Coronavirus (COVID-19)
As the global situation with the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop daily, the Barunga West Council is taking all necessary precautions to keep the community and our staff safe.
We are closely following all advice provided by Federal and State health authorities and we will continue to update our responses and proactive actions to ensure we meet our duty of care obligations.
Council will be posting updates regularly about the measures it has put in place, via its website and Facebook page.
Remember, the best defence against most viruses, including Coronavirus, is practicing good hygiene:
- Wash your hands frequently with soap and water
- Cover your cough/sneeze and dispose of tissues
- Avoid contact with others if you are unwell
- Practice social distancing, don’t greet each other by shaking hands, and maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres between people whenever possible.
- Stay at home if you are feeling unwell
Keep safe, remain calm, stay informed and continue to support each other in this time of change and uncertainty, and we will get through this as a community, and come through it stronger than ever.
Maree Wauchope
CEO, Barunga West Council
30 December 2021
Update to Bute and Port Broughton Office procedures. The doors will remain open to the public at this time. All customers must wear a mask unless they obtain a medical exemption. Signing in via QR Code or writing is required. Those not double vaccinated are advised to ring the office Bute 88 26 2011 or Port Broughton 8635 2107 and not attend the offices in person.
30 December 2021
Bute Caravan Park closed until further notice 13 December 2021
8 December 2021
In line with government directions and guidelines, and having regard for your health and safety and that of our employees and guests, we request for your cooperation in taking precautionary measures to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19.
The following COVID-19 Declaration must be completed (per person) for all visitors, contractors and their workers prior to attending a meeting.
A ‘visitor’ is a person attending a Barunga West Council workplace who is not a Barunga West Council ‘worker’. At the offices, a visitor is any non-worker who enters beyond locked doors. (not the foyer)
WHS CONTRACTOR/VISITOR COVID-19 DECLARATION
www.skytrust.co/app/Inductions/Guest/IndexQR.asp?UID=8D1E98E95CD4461988BAB8C4F4F6A1CF
20 July 2021
BARUNGA WEST COUNCIL’S LOCKDOWN RESPONSE
Due to South Australia’s Level 5 stay at home restrictions Council will only be continuing ‘essential services’ over the 7-day lockdown period.
Council offices will be closed to the public. Australia Post services will continue to be provided from the Rural Transaction Centre at Bute but customers are encouraged not to attend the centre unless absolutely necessary. If you attend the Centre you will be required to wear a mask.
If you have a question for Council you can call 8635 2107 and leave a message or email barunga@barungawest.sa.gov.au. Only urgent issues will be attended to. All other issues and enquiries will be answered after Level 5 restrictions are lifted.
Planning and building applications will continue to be assessed and approved during the 7-day lock down period. Essential services such as kerbside waste management and cleaning of public toilets used by other essential workers will also continue.
The following services will cease during the 7-day lockdown period:
- Libraries
- Visitor Information Centre
- Roadworks, parks and gardens and general maintenance unless there is a matter that poses safety issues
The restrictions require you to stay at home and only leave for the following 5 essential reasons:
- Undertake essential work
- Shop for essential goods and services including takeaway
- Medical reasons including COVID-19 vaccination and testing
- Exercise with people in same household and within a 2.5 km radius of your home
You shouldn’t be recreationally fishing from our jetties, beaches or launching boats from our boat ramps during the 7-day lockdown period.
If you have any questions related to COVID-19 or restrictions contact:
The information line on 1800 253 787
Or go to www.sahealth.sa.gov.au or www.sa.gov.au/covid-19
Please abide by the directions and stay safe!
06 August 2020
All Public Health Alerts are available on the SA Health website alternatively you can access the latest information at State Government webpage
Please check Council's Facebook page for ongoing changes to restrictions and up to date road maps.
Please keep Triple Zero (000) for emergencies only.
02 June 2020
SA COVID 19 Training launched today to assist the tourism and hospitality sector prepare for the sector’s recovery post COVID.
This 30-minute online training module is for tourism workers in all settings.It covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19.
https://www.clickontraining.com.au/
April 30 2020
Pt Broughton Office re-opening as of Monday May 4th 2020.
The office will once again be open to the public after a period of operating with "doors closed" for the past month due to the risk of Covid-19.
-MEDIA RELEASE- 03 April 2020 : COVID-19
The Barunga West Council met last night to discuss further precautions regarding COVID-19, and a ban on all non-essential travel to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Barunga West has been identified as a vulnerable town, because of the ageing population. Just over nine percent of its residents are aged 80 and over, with over 37 percent of people aged over 60.
“We love people visiting our Council area and you will be welcome once it is all over, but for now I’m asking all visitors to please stay home,” Mayor Kerley said.
“In recent days locals have contacted Elected Members concerned that people are not listening and tourists are still planning to come to our community with their boats in tow over the holidays.”
“We have also seen groups of 3 and more on small fishing boats, ignoring advice around social distancing.”
The Queensland Government has advised people cannot participate in recreational activities like they normally would such as fishing or boating, unless they live locally and need to fish for food or travel locally. Queenslanders have also been asked to adhere to the two-person rule for public and social distancing principles, and advised they should not leave their home unless it’s necessary.
Barunga West Council wants its recreational fishing community to be sensible about fishing during the COVID-19 epidemic and follow Queensland’s lead.
Mayor Kerley also said if tourists are still planning to visit our towns to fish over the holidays, Council will have no choice but to consider measures that can be put in place to restrict recreational access to council’s boat ramps at Port Broughton, Fisherman Bay and Tickera.
