Federation Council Mayor, Cr Patrick Bourke has expressed his confidence in the local community and applauded Federation Council residents for their resilience displayed and the way in which they adapt during challenging times, following the NSW state wide lockdown announcement on Saturday.
To protect the people of NSW from the evolving COVID-19 outbreak, new restrictions were introduced for all of regional NSW, effective from 5pm on Saturday, August 14 until 12.01am Sunday 22 August 2021.
Following updated health advice from NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant, stay-at-home orders now apply to all people who live in regional NSW.
Mayor Bourke said the Federation Council community and its residents are known for their resilience and adaptability in uncertain times and he was confident residents would rise once again to face the challenges associated with the Delta strain of Covid-19 that the NSW State is currently battling to control.
"We have been dealing with adverse situations such as this well before Covid," he said.
"As a community, we have battled our way through years of drought, before the tide finally changed for last year's season. I continue to be in awe of our community, for the way in which we come together and support one another during challenging times. We prove ourselves time and time again."
Mayor Bourke said he appreciated a call from local MP Justin Clancy on Saturday afternoon to let him know of the pending announcement of state wide lockdown.
"I would like to take this opportunity to really thank Justin and his team for their ongoing engagement and the advocacy work they continue to do on behalf of Council and our community," he said.
"Justin understands the important role Local Government plays when it comes to situations just as this and I look forward to continuing to work with him and voicing concerns and items for consideration from our community for him to advocate strongly on our behalf."
Mayor Bourke said he also received several calls over the weekend from local residents, community organizations and businesses following the announcement.
"The attitude of people I spoke to on Saturday afternoon, and even on Sunday was nothing short of commendable," he said.
"Everyone I spoke to said they know we all need to do our bit to get on top of this pandemic and stop it in its tracks before it comes into our region. Even though there was frustrations expressed in the way the lockdown was announced, and the time businesses had to prepare, everyone knew this step had to be taken."
Mayor Bourke said the last 20 months have undoubtedly been hard for not only the Federation community, but communities' right across Australia and believes the situation in NSW right now is of great concern.
"Border communities have done it extremely tough, with restrictions and decisions made on both sides of the river affecting the way in which our communities function immensely," he said.
"Through strong advocacy efforts we will continue to bring issues to the forefront, and assure the community that we will keep pushing all levels of government for common sense approach decisions, especially when it comes to public health and economic decisions."
In closing, Mayor Bourke said it is important that we continue to come together as a community, support each other, look out for each other, show kindness and consideration.
"Now more than ever, we must look out for the most vulnerable in our community and think locally in every decision we make," he said.
"Council understands our community look to us as local leaders in times like this and we know we have an important ongoing role to play in this pandemic and that is being the conduit between leading agencies, and ensuring our community is reassured of its strength and resilient nature in times such as these."
