Ten teams of five people who lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic are joining Mornington Peninsula Shire's cleaning effort to help prevent the virus spreading through contact transmission.
Under the Victorian Government's Working for Victoria initiative, Citywide's Cleansing and Sanitisation Services is recruiting, training and supervising the participants.
Mornington Peninsula Shire Mayor Councillor Sam Hearn said "The Shire is pleased to be working with State Government and Citywide to support the roll out of the Visual Street Cleansing Blitz as of Saturday 16 May. This was a quick turnaround initiative of the State Government to support our community in feeling safe and secure in public and provide some additional support to Council and business as restrictions are eased.
Funded by the State Government, the new workforce will be mobilised to deliver disinfecting services to support the Shire's existing cleaning regime.
"This extra cleansing and disinfecting service by Citywide is additional to our own Clean Team that patrols high profile areas and focuses on cleaning and picking up street litter. Together both teams will help set our community up for success as restrictions ease and our public spaces become busier." Mayor Hearn, said.
Popular areas and communal touch points such as public seating, bike hoops, playground equipment, bins, pedestrian signal buttons, handrails, street furniture and bus shelters will get extra cleansing and disinfecting seven days a week over the coming weeks.
Background
The $500 million Working for Victoria program is matching people who have lost their jobs, including those affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19, with employers who need staff.
More than 2,750 Victorians have found positions through Working for Victoria since the program was launched last month, providing a quick return to work and access to training where required.
Mornington Peninsula Shire is one of the 27 councils in the greater metropolitan Melbourne region, from Wyndham and Melton in the west to Yarra Ranges, Cardinia and Mornington Peninsula shires in the east and southeast, to be employing and training people to perform tasks including deep cleaning of public assets such as drinking fountains and disinfecting surfaces such as handrails, street furniture, playgrounds, bus stops, traffic signal boxes and mailboxes.
