Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery has highlighted the city's rate relief policy for struggling residents and businesses, as the council steps up its response to COVID-19.
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"I'd like to remind people that council does have a Debt Recovery and Rates Hardship Policy that can be considered at this time,'' he said.
"We have staff available who can talk through the options, and provide advice should that be something our residents or businesses need.''
The council said it was "applying a community-oriented, risk-based approach to the delivery of our services".
It has suspended many programs and events, but many public facilities - including pools, libraries and Wollongong gallery - remain open.
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"We are continuing to review and respond to updated advice from the Australian Government and NSW Health, and have flexible plans in place which can be scaled to meet community needs and expectations in this rapidly changing space," the council said.
As of Thursday, the city has cancelled all council-run events and gatherings with more than 100 people.
Addiitonally, the following programs will be placed on hold until further notice:
- Wollongong Art Gallery programs, events and workshops. The Gallery will remain open.
- Council's Aged Day Care programs, except for the Friday Men's Shed group.
- Wollongong Youth Services Youth Centre's drop-in sessions. Small group programs and information referral will continue.
- All Wollongong City Libraries programs
- Wollongong Botanic Garden's programs, including the Greenplan Plant Sales, School Holidays activities, and all tours
- All Wollongong City Council Reference Groups
- Beaton Park and Lakeside Leisure Centre programs and gym - excluding the privately-run programs
- All our Community Engagement programs are postponed while alternative arrangements are explored. Council's online engagement opportunities, via Council's website, remain open.
- Council-run conferences including the Reconciliation Conference scheduled for May
- All Council-run school holidays programs
The following facilities are open:
- All pools
- Beaches
- All Libraries
- Wollongong Art Gallery
- Wollongong Botanic Garden
- All Council-run youth centres
- Beaton Park and Lakeside Leisure Centres
- Russell Vale Golf Course
- Wollongong Memorial Gardens and Cemeteries
- Wollongong Tourist Parks
- All Community Facility buildings
- Wollongong Council's Friday Men's Shed
- Volunteering Illawarra
Essential services, such as trips to attend medical appointments or shopping for necessities such as food will continue to be provided by Council's Community Transport service.
Respite services for Carers will also continue. Advice will be provided directly to our customers and volunteers, but customers can also contact our Community Transport and Social Support teams to confirm service arrangements.
Cr Bradbery said Wollongong residents were clearly unsettled and emotional, as "can be seen through people's response in supermarkets".
"I would like to assure our community that council has plans in place and we are following advice from the appropriate authorities when it comes to the delivery of our services and programs," he said.
"There is also not a one-size fits all solution for council because of the diversity of what we do and how we do it.
"What we've detailed today are some changes to the way we are doing some things so that we can have steps in place to help protect our vulnerable community members.
This is a considered and measured approach. These are the right steps, and appropriate steps at this time for our city.
"We will continue to review our services and what we do for our community and how we do it. And, I would like to assure everyone that we have the plans in place to move beyond these measures, if it's appropriate."
He said service delivery changes may be made "daily" as the coronavirus crisis worsens.
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Kate McIlwain
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
For more than a decade, I've helped the Illawarra Mercury set the news agenda across the region. Currently I'm the paper's health reporter - covering the stories of Illawarra workers and residents in the wake of a global pandemic and at a time where our health systems are stretched to the limit.
