It's Business as Usual During Lockdown

Published on 19 August 2021

It’s business as usual during the regional NSW COVID-19 lockdown, as Council continues to maintain our road network, replace key load limited timber bridges in our Shire, and provide the essential services and programs our community relies on.

COVID-19 restrictions have required that Council has had to temporarily close some of its facilities, including Bellingen’s Customer Contact and Administration Centre and our Shire’s three branch libraries, and transition the majority of services they normally offer to online services.

So what that means is our Customer Service Staff are still here to support you access our full range of services and Council related transactions traditionally available over the phone or via email, by simply calling Council on 66557300 or emailing council@bellingen.nsw.gov.au.

Our libraries also currently offer a ‘click, call & collect’ service so you can quickly pick up reserved items without any delays and you can always access our ELibrary catalogue, with also features more than 7,000 EBooks, EAudiobooks, EMagazines and Emovies ready to download now for free.

To keep our Shire’s works program on track, we are also currently isolating work crews and sending them straight to worksites across the Shire instead of coordinating these teams out of our Raleigh Depot to maintain social distancing and to avoid large gatherings of staff.

Our Shire engineers are also reviewing Council’s works program and re-scheduling projects that may be impacted by supply shortages of project materials and contractor and agency support personnel that are required to co-deliver these projects.

By re-scheduling projects, Council crews have been able to focus their efforts on removing and replacing the old Bielsdown River load limited timber bridge on Coramba Road and start road drainage, grader and repair works to prepare for this year’s bitumen road re-sealing program.

So we are supported during these challenging times, Council is also working with our Shire’s Pandemic Response Group to provide local support networks in our community, so we don’t feel vulnerable or isolated as we all do our bit to help stop the spread of COVID-19 with the current ‘stay at home’ orders.

Looking forward, Council will continue to deliver the services our community relies on and the projects that help keep our Shire moving, and your support as we do our best to respond to the impacts the Coronavirus has on the way we do our jobs and live our day to day lives is really appreciated.