COVID-19 is impacting many businesses and organisations, including Council, in our community as isolation and testing requirements impact staff availability.

Our community is great at supporting one another and we encourage locals and the many visitors we have welcomed this summer to be patient and respectful.

From a Council perspective, it is possible some of our services may be impacted overcoming weeks. If this occurs, we will advise via our Facebook page and website.

We can be contacted on 5153 9500, at feedback@egipps.vic.gov.au or during opening hours at any of our facilities.

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Current restrictions

From 11.59 pm on 23 December 2021, anyone aged 8 years and up visiting our indoor facilities must wear a face mask. This applies to all indoor settings, except private homes, as directed by the Victorian Government.

Customers over the age of 18 years must show their COVID-19 vaccination status as a condition of entry to some of our facilities.

Following direction from the Victorian Government, only those who are fully vaccinated from COVID-19, or medically exempt are permitted to enter specified Council facilities.

Council has an obligation to ensure a safe workplace for staff and a safe environment for our community. Council staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and we expect everyone who interacts with our staff and those who use our services to also be vaccinated.

A list of our facilities where proof of vaccination is required upon entry is provided below. A list of our facilities that do not require proof of vaccination to be shown is also listed.

In all settings, you will need to continue to check-in if there is a QR code as per Chief Health Officer directions.

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Our facilities and COVID-19 positive tests

In the interest of public transparency, when we are advised by a customer/s who may have attended one of our facilities, and have returned a positive COVID-19 test, we will alert the community. Details remain published for 7 days.

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‍How to show proof of vaccination

The quickest and easiest way to show proof of vaccination is by adding your COVID-19 digital certificate to the Service Victoria app on your smart phone. To add your COVID-19 digital certificate to the Service Victoria app, you’ll need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have the latest version of the Service Victoria app installed on your phone.

How to guide - link COVID certificates on your smart phone

How to guide - MyGov vaccination history

Customers without a smart phone are required to present a valid certificate from the Australian Immunisation Register or a printed copy of their COVID-19 vaccination certificate to prove their vaccination status.

Our facilities and services

Proof of vaccination IS required at:

Citizenship ceremonies

People attending citizenship ceremonies as either a new citizen or guest at an event require proof of vaccination.

Community halls and centres

Some Council owned community halls and centres are also included in the Victorian Government directions. Council is communicating these requirements to the relevant Committees of Management.

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Customer service centres and call centre

Call centre:

Our call centre is open during normal operating hours, 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.

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Corporate Centre, Bairnsdale:

Open during normal operating hours, 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.

Vaccination certification is not required to:

• Pay rates and other council services such as pet registrations.
• Conduct an essential local council meeting where attendance of patrons through remote electronic means is not reasonably practicable.

Proof of vaccination on entry is required to:

• Access the rest of the Corporate Centre or meeting rooms.

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‍Lakes Entrance Service Centre:

Open during normal operating hours, 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.

Vaccination certification is not required to:

• Pay rates and other council services such as pet registrations.

Proof of vaccination on entry is required to:

• Access library services and programs and meeting rooms.

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‍Mallacoota Service Centre:

Open during normal operating hours, 10.00 am to 2.00 pm Monday and Tuesday, and 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm Wednesday to Friday.

Vaccination certification is not required to:

• Pay rates and other council services such as pet registrations.
• Access appointments for agency services.

Proof of vaccination on entry is required to:

• Access library services and programs and meeting rooms.

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Omeo Service Centre:

Open during normal operating hours, 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.

Vaccination certification is not required to:

• Pay rates and other council services such as pet registrations.
• Access appointments for agency services.

Proof of vaccination on entry is required to:

• Access library services and programs and meeting rooms.

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‍Orbost Service Centre:

Open during normal operating hours, 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.

Vaccination certification is not required to:

• Pay rates and other council services such as pet registrations.
• Access appointments for agency services.

Proof of vaccination on entry is required to:

• Access library services and programs and meeting rooms.

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Paynesville Service Centre:

Open during normal operating hours, 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday.

Vaccination certification is not required to:

• Pay rates and other council services such as pet registrations.

Proof of vaccination on entry is required to:

• Access library services and programs and meeting rooms.

