COVID-19 PANDEMIC
IMPACT ON COUNCIL OPERATIONS Hard on the heels of the summer bushfire crisis, the first COVID-19 case was detected in Australia in January 2020, with border controls and travel restrictions initially announced by the Federal Government in late February. The national response to the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the City of Ryde and Council operations. The northern part of the City of Ryde was one of the hotspots during the early phases of the outbreak in Australia with Epping Boys High School closed, multiple cases among staff at Ryde Hospital and Macquarie University, and a growing outbreak at aged care facility Dorothy Henderson Lodge in Macquarie Park, on the university campus’ north-west perimeter. During February, businesses in the usually bustling Eastwood town centre experienced a downturn of up to 70 percent following the virus’ arrival in Australia as people began to avoid the suburb and Lunar New Year events were cancelled. In response, Council established a $500,000 Small Business Hardship Fund to help support small businesses in Eastwood town centre cope with reduced customer traffic. On 6 March 2020, Council invoked its Business Continuity Plan and accompanying Pandemic Plan in light of the rapidly evolving situation. The major focus of this plan was to ensure that Council can maintain a safe work environment for all our staff to minimise risk to both themselves and customers, and find alternate means to safely provide the services required by the community with minimal disruption. We set up a Crisis Management Team (CMT) and CMT subcommittee that meets regularly to manage Council’s response to the pandemic and to monitor changing State and Federal Government requirements. When the World Health Organization recognised the spread of COVID-19 as a pandemic on 11 March, the Federal Government closed international borders to non-citizens and non-residents. The State Government enacted Public Health Orders that directed employers to allow employees to work from home where possible, restrict gatherings at home and outdoors; allow businesses to run, with restrictions, require people diagnosed with COVID-19 to self-isolate; and restrict access to residential aged care facilities. Lockdown of essential services was introduced to curb infection rates and social distancing measures introduced. By 30 March, all Council sporting facilities, playgrounds, libraries and community facilities were closed and most Council events cancelled or postponed to comply with social distancing guidelines and restrictions on public gatherings. Some other Council services, like the Health and Building Inspection Program, were significantly disrupted as a result of the closure of many of the premises that were scheduled for inspection. Adjustments were made for staff working from remote locations part-time or with modified arrangements for operational and frontline staff to ensure separation and physical distancing. Planned investment and associated work in information technology infrastructure was brought forward to cater for staff work from home requirements resulting from COVID-19 restrictions and modified work practices.
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