COVID-19 Updates

COUNCIL FACILITIES UPDATE TO GUARD AGAINST COVID-19

In line with NSW Government-mandated lockdown of the Lismore City Council LGA, there will be significant changes to Council services and operations. See below for all the updates.

Residents can be assured that the following essential services will continue unaffected:

• water supply

• sewerage

• waste collection

• public safety measures.

The following facilities and services will be CLOSED for the duration of the lockdown:

• The Lismore Recycling & Recovery Centre on Wyrallah Road and Nimbin Transfer Centre. (bookings available for customers who have no kerbside collection, and for businesses without a waste service. Go to www.northernriverswaste.com.au)

• The Revolve Shop and CDS Bulk Drop Off

• The Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre and Lismore Memorial Baths

• The Lismore Regional Gallery

• Lismore City Hall

• Council depots, such as at Brunswick Street and Wyrallah Road, are closed to public access

• All libraries in our Local Government Area. However, Click and Collect is available and the eLibrary is open, providing access to reading materials in downloadable digital formats from the RTRL website awww.rtrl.nsw.gov.au or the Richmond Tweed Library app.

• The Corporate Centre in Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah. Some Council staff will continue to work from the building and people can continue to phone Council. Please use our on-line services at www.lismore.nsw.gov.au

Council activities that will continue to operate are:

• Council parks and open spaces remain open (must abide by NSW Health regulations on use of parks)

• The Blakebrook Quarry

• Lismore Cemetery and Crematorium, with some new health protocols in place

• Internal departments such as finance, planning and development, IT and HR

Members of the public are reminded they can go online to pay rates and water bills, order and pay for conveyancing certificates and even pay invoices such as those due for development applications.

People who cannot access online services should phone the Contact Centre on 6625 0500.

Council staff are being redeployed where necessary and/or shared across the region. As part of business continuity many staff have been set up to work from home so that services can continue.

Council is committed to maintaining services wherever possible during this difficult time.

The priority is the health and safety of the Lismore community and Council employees.

Council thanks members of the public for their patience and understanding.

For further information on the lockdown, go to https://nnswlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/.

For updates on Council services, follow Council’s Facebook page or go to www.lismore.nsw.gov.au.

7 DAY STAY-AT-HOME ORDER FOR LISMORE LGA FROM 6PM TODAY

To protect the people of our local area from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, the State Government has introduced new restrictions for Lismore Local Government Area effective from 6pm Thursday, 16 September.

Everyone in our LGA must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave. They also cannot have visitors in their home from outside their household, including family and friends.

Update- residents who are fully vaccinated can attend an outdoor gathering of up to five people for exercise or outdoor recreation as long as all of those aged 16 or older are fully vaccinated.

More information regarding the public health orders and rules of this lockdown will be confirmed soon by the NSW Government.

We understand this is a difficult time for the community and appreciate their ongoing patience and cooperation.

We are asking people to comply with these rules so we do not see further cases of COVID-19 in the community.

Please look after your physical and mental health, and that of your family, during this time.

And please don’t become complacent. Get tested even if you only have the mildest of symptoms.

Further confirmation on our latest lockdown will be known soon and we will update immediately.

And most important of all, be kind to yourself and each other.

Lismore City Council is pleased to announce that many of our services will return to normal from Monday, 13 September, while some re-openings, such as the Lismore Revolve Shop, will be phased in.

“The re-opening of many of our public facilities following the lockdown is great news for our community and will be very welcomed,” Mayor Vanessa Ekins said.

“I am particularly excited about the opening of the memorial baths, it has been a long time between swims.

“Since yesterday’s announcement, our staff have been working hard to ensure we could re-open as many facilities as soon as possible while strictly adhering to State Government guidelines to ensure the safety of our community, visitors and staff.

“This means people entering any Council facility must wear a mask, sign in with a QR code and maintain social distancing at all times. To ensure the safety of the community and staff, anyone not adhering to these guidelines will not be permitted to enter Council facilities.”

CORPORATE CENTRE

The Corporate Centre in Goonellabah will re-open to the public from Monday, 13 September operating from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

WASTE SERVICES

The Recycling & Recovery Facility on Wyrallah Road in East Lismore will re-open to the public on Saturday, 11 September with normal operating times. Online booking forms will no longer be required, however, anyone with an existing booking should still attend as planned. The CDS bulk return facility onsite will also reopen to normal days and hours.

