Location: 32 Quinlan Street GOOMALLING

Date: 23 March 2020

Time: 8.00am

SHIRE OF

GOOMALLING

PUBLIC NOTICE

COVID-19 or Coronavirus Update No 2

As we continue the journey with regard to the COVID-19 virus, the situation changes rapidly throughout the world. Most sporting codes have cancelled or postponed seasons or events, all large shows, festivals and events have been cancelled and the concept of social distancing has become very real. The State and Federal Governments have taken extraordinary measures to reinforce social distancing. State borders have closed, there have been lockdowns in various states with the cancellation of non-essential services and there is undoubtedly more to follow. The first cases of community transmission have now been confirmed in WA in the Southwest and further cases have been identified in the Mid-west and Kalgoorlie areas and we will need to put in place precautionary measures sooner rather than later. Many cities overseas are in total lockdown and there are increasing infections in almost every country and city of the world.

The measures locally and in Australia are only about reducing the spread of the virus and nothing more, so there is no need to panic. Any measures taken by Governments or the Council are for your protection and the protection of our staff. They are based on the best medical advice and the advice of other tiers of Government.

The Prime Minister announced a number of measures to cushion the effects of the expected economic downturn including a doubling of the Jobseeker payments, a relaxing of the rules associated with income tests, making the allowance available to workers who are stood down and a relaxing of the job search requirements. To our residents who are affected by the likely increased social distancing measures, by business closures or by other financial pressures, there is help available. The CRC is our local Centrelink agent and following the legislative changes next week the staff there will be able to assist with directing you to assistance. Otherwise you can visit the MyGov website.

In addition, the Prime Minister and the Premier have announced a more onerous regime of social distancing measures. These include:

The Premier announced today:

Closed borders by 1.30pm Tuesday – 48 hours notice – Air, Road & Sea.

Fly in fly out workers from interstate unable to enter state.

Transport and Essential Services exempted.

The Prime Minister announced:

Doubling of the Jobseeker allowance.

Location: 32 Quinlan Street GOOMALLING

Date: 23 March 2020

Time: 8.00am

SHIRE OF

GOOMALLING

Relaxing of many of the rules associated to allow stand down and job losses to have quick

access to these payments as well as small business owners.

A raft of other economic measures.

The closure by 12.00pm EST tomorrow 24/3/20 of all Pubs, Clubs, Night Clubs, Cinemas,

Casinos, Places of Worship and sporting venues. Restaurants and Cafes to be

takeaway only.

Reiterated the social distancing policies are the best protection from acquiring the virus.

The object of the measures is to stop people from potentially infecting each other, the number of cases in WA has doubled over the weekend. Friday night to Sunday morning!

From Monday 23 March the following restrictions will apply until reviewed at end of April;

Ovals and parks – no organised sport through Associations

Halls and Rec Centres – Closed

Goomalling Swimming Pool – Closed

Library – Closed.

Caravan Park – Modified Layout – Open

Goomalling Waste Facility – Open as usual

CRC – Restricted hours – 10.00am to 3.00pm

Cemetery – open – limit of 50 mourners at each funeral.

Gym – Closed.

Administration changes as follow.

Ovals & Parks

The various sporting peak organisations have cancelled or postponed their sports until the end of April or May. This means that there will be no organised sport within the Shire of Goomalling for the next month or two. The situation will be reviewed and further advice will be provided.

Halls and Rec Centres

All halls and Rec Centres are now closed. This means that Karate, Dancing and other activities held in the halls are now cancelled or at the very least, postponed. These restrictions will also be reviewed prior to April 30 and we will advise further at that time. The Mortlock Sports Council is responsible for the Goomalling Community Sports Centre however the Federal Government has deemed such facilities to close until further notice. It can serve takeaway meals if it chooses to do so.

Goomalling Swimming Pool

The Pool will be closed for the season as at close of business on Sunday 22nd March. Given that there is only a week of the season left and there are almost no swimmers at the moment, this is considered a reasonable move.

Location: 32 Quinlan Street GOOMALLING

Date: 23 March 2020

Time: 8.00am

SHIRE OF

GOOMALLING

Library/CRC

The Library will be closed for borrowing immediately. The CRC will operate in reduced hours mode from 10.00am to 3.00pm for all services until 30 March. The CRC will continue to provide basic services until further notice.

Caravan Park

The caravan park will continue to operate for the time being but will do so at reduced capacity – we will be implementing increased spacing between sites.

Waste Facility/Cemetery

The Waste Facility and Cemetery will continue to operate as per normal, however there will be restrictions on the number of mourners at the Cemetery being 50 in total. At this stage rubbish collection is unaffected.

Gymnasium

Closed until further notice, contact Monique as some classes may be held outdoors.

Slater Homestead

Closed until further notice.

Dentist

Our advice at this stage is that this is business as usual, however like all other services this is subject to change without notice.

Doctor Surgery

At this stage the surgery is operating as normal assuming that staff, including Nina, are well and on deck, but with modified procedures. This too is likely to change subject to either infection or Government direction and we will attempt to get information out as quickly as possible.

The Surgery has implemented screening checks on arrival to ensure staff and patient safety.

These checks include temperature check, screening questions and hand sanitation.

We are temporally cancelling minor procedures.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a rapidly evolving area of clinical needs and advice. Our advice will be based on WA Health Department guidelines. Currently if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been in contact with a positive case you will be redirected to Goomalling Hospital as regional testing at this stage is only undertaken by Hospitals operated by WACHS.

Shire Administration

Our administrative staff are most at risk of being infected by customers. If you don’t absolutely need to be in the office, DON’T COME IN, if you are sick, or have cold of flu like symptoms or feel fatigued, DON’T COME IN. If you can do your business on-line or by phone, DON’T COME IN.

