We're making plans to support the reopening of some of our popular public-facing operations like our libraries, leisure centres and community centres.
While we know there is an updated Public Health Order that comes into effect on Monday 11 October 2021, we're taking a risk-based approach to any potential changes. The safety of our community and our staff is paramount. We continue to monitor our local community COVID-19 transmission rates and vaccination rates.
This means, we're not fast-tracking opening up facilities like our libraries, community centres, leisure centres and tourist parks.
Instead, we're diligently and comprehensively working through plans that weigh up the benefits of offering a modified service for our community against the risk that the change presents to our staff, their families and our wider community.
"We trust that this approach will provide comfort to those who are anxious about the significant numbers of COVID-19 cases we're seeing in our Local Government Area and the concerning spread of the virus into local aged care facilities,'' Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery said.
"We take our role in protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of our whole community seriously.
"We acknowledge that returning to a more "normal" lifestyle is important and that's why it's important to take a measured and cautious approach. We're balancing the steps we're taking now with series of wide-ranging COVID-19 support measures that help local businesses and residents survive the current and future impacts, as we re-open and recover."
It's important to remember as we see more people in and around our public places that we need to continue to follow the COVID-safe rules and guidelines. This is especially important as we turn on our public barbecues after 11 October and see more people enjoying our greenspaces as they catch up with family and friends.
Wollongong City Council General Manager Greg Doyle said Council was being diligent in developing site-specific COVID-safe risk plans that implement measures that offer the best level of protection from the virus that we can.
"We're mindful these plans need flexibility so that we can adapt, as required, to our community's needs, and as NSW reaches the 80 per cent vaccination rates, and the 1 December 2021 milestone,'' he said.
"We continue to monitor our local community COVID-19 transmission rates and vaccination rates and will respond to our community's needs accordingly. We will be sure to keep our community up to date of any changes we make through our dedicated COVID-19 pages on our website and our City of Wollongong Facebook page."
BEACHES & POOLS UPDATE
Our outdoor pools remain open.
In line with the updated Public Health Order, from Monday 11 October, all those in the pool grounds over the age of 16 will be required to be fully vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine and customers will need to show proof of vaccination on arrival. This requirement is in addition to booking ahead for your swim, and the other conditions of entry. See Media Release: Pools reopen this weekend
We are not making any alterations to our beach operations.
