March 23rd, 2020COVID-19: The latest local news
Hepburn and Macedon Ranges councils close services.
MACEDON Ranges Shire Council is taking steps to ensure supermarkets are able to receive much-needed supplies during the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Chief executive officer Margot Stork said the council had advised the Victorian Government it would waive delivery restrictions and allow trucks to deliver to supermarkets as required.
“We know stocks are running low in many of our local supermarkets, so we want to ensure we are doing what we can to help local businesses get that stock in for local residents, especially for the elderly and most vulnerable,” Ms Stork said.
Council is following state and federal government advice and is:
• minimising large public gatherings;
• dispensing with non-essential meetings and events;
• promoting good hygiene practices; and
• encouraging and practising social distancing.
For daily updates on service changes and closures, visit mrsc.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
Transfer stations currently remain open, however please note cash will not be accepted by attendants. The tip shop in Kyneton has been closed.
Council is encouraging residents and visitors to avoid visiting the Mount Macedon area during autumn.
Council will no longer be running free buses from Macedon Railway Station to Honour Avenue and further up to Mount Macedon, and the visitor information booth at Centennial Park will not operate. It is understood most if not all of the open gardens in Mount Macedon will remain closed during the Autumn period.
Traffic management arrangements will continue in order to ensure amenity for residents should there still be visitation to the area during this period.
Council is encouraging groups operating in council-owned or managed facilities or on council-owned land to conduct risk assessments and modify/cancel activities as required.
Among the facilities closed are libraries, customer service centres, pools, gyms and leisure centres.
Residents with memberships and enrolments at leisure facilities are being contacted regarding future arrangements. Memberships and enrolments will be suspended or reimbursements and refunds will be offered. All current facility closures will be in place until mid-April, after which they will be reviewed.
For more information: mrsc.vic.gov.au/coronavirus, www.health.gov.au/ or www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/
HEPBURN Shire Council has moved to Stage 4 of its Pandemic Plan and is putting preventative measures in place to slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), including closing its Duke Street Customer Service Centre, hubs and libraries to the public.
As of March 18, the council closed:
• Face to face customer service at the Duke Street Office (Daylesford), Creswick Hub and The Warehouse – Clunes;
• Daylesford, Creswick, Trentham and Clunes libraries; and
• Visitor Information Centres in Daylesford, Creswick, Clunes and Trentham.
While customers will not be able to attend customer service centres/hubs in person, they will still be able to contact the Customer Experience Team to log any service requests, queries or payments, etc. via:
• Phone – 5348 2306;
• Email – shire@hepburn.vic.gov.au; and
• Website – www.hepburn.vic.gov.au
Customers requiring urgent face-to-face communication (including payments), can phone 5348 2306 and a staff member will discuss whether an appointment should made. It is important to note that face-to-face customer service will not be provided unless the matter is urgent and an appointment has been made.
The Duke Street Customer Service Centre in Daylesford will still be able to provide the usual VicRoads Services in person by prior appointment only. These include learner permit testing and issuing of work diaries.
Payments for council-issued accounts can be paid over the phone via a credit card (MasterCard or Visa). Alternatively, most accounts can be paid via BPAY or AusPost banking.
Closures will remain in place until further notice, as the council continues to monitor the situation and work closely with State Government departments.
The following services will remain operational, but will be reviewed as the situation changes: Maternal Child Health; Immunisations; Meals on Wheels; Home and Community Care; Waste Collection; and Transfer Stations.