We ask the community to be patient upon this facility re-opening as we expect many people dropping off waste and we must ensure social distancing is maintained, that’s one person per 4 square metres indoors and one person per 2 square metres outdoors.

The Nimbin Transfer Station will also re-open next week with normal operating days and hours from Saturday, 11 September. Bookings will no longer be required.

We are also hoping to re-open the Lismore Revolve Shop soon, but we first need to ensure we can maintain social distancing. We will inform the community of its opening date when it is confirmed.

GSAC

The Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre will re-open from Monday, 13 September operating from 6am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 7.15am to 4pm on Saturday. It will be closed on Sundays.

The Switch Fitness will resume 24-hour access from 7pm on Monday 13 September for those with a valid 24/7 access tag.
Group Fitness, Jiu Jitsu and Aqua classes will be capped at 20 people per space.

LISMORE MEMORIAL BATHS

The popular Lismore Memorial Baths will re-open for the Summer Season as planned from Monday, 13 September. It will operate Monday to Friday from 6am to 6pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm.

When daylight savings begins on Sunday, 3 October, the weekend closing times will be extended to 7pm, allowing swimmers to enjoy the warmer weather.

LIBRARIES

All libraries in the Richmond Tweed network, including Lismore and Goonellabah libraries will re-open with normal operating hours from Monday, 13 September. This includes the Mobile Library.

LISMORE REGIONAL GALLERY

The Gallery will open next week. It will operate as previously from Wednesday to Sunday between 10am and 4pm, with extended hours on Thursday until 6pm. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday.

COUNCIL MEETINGS

Council’s Ordinary Monthly Meetings and weekly briefings will once again be open to the public to attend in person. However, to ensure social distancing we will have an overflow room where members of the public may be asked to sit.

The Monthly Meetings will continue to be broadcast on Council’s Facebook page and website at www.lismore.nsw.gov.au

The State Government has announced that the lockdown of Lismore and the rest of the North and Mid-North Coast of NSW will be lifted at 12.01am on Saturday.

However, some restrictions will remain in place, including the wearing of masks inside public buildings and maintaining social distancing (see below for full list).

Now is not the time to become complacent. Please continue to follow all the rules to keep our community safe.

And please get tested if you have even the mildest of cold and flu symptoms.

You can find the latest rules and testing locations at www.nsw.gov.au

See you out and about over the weekend.

Remember to be kind to each other after the long lockdown.

Below are the restrictions that still apply.

GATHERINGS IN THE HOME AND PUBLIC SPACES

Up to five visitors will be allowed in a home (not including children 12 and under).

Up to 20 people can gather in outdoor settings.

VENUES INCLUDING HOSPITALITY, RETAIL AND GYMS

Hospitality venues can reopen subject to one person per 4sqm inside and one person per 2sqm outside, with standing while drinking permitted outside.

Retail stores can reopen under the one person per 4sqm rule.

Personal services such as hairdressers and nail salons can open with one person per 4sqm, capped at five clients per premises.

Gyms and indoor recreation facilities can open under the one person per 4sqm rule and can offer classes for up to 20 people.

Sporting facilities including swimming pools can reopen.

SCHOOLS

Schools will re-open with Level 3 COVIDSafe measures in place.

STADIUMS, THEATRES AND MAJOR OUTDOOR RECREATION FACILITIES

Major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4sqm, capped at 5,000 people.

Up to 500 people can attend ticketed and seated outdoor events.

Indoor entertainment and information facilities including cinemas, theatres, music halls, museums and galleries can reopen with one person per 4sqm or 75 per cent fixed seated

WEDDINGS, FUNERALS AND PLACES OF WORSHIP

Up to 50 guests can attend weddings, with dancing permitted and eating and drinking only while seated.

Up to 50 guests can attend funerals, with eating and drinking while seated.

Churches and places of worship to open subject to one person per 4sqm rule, with no singing.

TRAVEL

Caravan parks and camping grounds can open.

Carpooling will be permitted.

MASKS

Masks will remain mandatory for all indoor public venues, including public transport, front-of-house hospitality, retail and business premises, on planes and at airports.

Only hospitality staff will be required to wear a mask when outdoors.

Children aged under 12 will not need to wear a mask indoors.

If an active case appears in our region, we will need to go back into lockdown for 14 days.

We are very pleased to announce that the Lismore and Goonellabah libraries, and the mobile library, will re-open from Monday, 13 September now that the lockdown has been lifted.

COVID-19 guidelines will remain in place, such as the mandatory wearing of face masks and social distancing.