Location: 32 Quinlan Street GOOMALLING

Date: 23 March 2020

Time: 8.00am

SHIRE OF

GOOMALLING

The need for face to face meetings is under review, particularly where a phone call will have the same result. We are trying to ensure that we are able to continue to provide you with the fullest possible suite of services during this time and if our staff become infected, the ability to do so will be greatly reduced.

The office will be closed for one hour 12.30 to 1.30pm every day, only one Customer Service Officer will operate during the day and will need time for lunch. Our CSO’s will rotate where possible to spread the risk of any community infection. Please observe a reasonable distancing policy with our staff when you are in the office.

Rates payments can be processed by phone or on-line banking, simple DOT Licensing payments can be processed on-line, many other matters can be discussed by phone rather than in person.

Natalie and Peter will alternate weeks working from home to reduce the risk of two senior employees being infected at the same time. Feel free to call if you need to contact either of us – mobile or home numbers are attached. Ranger Services will also be minimal.

Gumnuts

At this stage we understand that Gumnuts is in “business as usual” mode, but again this may be subject to change with little or no notice.

Hotels & Cafes

The closure by 12.00pm today EST of all Pubs, Clubs, Night Clubs, Cinemas, Casinos, Places of Worship and sporting venues. Restaurants and Cafes to be takeaway only. Personal services such as hairdressers and the like are exempted.

Building Maintenance – Council Tenants

Council Building Maintenance staff will only be undertaking essential building maintenance tasks. At this stage we will be limiting the entry to housing and buildings as much as possible.

Roads/Maintenance

Our road construction and maintenance operators are impacted through their work significantly less than other areas of the operation. Operations will continue as per usual although we ask that you again, observe social distancing policy when talking with our staff, this also includes our parks & gardens staff.

Community Bus/PATS Trips

Due to the difficulty in disinfecting the entire bus to a commercial standard, hiring of the community buses has been suspended. The cars that are used for PATS trips are also driven by Council staff. These vehicles would also need to be disinfected before and after every trip to a commercial level. Given that we do not have the resources to do this on a regular basis these trips will also be suspended until further notice.

Location: 32 Quinlan Street GOOMALLING

Date: 23 March 2020

Time: 8.00am

SHIRE OF

GOOMALLING

There are likely to be changes to this advisory, and I encourage everyone to look out on our

Facebook page and our web page for further updates. Any absolutely urgent advice will be

broadcast over the text network for bushfires as well. The decisions we have made here were

not made lightly, this is an unprecedented disruption to our lives with potentially deadly

consequences for the most vulnerable in society. We are seeking to assist the health sector

in controlling the potential rush on their facilities by reducing community spread of the virus.

PLEASE REMEMBER………

The possibility of severe symptoms still increases with age and ill-health, so it is important to follow the

basic principles, WASH YOUR HANDS after contact with others, before and after eating and after toileting,

COVER COUGHS AND SNEEZES with tissues or your inner elbow, and if you are sick – STAY HOME.

AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE after contact with others until you have thoroughly washed your hands.

It is also important to observe some element of social distancing, avoiding close contact with people particularly in high risk situations, avoid events where there are likely to be large gatherings, try to avoid public transport or at least observe social distancing whilst using busses and trains and if you can work from home then perhaps consider doing so.

Most importantly, if you are sick with a dry cough, have a cold or flu like symptoms, stay at home. If you

are really sick with these symptoms, then attend the hospital or one of the identified COVID Clinics. If you

have travelled overseas, stay home for at least 14 days after your return or until advised otherwise. If you

suspect that you have contracted the virus, attend one of the COVID Clinics (see locations attached).

The objective of the current planning and restrictions is to have an orderly spread of the virus that does

not choke our Hospitals and Doctor’s Surgeries. We are also trying to minimise any disruptions to services

that we provide to the community and control the spread of the virus while protecting our staff from possible

infection. If you don’t really need to attend our office, don’t. If you can transact your business by

phone, then do so!

Do not attend the doctor’s surgery if you suspect that you have the virus. If you are extremely ill,

attend the hospital, if you suspect you have the virus, attend one of the COVID-19 Clinics.

Once again, the best ways that you can best protect yourself from the virus are to:

Wash your hands after contact with others, before and after eating, and after toileting.

Cover sneezes and coughs with a tissue, hanky or your inner elbow to protect others.

If you are sick, stay home.

Have a flu shot once they are available to protect you against the flu.

Avoid touching your face with your hands.

Observe social distancing, avoid any unnecessary contact with others.

As the situation unfolds, we will provide more information. Our services are changing and the way that we do business may well change even more as well. What this will be depends on the progress of the spread of the virus and whether staff are affected directly.

PETER BENTLEY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Location: 32 Quinlan Street GOOMALLING

Date: 23 March 2020

Time: 8.00am

SHIRE OF

GOOMALLING

COVID-19 CLINIC LOCATIONS

Royal Perth Hospital Sir Charles Gardner Hospital Fiona Stanley Hospital

Ground Floor, C Block, Bedbrook Row

48 Murray Street Hospital Avenue North Eastern End of Hospital

PERTH NEDLANDS MURDOCH

Bunbury Health Campus

Bussell Highway (cnr Robertson Drive),

BUNBURY WA 6230

FURTHER INFORMATION:

National Coronavirus Health Information Line: 1800 020 080

health.wa.gov.au/coronavirus

healthywa.wa.gov.au/coronavirus

https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-covid-19-countries.htm

https://www.health.gov.au/news/australian-healthprotection-principal-committee-ahppc-coronavirus-

covid-19-statement-on-29-february-2020

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen

Contact for Peter or Natalie

Peter Nat

Home Number 9629 – 1210 Home Number

Mobile 0439 496 559 Mobile 0428 881 350