guidance:
- We have established a taskforce to monitor and make decisions regarding the broader implications of COVID-19 for all our stakeholders (internal and external) in relation to Council services.
- Our taskforce has reviewed our Business Continuity Plan to ensure that operations run continuously in the event our employees are unable to come into the office or work location. We have a large workforce and we have in place plans to manage impacts, including following health guidelines around self-isolation if any staff meet the criteria; restricting staff movement among workplaces; rotating staff to working from home arrangements and reducing non-essential services where staff and the community may be at risk.
- We have put up signage and undertaken education measures through our Gosford and Wyong offices, facilities, libraries, childcare centres and other locations to inform the public of key NSW Health messages.
- We will make hand sanitiser available at all Council hosted events.
- We will continue to monitor the situation and follow the advice of NSW Health regarding the hosting of public events and delivery of community services.
Events cancelled
- There will be no Public Forum ahead of our Council meeting on Monday 23 March, and the gallery will be closed to the public. Council meetings can be viewed on line at www.youtube.com/channel/UCyln2VFr5PyJenUkg1RiG9A
- All non-essential Council run programs, workshops, activities and events are cancelled until 30 April.
- All library programs and events are cancelled until 30 April.
- Gosford Regional Gallery opening night events cancelled for the Emerging 2020 and the Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize and Coastal Sanctuaries, with exhibitions continuing to be open to the public
- Mamma Mia – The Musical has been cancelled at Laycock Street Theatre.
- Pelican Feeding at The Entrance closed for two weeks (until 1 April) due to the unavailability of Marine Rescue staff following their organisation protocol to restrict person-to-person fundraising activities.
- Youth Week and School holiday activities.
- Flavours by the Sea – 21 March 2020
- Councillor Q&A Session for Gosford East Ward – Erina Centre at Erina Fair, Wednesday 18 March, 6-9pm
- All public Anzac Day commemoration services as announced by RSL NSW.
- Live Well Central Coast – 28 March to 5 April 2020
- Summer series
- Waterfront performers at The Entrance
- Central Coast Country Music Festival
- Central Coast Stadium A-League games will be closed to the public this weekend. The NRL Game scheduled has also been moved to Sydney and is closed to the public.
- Sporting competitions of large group participants at our leisure centres.
Our staff are currently assessing other events and will provide updates as soon as possible.
Services interrupted
- All non-essential Council run programs are cancelled until 30 April.
- All library outreach services cancelled until 30 April.
- Council-run Senior Centres at Ettalong and Gosford will be closed as of this Wednesday, 18 March 2020 for four weeks. Our staff are contacting conveners to ensure senior community know where to go if they need any support services.
- Gwandalan Library Link at the Community Hall Gwandalan is closed until further notice.’
Source: Central Coast Council Media & website, march 18, 2020