Anyone who does not comply with these safety requirements will not be permitted into the libraries.

The re-opening means the Library will no longer be offering the Click & Collect service, so come in an browse to find your next great read!

The Drive-Thru COVID-19 Safety Pack Distribution Centre at the Lismore Library now operates from 9am to noon and from 1pm to 3pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The hours of operation at our other Distribution Centres remain unchanged:

• Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre: from 10am-noon and 1pm-3pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

• Nimbin Neighbourhood Centre, 71 Cullen Street: from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday

Each free Safety Pack consists of 50 face masks, a 500ml bottle of hand sanitiser and a pack of 100 disinfectant wipes supplied by Resilience NSW.

We have opened a third COVID-19 Safety Pack Distribution Centre to help keep our community safe.

The new centre is at the Nimbin Neighbourhood Centre, 71 Cullen Street. It will operate Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm.

Each pack consists of 50 face masks, a 500ml bottle of hand sanitiser and a pack of 100 disinfectant wipes.

Council would like to thank the Nimbin Neighbourhood Centre for their assistance with distributing the packs.

The other two centres are both Drive-Thru only and are located at the Lismore Library and the Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre.

They both operate Monday to Friday from 9am to noon and 1pm to 3pm.

We are also delivering packs to ‘at-risk’ groups, such as our indigenous community and the elderly, through organisations that cater for their needs.

The packs were supplied by Resilience NSW.

The NSW Premier has announced that as of 12.01am Monday, 23 August, everyone across NSW MUST wear masks while they are outside.

The only exception is when you are exercising.

For more information, please go here

Lismore City Council will operate two drive-thru services to distribute face masks, hand sanitiser and disinfection wipes to help the community stay safe during COVID-19.

The COVID-19 protection “packs” have been supplied by Resilience NSW. Each consists of 50 face masks, a 500 ml bottle of hand sanitiser and a pack of 100 disinfectant wipes.

Distribution Centres will be set up at the Goonellabah Sports & Aquatic Centre and the Lismore Library in Magellan Street that will allow members of the community to collect their packs from the safety of their vehicles.

Both Distribution Centres will open from Friday, 20 August and operate 9am to noon and 1pm to 3pm Monday to Friday.

Motorists accessing the Library Distribution Centre are asked to enter through the Rural Street Carpark and exit via Magellan Street, while those accessing the GSAC Distribution Centre are asked to enter via Oliver Avenue.

We ask that those who are collecting packs to remain in their vehicle at all times, wear a face mask and follow COVID-19 safety guidelines at all times.

Both Distribution Centres are contactless drive-thru ONLY services.

Council is currently working with various community organisations to establish walk-in Distribution Centres for those without vehicles.

Any community organisation that would like to assist in the distribution of these COVID-safety packs, can call Council on 6625 0500.

We are also working to deliver the packs to ‘at-risk’ groups, such as our indigenous community and the elderly, through organisations that cater for their needs.

With the recent cases of COVID-19 community transmission across NSW, now is a critical time for everyone to be extra vigilant to protect your family, friends and the community. Stay at home orders are now in place across all of state, including regional NSW.

You must now only leave home to:

• Shop locally (within your local government area (LGA) or, if outside of your LGA, within 5km of your home from 12:01am Monday, 16 August). You may travel beyond this area if the goods or services are not reasonably available locally
• Only one person per household may leave home to shop each day, and browsing in shops is not allowed
• Seek medical care (including COVID-19 testing or getting vaccinated), for an emergency or for compassionate needs
• Exercise outdoors with one other person within your local government area or within 5km of home
• Go to essential work or education, where you cannot work or study from home.

When leaving home for essential reasons, anyone over 18 years of age must carry photo identification with evidence of their home address, such as a NSW Photo Card or Driver Licence.

In addition:

• Masks are mandatory in most settings inside and outside, and fines apply if you don’t wear them. You must always carry a mask with you.
• It’s important everyone 18 years and over gets vaccinated as soon as possible. You can book by contacting your local GP, pharmacist or at nsw.gov.au.
• Financial support is available for individuals and businesses who are impacted.
• Free mental health support is also available to support our community through these difficult times.

Importantly, remember to check in and out of locations at every opportunity, and if you have even mild symptoms, get tested immediately, self-isolate and follow the NSW Health advice.

These are critical measures to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community and everyone's actions will make a difference. Keep up to date with the latest information at nsw.gov.au.