Outdoor dining just got easier for businesses

Aimed at encouraging increased outdoor dining, outdoor dining fees and charges are being waived or adjusted for a period of up to six months.

We hope to increase the dining capacity of local restaurants and cafes and also reinvigorate local centres in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions.

Tina Angelidis of recently opened chocolate shop and café Adora in Oatley, said that having the outdoor dining fees waived for six months during this period is crucial.

“Starting a new business in the area, we wanted to create a community feel

and life on the streets with our outdoor seating.

This gesture demonstrates that council understands our struggle, and makes us feel that we are part of a supporting community that wants our business to succeed,” said Tina.

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“I would highly encourage for other business to take up this opportunity. It will also test whether this concept will suit their business moving forward. It’s a great opportunity,”

she added.

Licence fees will be waived from 1 March, 2020 until 31 December, 2020 for all existing outdoor dining licence holders, and there is a six month rentfree period for all new applications received for the remainder of 2020.

Any new application for outdoor dining received from 1 January 2021 and for the 2021/2022 financial year, will receive a four-month rent free period.

For more information go to the Business section of council’s website and click on ‘Apply – Business use of Footpath’.

Council sets new climate pledges

Georges River Council is the first council in New South Wales to set five new sustainable goals after meeting all of its initial commitments in the Cities Power Partnership, Australia’s largest network of cities and towns taking action on climate change.

The new pledges will support the community to reduce their carbon footprint by fast-tracking the uptake of renewables, and continue Council’s ongoing work to drive changes within its operations to achieve its 100% renewable energy target by 2025, and work towards net zero carbon emissions.

Council was one of the first to achieve all pledges out of 128 councils in the Cities Power Partnership. This has seen a number of sustainable changes to Council’s operations across the past year, including increasing our use of solar panels by 100%, which is a saving of around $22,000 in energy bills per year.

We have also promoted the uptake of renewable power options in households, purchased two electric vehicles and certified our summer events as carbon neutral. While these are significant achievements, there is still much work to do as Council works towards a more sustainable future, and by committing to five new climate pledges, we ensure continued progress.

We will now focus on promoting sustainable practices at a community level, as it is only with this collective support that we will truly be able to realise our goals for a sustainable future that is more resilient to climate and economic shocks.

Loren Squadrito at Kingsgrove Community Centre

Healthcare worker in Kingsgrove happy to help

Healthcare worker Loren Squadrito has been on the frontline testing Georges River residents at the Kingsgrove COVID-19 drive-through testing clinic. We spoke to Loren about her experience and how she has adapted her skills to help out other healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have had a very positive experience while working at the drive-through testing clinic, people are friendly and many people come from both within and outside the local area for testing,” said Loren.

“I usually work as a Pathology Collector, and working at the drive-through testing facility has definitely been different and challenging from what I am used to, but in saying so I’m happy as I get to help the community as well as assist other health care workers.

“The Georges River area was selected for a pop-up testing site because of its relatively low rates of testing, as well as its high population, and we need as many people to keep getting tested for COVID-19 so that we can continue to manage the pandemic in Australia.

____ “If you have symptoms including fever, cough, sore or scratchy throat, shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell, you should seek medical advice from your

doctor, and get tested,” added Loren.

If you need to get tested for COVID-19, visit one of the following local testing clinics:

The Kingsgrove drive-through testing clinic is now re-located to Riverwood

Riverwood drive-through testing clinic

Riverwood Park, 79 Coleridge Street, Riverwood.

Those wishing to attend the Medlab Pathology drivethrough clinic in Riverwood require a doctor’s referral before attendance. This can be obtained by phoning your GP and requesting that a referral be emailed or faxed to Medlab Pathology at nurses@medlab.com.au or 8745 6567. For further information, call Medlab Pathology on 8745 6500.

Hurstville Community Health Centre (no referral required)

34 Woniora Rd, Hurstville 9.00am - 4.00pm Monday - Friday 9.00am - 2.00pm Weekends (closed on public holidays) Phone: 9113 2150

St George Hospital

Clinical Services Building (access via Gate 3), Kensington Street, Kogarah 8.00am - 6.00pm daily. Phone: 9113 1766