For information on COVID restrictions, Council's Community Support Packages and where to get tested, see the link below and stay safe.
Coronavirus community information
In This Section
Following state government directives (17 February 2021 from 11.59pm), we have returned to COVIDSafe Summer restrictions. This means face masks are now mandatory indoors and are required in Council buildings and facilities, including Hobsons Bay Libraries, Customer Service, Maternal and Child Health centres, community centres, the Williamstown Town Hall and sport and recreation buildings.
You must always carry a face mask with you when you leave home unless an exemption applies. For more information, please visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/face-masks
To find a testing site visit: www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/getting-tested. For exposure site updates, please visit: www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/case-locations-and-outbreaks-covid-19
In line with state government advice, restrictions remain on some services to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of the Hobsons Bay community and Council staff. Please read the information below.
Council’s Customer Service front counter will reopen on Thursday 18 February 2021. Staff will be available face to face during business hours Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5pm at the Civic Centre, however, the community can continue to contact customer service by phone on 1300 179 944 or by emailing customerservice@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au. A live chat function is also available through Council’s website. There will be a limit of six customers in the customer service area, masks must be worn indoors unless an exemption applies, physical distance maintained and details lodged for contact tracing purposes. Temperature checks will also be required upon entry.
All five Hobsons Bay Libraries branches are now open from 1pm to 6pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 1pm on Saturday. Library chutes remain open. Masks are now mandatory indoors unless an exemption applies. Check-in is required via a QR code and Services Victoria app, or the concierge can assist with a manual check in, so a record of visitors can be kept. Please maintain a 1.5m distance from others and use the sanitiser and wipes available. Members are asked to stay at home if they do not feel well and temperatures will be checked prior to entry.
Council is also proud to continue to offer story time and library events online, as well as the popular Book a Book service for contactless delivery to members’ homes.
For more information, please call 1300 462 542, email library@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au or visit https://libraries.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/
Newport Community Hub, Laverton Community Hub and Seabrook Community Centres have reopened to the public for pre booked activities and room bookings.
The format of programmed classes may vary, with some still being delivered online and others delivered face to face. A range of programs and activities continue to be available from home virtually, including free Zumba, Pilates, Yoga, line dancing and craft classes.
For enquiries, phone:
Newport Community Hub: 9932 1234
Laverton Community Hub: 9932 3011
Seabrook Community Centre: 9932 3010
Translated videos in 28 languages
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/translated-resources-coronavirus-disease-covid-19
English version: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/english
Translated coronavirus information from the Victorian Government is available online in the following languages:
Acholi
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/acholi
Albanian
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/albanian
Amharic
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/amharic
Arabic
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/arabic
Assyrian
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/assyrian
Bengali
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/bengali
Bosnian
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/bosnian
Burmese
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/burmese
Chaldean
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/chaldean
Chin
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/chin
Chinese Simplified
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/simplifiedchinese
Chinese Traditional
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/traditionalchinese
Cook Islands Maori (Rarotongan)
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/cookislandsmaori
Croatian
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/croatian
Dari
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/dari
Dinka
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/dinka
Fijian
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/fijian
Filipino (Tagalog)
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/tagalog
French
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/french
Greek
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/greek
Gujarati
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/gujarati
Hakka
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/hakka
Hazaragi
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/hazaragi
Hindi
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/hindi
Indonesian
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/indonesian
Italian
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/italian
Japanese
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/japanese
Karen
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/karen
Khmer
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/khmer
Korean
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/korean
Macedonian
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/macedonian
Malay
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/malay
Malayalam
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/malayalam
Maltese
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/maltese
Nepali
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/nepali
Niuean - Vagahau Nieu
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/niuean
Nuer
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/nuer
Oromo
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/oromo
Pashto
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/pashto
Persian (Farsi)
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/farsi
Polish
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/polish
Portuguese
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/portuguese
Punjabi
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/punjabi
Rohingya
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/rohingya
Russian
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/russian
Samoan
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/samoan
Serbian
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/serbian
Sinhalese
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/sinhalese
Somali
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/somali
Spanish
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/spanish
Swahili
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/swahili
Tamil
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/tamil
Thai
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/thai
Tigrinya
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/tigrinya
Tongan
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/tongan
Turkish
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/turkish
Urdu
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/urdu
Vietnamese
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vietnamese
Zomi
www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/zomi
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/getting-tested
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/who-does-it-affect/multicultural-people/translated-mental-health-resources
What to do if you have tested positive for coronavirus:
001_What-to-do-if-you-have-tested-positive-for-coronavirus_Arabic.wav
How to isolate or quarantine in your home:
002_How-to-isolate-or-quarantine-in-your-home_Arabic.wav
What to do if you are a close contact:
003_What-to-do-if-you-are-a-close-contact_Arabic.wav
What to do if symptoms get worse:
004_What-to-do-if-symptoms-get-worse_Arabic.wav
How to care for someone during a period of isolation or quarantine:
005_How-to-care-for-someone-during-a-period-of-isolation-or-quarantine_Arabic.wav
Police checks:
006_Police-checks_Arabic.wav
Pandemic leave disaster payment:
007_1500-Pandemic-Leave-Disaster-Payment_Arabic.wav
Test isolation payment:
008_450-Test-Isolation-Payment_Arabic.wav
Arabic Audio Script Close Contact(DOCX, 41KB)
Arabic Audio Script Worker Support Payment(DOCX, 29KB)
Lebanese Arabic: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/arabic (noting there may be differences in Lebanese Arabic compared to other Arabic forms)
Maltese: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/maltese
Italian: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/italian
Greek: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/greek
Bengali: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/bengali
Hindi: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/hindi
Tamil: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/tamil
Punjabi: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/punjabi
Urdu: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/urdu
Nepali: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/nepali
Vietnamese: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/vietnamese
Traditional Chinese: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/traditional-chinese
Simplified Chinese: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/simplified-chinese
Chin: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/hakha-chin
Hakka: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/hakka (audio only)
Portuguese: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/portuguese
Spanish: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/spanish
French: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/french
Croatian: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/croatian
Polish: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/polish
Russian: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/russian
Serbian: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus/serbian
Easy English guide - Coronavirus Support for social connections(PDF, 3MB)
Information about coronavirus for traders in Hobsons Bay is available here: www.hobsonsbaybusiness.com.au/Do-Business/COVID-19-information.
