COVID-19 updates Kiama Council

COVID-19 updates

Published on 27 June 2020

Updates

COVID-19 Updates

Blue Haven COVID-19 Update

NSW Health have issued an important update to visitor restrictions for all aged care facilities in NSW. The advice states that until further notice any visitor to an aged care facility should be excluded from the facility if they have visited or been to certain areas in the previous 14 days.

Mayor urges COVID-Safety on our beaches

Mayor Mark Honey has urged beach-goers to heed COVID safety measures during the coming school holidays and beyond.

Food Safety - COVID-19 Update

It remains important for businesses to implement COVID-19 Safety Plans. In the past week NSW Health has added two new plans, and updated another five plans. Please take some time to review the latest requirements.

Visiting our facilities

Before entering our facilities, please take note of the following:

Do you have any symptoms associated with COVID-19: fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose?

Do you have, or have you been in close contact with anyone who has COVID-19 in the last 14 days?

Are you awaiting results from a recent COVID-19 test?

Are you required to be self-isolating due to recent travel overseas or Victoria?

Are you required to be self-isolating having visited locations identified by NSW Health: Latest COVID-19 case locations in NSW

If you have answered YES to any of these questions do not enter, call Council on 4232 0444 we will be happy to assist you.

COVID-19 financial relief package

Our COVID-19 financial relief package includes:

1. the interest rate applicable on overdue rates and annual charges is 0% up to 31 December 2020. Interest will be charged from 1 January 2021 on any overdue rates at an interest rate of 7% per annum.

2. ceasing legal recovery otherwise required under Council’s Hardship Policy for those accounts that have outstanding balances until 30 September 2020

3. continuing to issue all annual, instalment and revised reminder notices to keep our ratepayers informed

4. providing a simplified form for ratepayers suffering financial hardship due to COVID-19 to complete and request a payment deferment to August 2020 for ratepayers

5. continuing to pay small business within two weeks of receiving a correctly rendered invoice

6. ensuring users of Council facilities are receiving a credit or refund for cancellations relating to the COVID-19 pandemic

7. approving the waiving of outdoor dining fees during the pandemic

8. applying the National Cabinet mandatory Code of Conduct – SME Commercial Leasing principles during COVID-19 and holding all rent reviews for Council tenants for 12 months

The package will be reviewed and updated on a monthly basis to ensure that these measures remain relevant.

Council is also providing rental relief to lessees and licensees of public property impacted by COVID-19 for the period 25 March 2020 up to 30 September 2020. Our Property Team is available to discuss arrangements with you.

Planning

The Minister has issued several Ministerial Orders to provide flexibility for businesses and the construction industry.

These orders can be viewed on the NSW Planning Portal:

planningportal.nsw.gov.au/orders

Food vendors

This information is to be used in conjunction with the existing obligations you have under the Food Act 2003.

How to be a COVID-19 Safe business - food fact sheet(PDF, 1MB)

COVID-19 safety plans are mandatory for food and drink premises under current NSW Public Health Orders.

We’ve developed a guide to help with this process:

How to make your COVID-19 Safety Plan(PDF, 407KB)

We've also developed a sample COVID-19 Safety Plan you can refer to.

Food Vendors

From 24 July, the restrictions are:

maximum of 10 people per booking or per table
maximum of 10 people on a group entering or being on the premises
alcohol can only be consumed by seated customers
move or remove tables and seating to support 1.5 metres of physical distancing where possible

In addition to this there are requirements for COVID marshalls, customer sign-in, physical distancing and every food business must register as a COVID-19 Safe business.

These restrictions may change and you should seek clarification and updates direct from the NSW Government https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

We remind you that you must continue to comply with existing requirements under the Food Standards Code, with particular vigilance on maintaining good hygiene practices.

The NSW Food Authority has also updated their Food businesses and COVID-19 (Coronavirus) web page which includes the above information.

If you have any questions regarding the above, please contact the Food Authority Helpline.

Questions

Food Business advice on lifting or easing of restrictions - Service NSW – 13 77 88

Sporting organisations

Both the AIS and SportAus have developed resources to assist the recommencement of your code’s sport:

https://www.sportaus.gov.au/return-to-sport#covid-19_safety_plan

https://ais.gov.au/health-wellbeing/covid-19#ais_framework_for_rebooting_sport

COVID-19 safety signs you can temporarily erect at your field or court when in your use:

https://www.sportaus.gov.au/return-to-sport#covid-19_hygiene_guidance

L'Etape road closures

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