Following the COVID-19 announcement on Wednesday 17 February by the Victorian Premier, the 5-day lockdown will end at 11.59pm Wednesday 17 February and Council facilities will reopen with their normal operating hours from tomorrow (unless stated otherwise below).
Masks are mandatory indoors unless you are in a residential home. Masks are also mandatory outdoors if you are unable to socially distance. If you have a lawful exemption, you do not need to wear a mask.
Airports – open.
Boat ramps – open.
Bushfire Recovery Centre – normal operating hours resume.
Caravan and holiday parks - open to visitors and bookings.
Customer Service Centres – open.
East Gippsland Livestock Exchange – operating as normal.
Forge Theatre and Arts Hub – open.
Libraries – normal operating hours resume. Library programs and events cancelled during lockdown including Storytime, Rhymetime and Blind date with a Book have resumed.
Marinas – open.
Playgrounds, parks and gardens – open.
Public toilets – open.
Rates - rate payments were due on Monday 15 February ,For anyone who was going to pay their rates in person and were not able to attend one of our service centres due to lockdown, we can advise:
Raymond Island Ferry – normal operating hours have resumed.
Recreation centres and outdoor pools – normal operating hours and services have resumed including gym, group fitness, learn to swim, aquatics, stadium and children’s service.
School Crossing Supervisors – with schools returning to normal, school crossing supervisors will be operating usual hours.
Visitor Information Centres – remain closed on Thursday 18 February before normal operating hours resume on Friday 19 February. Calls and emails continue to be responded to.
Waste - normal operating hours resume.
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.
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.
For more about current COVID-19 restrictions, visit the DHHS website.
It is spread through close contact with an infected person. Close contact means greater than 15 minutes face-to-face or the sharing of a closed space for more than two hours with a confirmed case.
A close contact could include any person meeting any of the following criteria:
Many people who contract COVID–19 will suffer only mild symptoms. However early indications are that the elderly and people with pre-existing medical conditions are more at risk of experiencing severe symptoms.
The most common coronavirus symptoms reported include:
You need to call ahead before visiting your doctor or emergency department. This allows the medical centre to put infection control measures in place.
DHHS also has a self-assessment chart to help you decide if you should be tested.
To find out more about COVID-19, including how to self-isolate and latest media releases on the issue, visit the DHHS website.
Business Victoria COVID-19 hotline
To help businesses with COVID-19 questions, call 13 22 15.
The Bushfire Recovery Centre in Service Street, Bairnsdale, is open. We encourage you to use phone or email and only where these options are not possible an in-person appointment at the recovery centre can be made. Contact 5153 9500 and press ‘1’.
All economic development, tourism, event and drought assistance services will continue to be delivered, but remotely. The Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance Visitor Information Centre (VIC) is open 9.00 am to 5.00 pm daily.
All caravan parks we operate are open.
For more information please see our Caravan Park information.
Our customer service centres are now open.
We are also still able to service the public through online services, telephone and email. Transactions can be taken over the phone and through our website, and this is encouraged.
Our call centre is open from 8.30 am to 5.00 pm Mondays to Fridays.
VicRoads agencies – appointments only available at Omeo, Orbost and Mallacoota.
Bendigo Bank, Centrelink agency – available, no appointment required at Omeo.
Where inspections are to occur on private property, we will discuss requirements with individual property owners. This may include the rescheduling of non-urgent or non-essential inspections.
Face masks are available for vulnerable people (an initiative of DHHS) by phoning us 5153 9500. Face masks will be posted on request.
The Forge Theatre will reopen in Feburary 2021.
All our libraries reopened Wednesday 21 October with normal opening hours, however we ask that you please follow the restrictions in place. There will be a limit on the number of customers at each library.
Libraries will also continue to offer a click and collect online service. For the Bairnsdale Library, book an appointment by phoning 5152 4225 or email
Our planning team will continue to be available by telephone, email and video-conferencing appointments during business hours. Planning permit applications, certification applications, requests for plans and requests for information are to continue to be made via email and electronic lodgement. Pre-application meetings are encouraged. Payment of fees will continue be via telephone.
All playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gym equipment are open. Please remember to carry your face mask and keep 1.5m apart.
The ferry is closed to pedestrians during cleaning times. The pedestrian area will be cleaned twice daily.
Pedestrian access is not available between:
EFTPOS only transactions. Masks are mandatory while using this service.
We are excited to let you know that with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions our Recreation Centres are open with some density limits.
The pools and Health Clubs of both the BARC and Aquadome will be open during the below times.
Opening hours
6am – 8pm weekdays
9am – 5pm weekends and Public Holidays
Bookings are essential for our Free Swim Friday sessions to ensure we meet our density limits.
Please visit the website to book.
Outdoor Pools are now open, operating times are weather dependant.
After School Care – will recommence from Wednesday 4 November.
Creche – will remain closed for now. We will seek expressions of interest before reopening is considered.
Please contact us at the BARC on 5152 5710 or the Lakes Aquadome on 5155 3333
Schools remain open to children of essential workers. We will continue to provide supervision on school crossings following social distancing protocols.
Some crossings at individual schools may be closed. This decision will be made in conjunction with individual schools and will be communicated to parents and caregivers.
All waste services continue. Payment is by EFTPOS only.
Tip shops at all of Council's waste facilities, including transfer stations, are open.