It’s been a busy fortnight as we’ve seen further easing of restrictions and a new normal for us all in our daily lives. As we see these changes come into effect, let’s all remember to remain vigilant and careful so that we can all stay safe.
As the Victorian Government has advised, the State of Emergency in Victoria has been extended until 11:59pm on Sunday 21 June. The Stay at Home Directions have now been replaced by the Stay Safe Directions for this period. That means continuing to maintain physical distance of 1.5 metres from others, take appropriate hygiene precautions, avoid crowds, stay home and get tested if you feel unwell. It also means that if you can work from home, you must work from home.
This week we’ve seen the much-anticipated limited reopening of many favourite cafes and restaurants, as well as other businesses and services that we’ve have missed over the last few months. I hope that we all continue to support our local businesses as they adjust to the new environment.
Locally we are also seeing the Whitehorse Manningham Libraries work towards reopening with some services now available from this week. Read more about which services are available.
Aquarena Aquatic and Leisure Centre has partially reopened this week for swimming only, however bookings are essential to keep within the limits prescribed in the Stay Safe Directions.
Our Civic Centre front counter is now open if you need to visit us. Most of our services are continuing on a work from home basis, so if you need to talk to our building, planning, city compliance, health or aged services teams please continue to contact us by phone, email or online.
As for our other facilities, we are working closely with our local community groups, sports clubs, venue operators to ensure we can reopen in line with the Victorian Government advice and restrictions, and in a way that is safe for everyone. The Government advice places strict controls upon venues which are reopening, so careful planning by each sporting and community group will be needed before they can recommence.
Sport and Recreation Victoria has published updated guidelines and resources to support sport and recreation organisations with their ongoing return to play.
Last week I was pleased to visit Lawford Reserve and meet some of the workers who are busy sanitising the park benches and playspaces for us in Manningham, as part of the state wide cleansing and sanitisation blitz.
It’s not just our parks being carefully cleaned but our local shopping strips, bus stops, pedestrian crossing buttons, and other common surfaces in public spaces across our city. The blitz is also providing jobs to many people who need them, and we have an interview with two sanitising team leaders who found new work through this program.
For the many in our community who speak languages other than English I am pleased to see the Migration Council Australia’s new multilingual COVID-19 app. With COVID-19 information and support in 25 languages, find out more about the MyAusCovid-19 app.
And, finally, we have some good news for our Manningham-based artists and creative professionals. We have launched a new creative industries program of small fellowships, workshops and mentoring opportunities, to help artists across Manningham develop new projects and to support them at this time.
I am confident that we will continue to work together to adjust to the new ways of doing things as we have already done so well over these past few months.
It has been great to see the community spirit of Manningham throughout these times and I encourage everyone to keep looking out for each other’s health and wellbeing and stay safe.
Paul McLeish
MAYOR