Earlier this week Mayor Kerley wrote an open letter to the Advertiser asking South Australians to refrain from visiting Barunga West’s tourist towns this School Holidays and Easter in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.
At the time of this release, the Barunga West Council area was one of the few Council areas in South Australia with no confirmed COVID-19 cases.
31 March 12:30PM
Council precautions and proactive measures
Council has implemented the following precautions and proactive measures in response to the COVID-19 epidemic:
- Temporary facility closures. All playgrounds, skate parks and BBQs in the Barunga West area were closed from Monday 30 March in line with Federal Government restrictions. Signs will be placed at these sites in coming days. All Library services and Community halls were closed from March 26 until further notice. Council will not be accepting any bookings for our halls at this time, and any bookings already in place have been cancelled and the deposits refunded.
- Extra cleaning and hygiene measures. All Council facilities are undergoing more regular, thorough cleaning. Cleaning of all Council public toilets has been increased as of 31 March.
- Looking after our staff and elected members. As of Friday March 27 we will be restricting our customer service to telephone, email and website or by pre-arranged appointment only where deemed necessary. Please phone the office to discuss an appointment if you require one, we do not anticipate delays. If you have documents or a package for Council, please phone and we will arrange access. Most staff will be in the office at this time, you can contact Council by phone on 08 8635 2107, by email barunga@barungawest.sa.gov.au or via our Facebook page. Please note that the Bute Council office will be operating as normal at this time due to our Australia Post commitments. Customers must adhere to social distancing protocols and only enter the office if necessary, one customer at a time. We have pre-empted a change in Legislation that will allow Council meetings to be held using Zoom technology, and we are moving towards technology that will enable our meetings to be live-streamed and recorded. All non-essential meetings for Elected Members have been cancelled to minimise any risk to them through unnecessary travel and contact with other groups.
- Cancelling and postponing events. To minimise the spread of the virus we are encouraging all non-essential community events to be cancelled or postponed if not already. Anzac day commemorations in all towns have been cancelled. Council encourages you to continue to mark Anzac Day by watching a televised national service from the Australian War Memorial.
Council services
We have made some changes to the way we operate to ensure the health and wellbeing of our staff. Although we have closed offices, we are still continuing Council operations and are here for our community, and you can access council services via the following:
- Call us on 08 8635 2107
- Email us on barunga@barungawest.sa.gov.au
- Contact us via our Facebook page
Our Waste Disposal Sites at Port Broughton (Dale Road, Port Broughton) and Bute (Barunga Gap Road, Bute) remain open at the normal hours.
For information on how to pay rates or other Council bills during this time please call the office.
YP Community Transport
YP Community Transport remain open and provide essential services for the attendance of medical appointments, necessary food shopping, or collecting medication. To find out more about YP Community Transport please contact them on (08) 8853 3700 or visit their website https://www.ypcommunitytransport.org.au/
Travel and tourism
The Port Broughton Tourist Park, Broughton Bayside Caravan Park, and Bute Caravan Park remain open for essential travel and permanent residents only. Park management will contact anyone with upcoming bookings to discuss, any anyone wishing to make a booking will be assessed regarding their need to travel.
Council are encouraging people to call off all non-essential travel to our area. This follows the advice of the Prime Minister that you people should only undertake essential travel, which is described as follows:
- Necessary activities for work purposes
- Essential accommodation while stopping at one location during a current road trip
- Travel on compassionate grounds
- Travel required to return to your place of residence
Economic uncertainty
Council understands there is anxiety about financial impacts given the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
For information about how the Australian Government Economic Response to the Coronavirus and the support available to you please visit www.treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/businesses
Mental health support
If you feel your mental wellbeing is being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic the following support services are available:
Lifeline – call on 13 11 14 or go visit at www.lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue – call on 1300 224 636 or visit at www.beyondblue.org.au
Regional Access Program – call on 1300 032 186 or visit https://saregionalaccess.org.au
Lived Experience Telephone Support Services – call on 1800 013 755 or visit www.letss.org.au
Reliable Coronavirus information
Council encourages you to follow both State and Federal government websites for reliable information regarding Coronavirus:
- SA Health: www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVID2019
- Australian Government Department of Health: www.health.gov.au
- World Health Organisation: www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Or call the Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080.
Port Broughton Medical Practice
Location: 22 Bay Street via the Ambulance Bay
Opening Times: 8:30am – 5:00pm
Public Instructions: Please phone the Medical Practice on 8635 2282 prior to presenting at the practice. Phone consults are being offered to reduce virus spread. A phone assessment will be conducted for suspected COVID-19 cases and drive through respiratory swab testing if you meet the criteria. You’ll be asked to return home and self-isolate until the practice contact you. If you are experiencing shortness of breath and severe coughing, SA Health ask that you present to the Port Broughton Hospital by car or ambulance. Please phone the hospital prior to presentation on 8635 2200.Testing is available to people with risk as per SA Health guidelines.
Please be advised that Coronavirus testing clinics are designed specifically for people who have symptoms (especially fever or cough) AND have recently returned from overseas OR have had contact with a known Coronavirus case.
Coronavirus symptoms include fever, coughing, sore through, fatigue and shortness of breath. If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call 000 for urgent medical help.
If you develop symptoms within 14 days of last contact with a confirmed Coronavirus case or of returning to Australia, you should seek medical attention. If you want to talk to someone about your symptoms first, call the Coronavirus Health Information Line (1800 020 080) for advice.