Council’s timeline to ease restrictions on services, facilities

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The City of Launceston will lift restrictions across a number of services from next week, in line with the State Government’s Road to Recovery plan.

Mayor Albert van Zetten said the Council has been working through the government’s three-stage recovery plan to understand how the timelines will impact its facilities from a social, financial and workplace health and safety perspective.

“We know the Launceston community is eager to get back into their regular routines and start enjoying a little bit more freedom as these restrictions are gradually eased, and that may well include visiting some of our more popular facilities,” Mayor van Zetten said.

“However, as has been the case throughout this pandemic, the health and well-being of our staff and the public is paramount – and will continue to be as we move ahead over the coming weeks and months.”

Mayor van Zetten said due to public gathering limitations of just 10 people during stage one of the plan, the Council is not in a position to reopen the following:

  • Launceston Leisure and Aquatic Centre
  • Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery
  • Riverbend Park
  • Playgrounds at Punchbowl, Heritage Forest, First Basin and City Park, and
  • Council-owned community barbecue facilities

“There’s no practical way we can open our aquatic centre, for example, for just 10 people – or Riverbend Park for that matter,” Mayor van Zetten said. “Once those gathering limits are increased across stage 2 and 3 of the plan in June and July, then it may be possible for the majority of those facilities to start to reopen to the public.”

Mayor van Zetten said the lifting of restrictions in stage one from Monday, May 18 will allow some services to resume, albeit in a limited capacity. They include:

  • Town Hall Customer Service Centre will reopen to the public with social distancing provisions in place. Anyone who wishes to discuss a development or building application with a council officer will still need to make an appointment beforehand.
  • Local community playgrounds (not listed above). As play equipment cannot be cleaned multiple times throughout any given day, the Council encourages the public to maintain strict hygiene practices and social distancing. If this directive is not adhered to, the Council may be forced to re-close those playgrounds.
  • In line with restaurants and cafes reopening, on-street dining can recommence.

Mayor van Zetten said the Council was planning to reopen the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, the Visitor Information Centre and Launceston Leisure and Aquatic Centre to limited numbers from June 15.

“In the case of Riverbend Park, we expect to reopen the playground to the public on July 13 as part of Stage 3 of the Recovery Roadmap,” Mayor van Zetten said.

From May 25, the Council will reopen bookings for regular users of our sport and community centres to comply with the easing of restrictions of those facilities from June 15.

Mayor van Zetten said that with further lockdown measures due to be lifted in coming months, the Council will make further announcements in due course.

/Public Release. View in full here.