Taking all measures to continue to provide services

Cabonne Council has enacted its Business Continuity Plan to try to provide as many services as possible for as long as possible during the coronavirus emergency.

Measures have been implemented to enable the Council to continue its operations should one of its offices be forced to shut down.
The Council has relocated and separated executives and staff between offices in Molong and Cudal to duplicate its services in each location and, where possible, staff are working from home to minimise the spread of the virus.

Strict social distancing regulations are being practised and video conferencing is being used to reduce face-to face meetings. Work crews are starting from different locations and travelling in separate vehicles to observe social distancing protocols as far as practicable.
Essential services such as the provision of water, sewerage and waste collection will be paramount, but should the Covid-19 pandemic escalate the Council may have to reduce its service levels in other areas.

This may mean that only emergency roadworks and repairs will be undertaken should Council’s resources be depleted.

At present, the majority of Council’s functions continue to operate as normal, including Meals on Wheels deliveries.

However, all non-essential meetings have been postponed until the crisis eases and, to minimise the risk of spreading the virus, no cash transactions will be accepted. New payment arrangements will also come into effect at waste disposal depots on Saturday 28 March 2020.

To comply with the Federal Government’s shutdown of non-essential services, swimming pools, libraries and the Age of Fishes Museum at Canowindra have been closed while the community shopping bus service and Council’s private skip bin service have been suspended until further notice.

Cabonne Mayor Kevin Beatty appealed to everyone to show respect to each other and stressed the need to work together to get through these tough times.

“While Cabonne and Central NSW may seem relatively isolated from areas with the largest number of cases, the best way to manage this outbreak is to assume the virus is already in the community and therefore follow all the advice from health authorities by staying at home as much as possible and restricting any travel to essential purposes,” Cr Beatty said.

“NSW Health has advised it is safe to assume that in coming weeks coronavirus will affect all regional areas.

“People have to change their normal way of life and make sure they strictly observe all the Federal and State Government guidelines.”

As the crisis evolves, Cabonne residents are urged to check Council’s website and Facebook page or to call (02) 6392 3200 for updates on Council’s services.