Media release

Stage 1 of the NSW Government’s roadmap for easing COVID-19 restrictions will begin tomorrow (Monday 11 October), requiring changes to some Council operations.

Under Stage 1 of the roadmap, which kicks in across the whole of NSW on Monday, all patrons attending some Council facilities, will be required to be fully vaccinated* (or hold medical exemption). This is in keeping with the latest NSW Health public health order, which takes effect on Monday. (For more information, visit the NSW Government website.)

The Public Health Order has impacts for Council operations and business areas, including the imposition of density limits for events and venues, requirements to ensure face masks are worn, taking adequate precautions not to allow unvaccinated adults (more than 16 years of age) onto certain premises, work from home arrangements, and directions for stay-at-home orders if a person becomes infected with COVID-19.

In keeping with these new requirements, Council has developed a comprehensive plan which requires changes at some of Council’s customer-facing facilities from Monday, including:

The requirement to be fully vaccinated to enter the following facilities: 
•    Tweed Regional Aquatic Centres (TRAC) at Murwillumbah, Kingscliff and South Tweed. 
•    Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre
•    Tweed Regional Museum 
•    Indoor venues at Council’s cemeteries 
•    Community centres at Banora Point and Tweed Heads South and Kingscliff Hall
•    Markets that are Council approved on Council land 
•    Visitor Information Centres
•    Village community halls, places and spaces where they are used for certain activities including recreation facilities, weddings and funeral services

Council’s auditoria at Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads hold an additional requirement to ensure a child under the age of 16 attending these facilities must only do so if accompanied by a fully-vaccinated adult household member.

Vaccination status will not be required at Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre (tip) which will continue to operate under COVID-Safe conditions for domestic and commercial operations. Tweed JUNKtion Tip Shop will remain closed.
 
Council meetings will be held in the Harvard Room at Tweed Heads Administration Office. Anyone wishing to attend in person must pre-book their seats due to capacity restrictions. Meetings will also be livestreamed. Details on how to book or join the livestream are available on Council’s website. 

Library branches at Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads and Kingscliff will be restricted to Click and Collect services only. The ‘Click and Collect’ service allows library members to reserve and safely collect library items. The following library services will be not be available: Family History and Research Centre, access to PCs, programs, printing services and physical browsing of the collection.

Essential services including water and kerbside waste collection services continue to operate as normal.

Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry urged the community to work together with Council to ensure the safety of all.

“There’s no doubt the next few weeks and months ahead will be difficult as we all come to terms with these new restrictions,” Cr Cherry said.

“Now is the time we must all stand together, be kind to one another and allow some extra time and consideration for others, particularly our frontline Council staff who are doing their best to serve our residents.

“We are almost at the finish line and have done so well to get this far – together we will get through this difficult period.” 

For any queries, the community is encouraged to call our Contact Centre Team on (02) 6670 2400, chat to us online or email us at tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au. Any issues can be reported online via our Report a Problem webpage or direct message us on Facebook.

Keep up to date with closures and service impacts on Council’s COVID-19 Emergency Dashboard.