Glen Innes Severn Council

KEEPING UP WITH COUNCIL INFORMATION
Each week you can catch up with Council's news and information to residents on the website:
https://www.gisc.nsw.gov.au/…/weekly-our-council-informatio…
https://www.gisc.nsw.gov.au/news/radio-interviews

YOU CAN CROSS THIS ONE OFF THE BUCKET LIST!
Council has announced that from Friday, 22 May 2020, as a result of recent rainfall, the Glen Innes Severn Local Government Area has moved from Level Three TO LEVEL TWO (2) water restrictions.

The key difference for residents will be AN END TO USING BUCKETS for watering the garden and washing the car. Level Two (2) restrictions allow the use of a hand held hose or drippers for two (2) hours per day. Use of buckets only continues for washing paved areas and roofs except as is required by law. 

COMMENTARY ON FACEBOOK POSTS
Council’s Facebook page is an important platform for information to be communicated from Council to residents. Council advises that any commentary posted on Facebook posts which does not relate to the subject of the post will be deleted. The reason for this is so that the information in the post is not confused by unrelated commentary.
Council also advises that any commentary that is abusive, bullying, illegal or misinforms residents on any issue will also be deleted. Any persons who regularly post abusive, bullying or illegal commentary, or who regularly misinform residents will be reported to Facebook for further action by Facebook and will be blocked from Council's Facebook page.
Council also reserves the right to take any legal action as may be required regarding the misuse of Council’s Facebook page and the interference of Council’s use of this platform for the communication of information to residents.

PUBLIC EXHIBITION of DRAFT OPERATIONAL PLAN AND BUDGET for the 2020 – 2021 Financial Year

Council invites written submissions on the Draft Operational Plan and Budget for the 2020 – 2021 Financial Year. Submission forms are accessible on Council’s website at the link below, as well as the village Post Offices at Emmaville, Deepwater and Glencoe. Kindly note that submissions regarding the Draft Operational Plan and Budget for the 2020 – 2021 Financial Year close at 4.30pm on Thursday, 11 June 2020.

Draft OPERATIONAL PLAN and BUDGET 2020-21

Map Rating Category Shire

Map Rating Categories Town and Villages

Public Comments Form Draft O.P. and Budget 2020 - 21

JUNE COUNCIL MEETING

The JUNE Ordinary Council Meeting will be held at the Glen Innes Library and Learning Centre on Thursday, 26 June, 2020, starting at 6.00pm. The Business Paper will be available for viewing on Council's website from approximately 5.00pm on Friday, 19 June, 2020.
Council is practising Social Distancing as recommended by the NSW State Government during the Coronavirus pandemic. Council advises that Council meetings are not open to public attendance until further notice. The provision of a Public Forum before the start of Council meetings will also cease until further notice. 
However, members of the public wishing to address Council on a particular matter included in the Business Paper must complete the "Application To Speak At The Community Consultation Session Held Prior To Ordinary Council Meetings" form, which is available on the Home page of Council's website. 
This form must be received by Council by 12 noon on the Tuesday before the Council meeting emailed to: council@gisc.nsw.gov.au Therefore for the June Council meeting, the form must be emailed by 12 noon on Tuesday, 24 June 2020.  You must also email your address to council@gisc.nsw.gov.au and state in writing what you want to have read out at the Council meeting. 

Please note that any submissions to Council are not read out aloud. All councillors are given copies of all submissions to read and this is done along with the business paper and annexures prior to council meetings.

Please note that Council meetings will continue to be live streamed and viewable at http://webcast.gisc.nsw.gov.au/ 

ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR PAYING COUNCIL RATES

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS: COVID-19 PANDEMIC (UP-DATED 20/05/2020)

Glen Innes Severn Council is a part of the local community and provides services to the community. Council’s priority is the local community. Therefore, Council is operating and making decisions during the Coronavirus Pandemic with the focus firmly on the community and Council’s role as a part of the community.

That’s why Council is implementing operational strategies specific to whatever stage of the Coronavirus Pandemic we all find ourselves in at any point in time. We are aligning how we work with up-dated guidelines issued by the Federal and NSW State Government.

Council has implemented social distancing strategies. We have re-opened the Town Hall and Church Street offices, however only two customers can be in attendance in the foyers at any one time. You can also contact Council by email or phone. You can also obtain information from Council’s website and Facebook page.

Council is also social distancing behind the scenes. Staff are working in smaller teams and in more locations and increasing numbers will be working from home. We are using our digital capacities to group together instead of in person. All meetings are held digitally or over the phone.

Non-essential services remain closed, such as the swimming pools, the library, the visitor information centre and the youth centre. Council will advise residents through the website, Facebook page and local media when these services re-open. The focus is on keeping essential services such as waste and water, functioning normally, and making sure that what residents need from Council can be provided within the realistic confines of this new operating environment.

Council has also implemented hygiene measures as advised by the NSW Department of health. This includes hand washing, extra cleaning, observing hygiene etiquette and being generally more conscious of how we interact. Indoor and outdoor staff who are ill will not be coming to the workplace. Where isolation is mandated, it will be abided.

Council urges our whole community to activate a way of living and working which shares the responsibility of minimising the impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic here, in our Local Government Area. It’s up to all of us, individually and collectively, to contribute to as positive a road through this as possible.

Everyone must do a number of things until otherwise authorised by the NSW Department of Health and Federal Government. These include:

• Observe all NSW Department of Health guidelines and mandates;
• Seek medical advice or intervention if you have flu symptoms or are otherwise unwell. Phone your doctor first before attending a doctor’s surgery if you have flu symptoms and follow the instructions given.
• Be observant of protecting vulnerable residents such as the aged and the chronically ill;
• Practise social distancing and reduce social interaction generally including observing the rules in respect of how many people can be together at any time. 
• Observe hygiene measures such as washing hands, covering up sneezes and coughs and doing extra cleaning, particularly of hard surfaces.
• Take preventative measures such as using gloves, tissues (disposed of after use), disinfectants, hand sanitisers and masks (if you have flu symptoms).

Council takes this opportunity to thank residents for your patience and for understanding that we have had to take steps in the way we work and how we serve you, in the interests of the entire community.

Craig Bennett, General Manager

INFORMATION ON CORONAVIRUS FROM NSW DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Council urges residents to check up-to-date accurate information on Coronavirus at this website link:

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/coronavirus.aspx

Council also urges residents to practice easy hygiene steps which may assist in staying healthy during the up-coming flu season:

https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/diseases/Pages/protect-yourself.aspx  

If you have any other concerns, please call the National Coronavirus Health information Line on 1800 020 080.    

WATER RESTRICTIONS

Council advises that effective from Friday, 22 May 2020 the Glen Innes local Government Area has moved to LEVEL TWO (2) water restrictions.

Restrictions apply to the use of town water carted to rural properties and villages. Council encourages residents to refer to information on water saving tips at: www.nejo.nsw.gov.au/water-saving-tips/

Any changes to water restrictions will be communicated through Council’s website and Facebook page as well as through local media.

Further information on levels of water restriction can be found in this Restriction Strategies excerpt from Council’s Drought Management Plan. The full plan can be viewed on our website via this link.

EMERGENCY BUSH FIRE INFORMATION

Bush Fire Information Line: 1800 679 737 (1800 NSW RFS)

Fires Near Me NSW App

w.rfs.nsw.gov.au

facebook.com/nswrfs

twitter.com/nswrfs

Local radio, TV and news.

***AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION***