Surf Coast Shire Council has extended its closure of Council facilities to now include public equipment and is temporarily reducing days of opening at Winchelsea and Lorne transfer stations in further efforts to have people stay home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Winchelsea RV site is also being closed.
The changes aim to reduce risk of spread of infection as the Council amplifies government and health authority messages for people to stay home.
All Council playgrounds, skate and bike parks, public barbecues, drinking fountains and tennis courts are closed until further notice.
Winchelsea transfer station will now be closed on Tuesdays and Saturdays, meaning the hours of opening are 2pm to 4pm Thursday and 9.30am to 12.30pm on Sunday.
Lorne Transfer Station will now be closed on Mondays and Saturdays, meaning the hours of opening are 9am to noon on Wednesday and Friday and 2pm to 5pm on Sunday.
Opening hours at Anglesea Landfill and Transfer Station will be unchanged.
“These changes are significant but necessary in these unprecedented circumstances,” Chief Executive Officer Keith Baillie said.
Council is hopeful that people take on board the reason behind the reduced transfer station access and stay home if they can.
“People can reduce their trips away from home and still use the Winchelsea and Lorne facilities on the days that they are open. It has been very disappointing to see some increased roadside dumping in other parts of the Shire and we encourage everyone to do the right thing, Mr Baillie said.
“We must discourage people from being out and about when they don’t need to be. We must encourage people to stay at home unless they absolutely must go out.
“We thank people for their understanding in these difficult times.”
The changes follow other infection minimisation measures including preventing user groups from holding gatherings of people in or on Council owned or managed facilities and land.
Council also earlier transitioned transfer stations to cash-free to reduce infection risk.