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‍You can also to do business with us via telephone, email or postal mail. Payments can be made over the phone or online.

Appointments are required for agency services provided at Omeo, Orbost and Mallacoota for all customers.

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Library services at service centres: If you are not vaccinated, you can continue to use our click and collect service from all libraries in the shire. Please contact the library to advise what you would like put aside for collection and to arrange a day and time for collection. Staff will inform you of the contactless process for collection.

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‍East Gippsland Livestock Exchange

Open.

We ask the community to minimise attendance where possible.

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Forge Theatre and Arts Hub

Attendance at the Forge Theatre and Arts Hub for any event requires proof of vaccination. Contact the Forge Theatre box office for more information regarding the rescheduling of shows and upcoming shows. Please call 03 5153 9641.

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Libraries

Bairnsdale Library is open for normal advertised opening hours.

Reading circles will continue at Bairnsdale Library and Libraries After Dark programming continue as scheduled.

Storytime, Rhyme time, movies and other programming have resumed.

If you are not vaccinated, you can continue to do business with us via our click and collect service from all libraries in the shire. Please contact the library to advise what you would like put aside for collection and to arrange a day and time for collection. Staff will inform you of the contactless process for collection.

Vaccination certification is not required to:

• Access Council immunisation services.

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‍Recreation centres

‍Open for pool, gym and group fitness. Vaccination requirement applies to both participants and spectators over the age of 12 years and 2 months.

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‍Proof of vaccination IS NOT required at:

Airports

Open.

Takeaway tea and coffee facilities are available. Extra cleaning will be scheduled when required.

‍Boat ramps

‍Open.

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Caravan and holiday parks

Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park, Eagle Point Caravan Park and Swifts Creek Caravan Park are open.

While vaccination is not required to stay at our parks, proof of vaccination is required to enter our park offices.

A contactless check-in will be available for guests who are unable to enter our buildings.

If you have enquiries, please contact:

Mallacoota Foreshore Holiday Park     

Eagle Point Caravan Park                           

Swifts Creek Caravan Park 

‍Marinas

Open.

Planning

The Planning team will remain available by email and telephone only. Application fees can be paid over the telephone by EFTPOS or in person at our customer service centres(proof of vaccination required for the latter). Planning permit applications currently being advertised are available on our website.

Telephone consultations available during business office hours.

‍Playgrounds, parks and gardens

Open.

Public toilets‍

Open.

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‍Raymond Island Ferry

Masks are required to be worn for everyone over the age of 12 years and signing in via QR codes is required.

Additional cleaning will be scheduled when required.

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‍Visitor Information Centres (VICs)

Open.

Phone and online enquiries remain available.

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‍Waste services

Open.

Cashless payments only.

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‍Frequently asked questions

Our COVID-19 frequently asked questions section is temporarily unavailable while being updated. A new FAQ list will be available soon. For further information, please call (03) 5153 9500.

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‍Further information

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the reliable source of up-to-date information on the coronavirus COVID-19.

You can follow them on social media, or regularly check the DHHS website for updates or call 1800675 398 for up-to-date information and further restriction details.

The department will have updates on the number of known cases, their locations and how to limit your risk of exposure. Please get tested if you have symptoms, wear a mask and practice personal hygiene and physical distancing.

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East Gippsland - The way we do business now

East Gippsland Shire residents, businesses, Councillors, staff and the communities in which we live have been hit hard over recent years – by below average rainfall; timber, fishing and farming industry transitions; the 2019-20 summer bushfires and now the COVID-19 pandemic.

We have been there for our community through all these events and now we have a plan for our gradual transition out of the restrictions imposed by the Victorian Government.

Our plan, East Gippsland - The way we do business now is designed to be dynamic and will be reviewed in response to government announcements and other changing circumstances. It will build on what we have learned about delivering our services since the pandemic began and sets out what Council will do to emerge from Stage 3 restrictions in a way that benefits our community, supports our people and continues to safeguard the health and wellbeing of both.

Our decision to close and reopen facilities and services is in line with advice from the Chief Health Officer and the Victorian Government’s easing of restrictions.

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For more about current COVID-19 restrictions, visit the DHHS website.