As residents we are used to seeing Council workers repairing our roads, fixing water mains and collecting our bins, but they're having to do it very differently right now to make sure it's being done in a COVID safe manner.
With everyone in New South Wales under some form of restrictions, Council staff are still working daily while ensuring compliance with public health orders and regularly adjusting practices to respond to the evolving COVID-19 conditions.
At the same time, they are still working to ensure the services we often take for granted aren't affected.
Kempsey Shire Council Infrastructure Delivery Manager, Dylan Reeves, said that on a street level, essential services such as road repairs, water main fixes and bin collections are being carried out in a safe manner.
"While you may not always see masks on these workers, rest assured that they are well versed in public health orders. So, while outdoor activities such as pouring concrete and working on sewers continue, they are always carried out in compliance with the regulations – from wearing masks in shared cars to social distancing as required".
"For Council's outdoor staff who are specially trained to work in confined spaces, or lifting heavy objects, or who travel in machinery around the Shire, adapting our procedures, wearing masks indoors and social distancing has become part of the job," said Mr Reeves.
Council is in regular contact with public health authorities and will continue to comply with public health orders including ensuring there are QR codes at sites and buildings, wearing masks and implementing social distancing where required.
These changes are not only to follow the rules and to do the right thing, but to continue to provide essential services to residents.
