Australia’s only drive-through library service will re-open on Saturday (May 16) as the City of Logan takes the first steps towards post-pandemic community engagement.
Newly-elected Mayor Darren Power launched Logan City Council’s Hyperdome Library drive-through service back in 1998 as the local divisional councillor alongside motor-racing legend Dick Johnson and the then mayor, the late Rod Golledge.
Cr Power said the service would be available from Saturday when all nine Council libraries open at 9am as Logan implements Stage One of the State Government’s Road Map to easing COVID-19 restrictions.
“It has been nearly seven weeks since Council closed many of our facilities and services to protect the health of our residents and staff and help stop the spread of the coronavirus,” Cr Power said.
“Our community has done exceptionally well in following all the health guidelines to put us in a position of being able to re-open some of our facilities.
“I know many in our community have been really missing a visit to their local library and our staff have also missed the regular interaction with the community.”
The re-opening of libraries is among a number of changes in Logan this weekend under the Stage One advisory. Others include:
- All park facilities can be used including playgrounds, outdoor exercise equipment, toilet amenities, skate bowls, pump tracks and basketball courts.
- Free barbecues will be turned back on
- Water play areas at Logan Central and Flagstone will be operating
- Waste transfer stations (Browns Plains, Carbrook, Greenbank, Logan Village and Beenleigh) are open but cash payments are not currently being accepted. The Recycling Market remains closed.
- Logan’s 47 dog off leash areas re-opened last weekend.
To comply with Federal and State requirements, and Queensland Health advisories, only 10 people will be allowed inside each library at a time (not including those accessing Council’s immunisation service).
Logan libraries are open normal hours to loan library items only.
Social distancing rules apply and customers are encouraged to visit the library website //loganlibraries.org/ to order library items online.
All library customers are encouraged to plan their visit and limit it to 20 minutes or less to ensure Logan Libraries can assist as many people as possible each day.
Logan Libraries cannot deliver programs or events inside libraries during Stage One.
All online library services are still available and customers are encouraged to use them where possible rather than visit a library.
Cr Power said while extra resources would be put into place from Saturday morning, library patrons may experience extended wait times.
“Our library staff will be working hard to help customers navigate the new measures so please speak to the staff if you need any assistance,” he said.
In Logan’s 930 parks, gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people. People from different households must stay 1.5 metres apart.
Everyone is encouraged to continue hygiene guidelines as outlined by Queensland Health and urged to stay at home if they are not feeling well.
City Lifestyle Committee Chairperson Councillor Laurie Koranski said Logan residents had worked together to get through the pandemic and had shown great responsibility with the re-opening of dog parks last weekend.
She called for a similar approach to this weekend’s Stage One easing of restrictions.
“These re-openings are a small but significant step on the road to life returning to normal in Logan,” Cr Koranski said.
“However it’s very important people continue to maintain proper social distancing and good hygiene practices.
“We’ve come too far to have to go back, so please whatever you do, be mindful of others while enjoying the City of Logan’s public spaces.”
Council-run or leased swimming pools in the City of Logan will remain closed subject to further negotiations with the State Government on the number of people who can access the facilities.
A 10-person limit, under Stage One rules, does not make it commercially viable to open a public pool.
Three of Council’s six aquatic centres were already closed for winter and two pools within these facilities are closed for maintenance purposes.
To ensure social distancing, Logan’s overnight-stay parks – Hugh Muntz Park at Beenleigh and Tully Memorial Park at Jimboomba – also remain closed.
For full details on Council facilities and services during the pandemic, and for community and business support, go to: logan.qld.gov.au/covid-19
To report non-compliant behaviour call Policelink on 131444 or phone 13HEALTH.
