Orange City Council's outdoor staff are getting on with the job, with a range of new operating guidelines in place due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Orange City Council CEO David Waddell, said plans are in place so that essential services can continue to be provided for the community.
"Across the organisation, we are complying with the recommendations of health and government authorities, and monitoring changes as they are made," David Waddell said. "Our outdoor staff deliver important services for the community and we've made changes that will let us comply with government health recommendation while continuing to provide those services. We have more than a hundred and sixty outdoor staff and they are all part of local families so we are very much part of and working for the community."
"A key guideline is looking to minimise unnecessary contact between staff. Many of the outdoor staff can now leave home and go direct to their worksite, rather than coming to the Works depot first.
"Our water team for example, continues provides a crucial service to respond to matters such as broken water mains. That crew has been operationally 'split' in two, and will work from two separate bases to reduce unnecessary contact.
"As more staff work from home, we're looking to base remaining office staff in new locations which can separate them even further.
"While health authorities are encouraging people to think about a daily walk for exercise, our neighbourhood parks offer a good option where people can go and still have social-distancing.
"Our staff are getting on with the job of keeping those parks in good condition.
