Public notice - 18 August 2020

Read a thank you message from our Mayor Christine Henderson on page two of this week’s Midland Express.

Regional Victoria is in Stage 3 Stay at Home restrictions. Under these restrictions there are only four reasons to leave home. They are shopping for food and essential items, care and caregiving, daily exercise, and work/study - if you can't do it from home. No visitors are allowed at your home. You are only allowed to gather in public with one person from outside your household.

With a number of active cases in our community we encourage everyone to take extra care. Follow the Stay at Home directions, maintain hand hygiene and physical distancing. It is now compulsory to wear a face covering when you leave home (exemptions apply).

Please be kind and don’t forget to check on family, friends and neighbours. Find more information at www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus or call the DHHS coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398.

Please stay home if you are unwell and get tested if you have any symptoms of coronavirus, no matter how mild. Symptoms may include fever, chills or sweats, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose and loss of sense of smell or taste.

Make an appointment with your local GP or go to a nearby testing centre in Bendigo, Kyneton or Maryborough. If you have symptoms, please return home immediately and self-isolate until you receive your test results.

A worker support payment is available for Victorian workers who have been instructed to self-isolate or quarantine at home because they are either diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) or are a close contact of a confirmed case. Visit www.connectmountalexander.com.au for more information on local testing sites.

Council staff continue to deliver many services. A summary of key service changes due to COVID-19 restrictions is below.

Customer and Visitor Services – The Customer Service Centre and Visitor Information Centres are closed to the public. Contact us by phone, email or lodge a customer service request via our website. For advice from technical teams such as planning, building, public and environmental health or local laws contact us to arrange a time to speak with a staff member over the phone. Call 5471 1700 or email info@mountalexander.vic.gov.au.

Waste services – Bin collection is running as usual. Please delay non-essential visits to waste facilities in Castlemaine and Maldon. Staff are unable to assist with heavy items due to physical distancing requirements. Paddy’s Market is open with restrictions in place.

Playgrounds and community facilities – Parks and reserves remain open for exercise within public gathering rules. Public playgrounds, skate parks, BMX parks, council venues and community halls are closed. Public toilets are open with strict cleaning procedures in place.

Aged Care Services – Council is working hard to support the most vulnerable members of our community. We are continuing to deliver essential services based on advice from health authorities, and will share any updates with clients, carers and families.

Maternal and Child Health Services – Key age visits and immunisations are taking place through adapted face-to-face consultations. Speak to one of our nurses on 5472 1364 before visiting the centre. The 24-hour Victorian Government Maternal and Child Health Line is also available for advice on 13 22 29.

To help and connect our community at this time we have created a dedicated COVID-19 support number, email and virtual emergency relief centre. For local assistance, information or a referral to a local community organisation or service call us on 1800 512 446 between 8.30am and 5.00pm (Monday to Friday), email us at covid19@mountalexander.vic.gov.au or visit www.connectmountalexander.com.au.

If you are finding the current situation difficult and want to talk to a counsellor, call the friendly staff at CHIRP Community Health on 5479 1000 between 9.00am to 5.00pm (Monday to Thursday) and 9.00am to 4.30pm (Friday).

The COVID Connect service run by the Australian Red Cross also has volunteers that are happy to call you for a friendly chat to help keep you connected. To register for a call, ring 1800 733 276 or visit www.redcross.org.au.

If you, or someone you know, are feeling anxious or stressed, support is available. Contact Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
www.beyondblue.org.au; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 www.kidshelpline.com.au; QLife 1800 184 527 www.qlife.org.au or Lifeline 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au.

The Australian parenting website Raising Children Network provides excellent resources for parents and carers trying to manage the impacts of COVID-19 on the family. For more information visit www.raisingchildren.net.au.

Vulnerable community members can access free face masks as part of a Victorian Government initiative. Eligible people includes those who are actively managing chronic conditions, living with a disability, experiencing family violence, mental health problems or drug and alcohol issues, or living in public housing, crisis accommodation or are homeless. Aboriginal people and refugee and asylum seekers can also access free masks.

Pick up a mask from CHIRP Community Health or register for a free mask by contacting Council’s COVID-19 support service on 1800 512 446. Masks are available for purchase at local pharmacies, hardware and discount stores. You can also use scarves or bandanas as face covering, or make your own cloth mask.

Council elections are being held this October. The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) conducts elections on behalf of all Victorian councils. Elections will be conducted by post – a safe and secret method of voting. Make sure your enrolment details are up-to-date by 4.00pm on Friday 28 August so you can vote – don’t risk a fine! For detailed and up-to-date information about how to enrol, vote, become a candidate, and more, call the VEC on 131 832 or visit www.vec.vic.gov.au/enrolment.

Project Officer – Community Transport – part time, fixed term until March 2021.
Closes at 9.00am on Thursday 20 August.

Municipal Building Surveyor (3 councils) – full time, fixed term – 3 years.
Closes at 9.00am on Monday 24 August.

Support and Development Officer – full time, ongoing
Closes at 9.00am on Monday 31 August.

For more information or to apply visit our website.

A Special Meeting of Council will be held from 6.30pm on Tuesday 1 September 2020. The purpose of the meeting is for Council in accordance with the Local Government Act 2020, to consider the adoption of the following items: Schedule 5 Council to Chief Executive Officer Instrument of Delegation; Schedule 6 Council to Staff Instrument of Delegation; Community Assets Committee Instrument of Delegations; Governance Rules (including the Election Period Policy); Public Transparency Policy; and Council Expenses Policy.

The meeting will be broadcast live to YouTube. Search Mount Alexander Shire Council.

Darren Fuzzard, Chief Executive Officer

The next Council Meeting will be held from 6.30pm on Tuesday 18 August. It includes consideration of the 2020/2021 Budget.
To raise a question at the Council Meeting write to the Governance Team, Mount Alexander Shire Council, PO Box 185, Castlemaine 3450 VIC, or email governance@mountalexander.vic.gov.au by 12noon on the day of the meeting. Council meetings are live streamed via YouTube.

The Council Column is published in The Midland Express each Tuesday.

Public notice - 18 August 2020.


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