Council is transforming the way it operates to make sure we are there for our community and we can offer as many services as possible during this time.
We know this is a difficult time for members of our community and our priority is your health and wellbeing while continuing to deliver essential services and building infrastructure like Deerbush Park at the Showground, a new park in Villawood, and the new library in Fairfield. Our leisure centres staff are helping members continue with their health and wellbeing goals while centres are closed, by creating and sharing workout videos online that can be followed from home, and contacting members to check on their wellbeing.
We also have a register of local vulnerable people to help connect them with support services they need, as well as a register of volunteers to help boost the numbers of volunteers in the City.
While our physical libraries are temporarily closed, members get free access to e-books, enewspapers, movie streaming and more to enjoy in the comfort of your home. Our libraries team is also creating videos for online workshops and children’s story time, which will be shared via our social media platforms. Our Workary business hub is supporting local businesses and workers with online webinars, such as the COVID-19 Restaurant/Café Top Tips for Survival series starting next week.
Our Discover Fairfield program is encouraging residents to support local businesses, particularly those food businesses that have been most affected by social distancing rules. We have put together a list for the community of local cafes and restaurants that are still offering takeaway, delivery and pre-packaged meals. We are subsidising child care and looking at ways we can further support families in long day care, pre-school and family day care with more information to be provided to families as it becomes available.
We will continue transforming the way we provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we will announce more changes as they happen. Some of these changes will come at a significant cost to Council’s finances, but we consider this to be necessary for the health and wellbeing of the community.
Please continue to look after each other, practice good hygiene and follow the instructions of health professionals. Together we will get through this