If your business is offering additional services during COVID-19 or remains open and you want the community to know, click here to submit your details for inclusion in our Amended Services Directory. For further information please email business@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au.
Restaurants, cafes, pubs, bars and nightclubs can open for outdoor and indoor service of food or drink. Limits apply to the number of customers based on the size of the venue. This limit on customers for service is in place to ensure everyone can keep 1.5 metres distance.
A venue that serves food and drink can host up to 25 patrons before density limits apply.
Hairdressers and barbers can reopen as of Wednesday 11:59pm 17 February 2021. Beauty and personal care services can open where the client can wear a face covering for the duration of the service.
Retail is open.
For up to date business and professional services details, visit www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
Trade Waste fee waiver for food businesses
City West Water will waive the fixed trade waste agreement fee for the June-September billing quarter for food businesses that have ceased trading due to COVID-19.
To apply for the waiver, eligible customers can email smallbusiness@citywestwater.com.au with their business name and City West Water account number. If customers have already paid their bill but are eligible for the fee waiver, they can email City West Water and they will credit the fixed trade waste agreement fee on their next bill.
All construction operations can continue both residential and non-residential, and regardless of the number of tenancies.
All sites must continue to have a COVID safe plan and should enable physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres between workers and occupants. Quotations are also permitted.
For more information, visit https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-sector-guidance-construction
Hobsons Bay is committed to supporting the construction industry during the COVID-19 crisis. For details read our FAQ: https://hobsonsbay.knack.com/loop#public-faqs-covid19/public-faq-details/5f3a1a1bc42d2b0019c6de34/
All Council-delivered face to face events or consultations will be postponed or delivered online until further notice. The community can still provide feedback on any current projects currently out for public consultation by visiting Participate Hobsons Bay at
The Williamstown Town Hall has reopened for bookings and is still in use for essential services (immunisations).
The Woods Street Arts Space Laverton has reopened.
Council will continue to run the Community Connector program to link people who are isolated or need additional support with local networks and agencies that can help with practical needs and social activities. If you or someone you know needs assistance, please email communityconnector@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au
Immunisations will continue to be provided through two sessions per week at Williamstown Town Hall and the Laverton Community Hub until March 2021. Bookings must be made online at www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Immunisation
Delivered meals will continue to be delivered via a contactless method. Volunteer drivers aged under 70 will begin to return to work this month, which will increase the number of deliveries to clients each week. Home maintenance services for urgent jobs will gradually increase.
Maternal and Child Health services will resume face to face appointments as of Thursday 18 February 2021, and new parent groups will resume face to face format as of Monday 22 February 2021.
Immunisation services will continue as normal and Supported Playgroups, Occasional Care and Pre-School Field Officer program all recommence as of Thursday 18 February 2021.
Hobsons Bay UP will continue to offer youth services online, with our face to face offering coming back on Monday 22 February. Hobsons Bay UP youth engagement, leadership programs and activities will resume from Thursday 18 February 2021.
Delivered Meals are continuing as normal and Planned Activity Groups (PAG) is resuming normally on Monday 22 February. Intake and assessment services for older residents will continue via telephone/internet until further notice.
Indoor sport and aquatic facilities will re-open, however are subject to density requirements. Outdoor sport and recreation activities are permitted with densities and limits on patrons attending.
The Altona Sports Centre will reopen on Thursday 18 February 2021 subject to density requirements.
Bayfit Leisure Centre and Laverton Swim and Fitness Centre will reopen on Thursday 18 February 2021. Both centres will run with COVID Safe Plans and will be subject to attendance restrictions. Details are being confirmed, visit www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/coronavirus for updates.
Local boat ramps and jetties are open. Beaches are open.
Playgrounds, skateparks and outdoor exercise equipment are open.
Public barbecues have now been switched back on and will be cleaned daily. Drinking fountains have also been reactivated.
You can train in a group of up to 50 people indoors and up to 100 people outdoors, as long as the size of the space allows.
To continue to support the community through this unprecedented time, Council has included a $3 million Community Support Package in the Annual Budget 2020-21. The package includes $943,000 for community recovery and almost $2 million for business and economic recovery. Visit www.hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au/Council/Publications/Budget/Budget-2020-21 for more information.
For details on how to reduce your risk, what to do if you are experiencing symptoms, testing locations and the latest information and advice, visit the relevant Victorian Government website at www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus. For testing locations in or near Hobsons Bay visit our testing locations FAQ.
State government’s current restrictions for a COVIDSafe Summer, which detail a complete list of the restrictions as of 11:59pm 17 February 2021:
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covidsafe-summer