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Covid-19

Community Update 1

By March 18, 2020March 31st, 2020No Comments

As you would be aware, the outbreak of the coronavirus is impacting services across the region. For Mareeba Shire Council, it remains business as usual. However, Council has moved to implement measures to contain the spread of the virus following direction from the Federal Government regarding events, libraries and visitor information services.

The health and well-being of the community, visitors, volunteers and staff is a priority leading to Council’s decision to postpone the Kuranda Easter event which was planned for 11 April 2020. Council has also decided to cancel the annual Great Wheelbarrow Race scheduled for May 2020.

VISITOR SERVICES: Furthermore, operating hours of the Kuranda Visitor Information Centre will change following the suspension of volunteering at the Centre. From Monday 23 March 2020, the Centre will be open Monday to Friday from 11am – 2pm for the delivery of essential visitor services, until further notice.

LIBRARY: To help protect the community, as of Monday 23 March 2020, Shire Library branches will only offer borrowing services in the branch. All other services and activities will be suspended until further notice. Council will be introducing recommended social distancing and hygiene practises at all customer service centres, including libraries, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. This means library customers will not have access to public computers and wifi, newspapers, toys and quiet work areas, programs and inter-library loans. Council has plans in place which could see the closure of all Library branches across the Shire, should Queensland Health advise Council to do so. Online and telephone assisted borrowing services would continue should the libraries close. It’s business as usual for Council’s customer service centre in Mareeba and at the Kuranda Library.

KEEP CALM: This is an unpredictable fast-moving situation, and we are actively monitoring and putting business continuity plans in place to deal with the situation if and when it escalates.

Council is committed to the health and well-being of the community and is following direction and advice from the Federal and State Governments and health authorities. We also encourage you all to follow advice from the Federal Government and health authorities and support each other in this time.

Council is balancing the importance of providing services to the community with protecting the safety of everyone and strongly assures you that if we all work together, our community impact will be minimised.

For more information on the changes to the delivery of these Council services, please phone 1300 308 461.

For more information on COVID-19 call 13 HEALTH or find up-to-date reliable information on the Queensland Health website at www.health.qld.gov.au/coronavirus.