Coronavirus community information
In the best interest of the safety, health and wellbeing of the Hobsons Bay community and Council staff in the midst of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Council has made the difficult decision to close all Hobsons Bay Library branches for 30 days (until 16 April) and cancel all Council delivered public events and community consultations for the next 60 days (until 16 May) or until further notice.
Council’s Customer Service function at the Altona Civic Centre is closed until further notice. Please call 03 9932 1000 for customer enquiries.
Altona and Williamstown Beaches, including Altona Pier, are also closed until further notice. Essential city services will continue to operate.
Shut down of non-essential services
The National Cabinet has implemented Stage 2 of a shutdown of non-essential activity across the country. This includes closures of venues including pubs, gyms, sporting venues, places of worship, entertainment venues, personal beauty services, markets (with the exception of major food markets), amusement parks and arcades, indoor and outdoor play centres, galleries, museums, libraries, swimming pools. Restaurants will only be allowed to provide home delivery or take away.
Announcement from Premier Daniel Andrews on 27 March
Announcement from Premier Daniel Andrews on 25 March
Announcement from Premier Daniel Andrews on 24 March
Hobsons Bay Libraries
All branches of Hobsons Bay Libraries are closed to the public from 17 March, for 30 days until 16 April or until further notice. In line with these closures, all programs and events that are delivered at Hobsons Bay Libraries will also be cancelled until further notice.
Community events and community consultations
All Council delivered public events and community consultation sessions that were scheduled to take place over the next 60 days, until 16 May, are cancelled until further notice.
Community event bookings and permits
Council will not be accepting bookings for events taking place on Council land or at Council facilities within the next 60 days or until further notice. However, we will accept bookings for events held on Council land or at Council facilities taking place after 16 May 2020, 60 days from now, but acknowledging that these bookings may be subject to cancellation.
If any events that were previously approved by Council are cancelled, there will be no financial penalties in doing so and we will waive any previously paid permit fees related to these events.
Leisure Centres
Bayfit Leisure Centre and Laverton Swim and Fitness Centre are closed until further notice.
Community Centres
All community centres are closed except for essential services such as immunisations. Please see the relevant FAQ for full details.
Community Services
A range of our services will continue as normal and some with various changes.
Immunisations will continue to be delivered with online bookings, as will Community Delivered Meals.
Maternal and Child Health (MCH) services will be delivered via phone and/or online platform. Minimal face to face appointments (15 minutes only) for young babies up to 8 weeks of age may be arranged with an MCH Nurse.
Hobsons Bay UP (Youth Services) youth counselling will be delivered via phone, Skype and video.
Planned Activity Group (PAG), Community Transport and Overnight Respite for older residents will all be suspended until further notice, however Council is closely monitoring and supporting clients with regular phone contact.
Early years playgroups, Preschool Officers and Occasional Care provision is being suspended until the start of Term 2, which falls on 14 April, or until further notice.
The closure of facilities and cancellation of events has been guided by advice given by the federal and state governments, which includes the advice that there are to be no gatherings of 100 people or more.
Council is also looking at ways to minimise risk to community and staff across the existing services that are operating.
For information on how to reduce your risk, what to do if you are experiencing symptoms, and the latest information and advice, visit the relevant Victorian Government website at https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorian-public-coronavirus-disease-covid-19
COVID-19 Community Information for Parents from DHHS(PDF, 1MB)