While the community has been spending time at home, Cardinia Shire Council has continued to deliver essential services across the shire as well as pandemic support and relief initiatives.
Parks, reserves and roads
Council’s parks crews have been working hard to maintain roadsides and townships, as well as bushlands, reserves and parks. Recently crews have been working on:
· Widening tracks at Emerald Lake Park by pruning back encroaching vegetation. These works will benefit the community by allowing free access along the walking tracks when the park reopens.
· Preparing for the 2020 tree planting season. Each year Council plants approximately 1,000 street trees throughout the shire’s urban areas.
· Weed control works in Manoora Reserve, Maryknoll. This reserve is just one of more than 70 bush reserves managed as part of our bushland maintenance program, which works to reduce weed cover and protect and increase biodiversity.
· Street hot washing and cleansing to provide a cleaner and more hygienic area for the public.
Team members are being careful to work at a distance.
Council’s roads team is also hard at work with maintenance and improvement works still being carried out on the shire’s extensive road network. With 862 kilometres of unsealed roads and 670 kilometres of sealed roads across the shire, Council’s crews continue to carry out roadworks with some changes to the way they operate to ensure social distancing and increased hygiene measures.
Support for young people and families
Young people across the shire can still reach out to Council’s dedicated Youth Services team while My Place youth centre is temporarily closed. Young people can seek support, information and guidance by phone, text, email or video call. The Youth Services team is available on business days from 9am to 5pm by phoning 1800 496 884 (free call) or emailing myplace@cardinia.vic.gov.au
In addition, young people can access information about services and links to useful resources via Council’s online Youth Services Directory. It has information on a range of topics including food, financial or housing support, employment, mental health support, general health, family violence and sexual health support, and education. Visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/youthservices
Families across the shire also continue to be supported, with Council’s Maternal and Child Health (MCH) team providing an over-the-phone consultation service. Phone consultations are available for the key ages and stages of a child’s development, and home visits are available for newborns and two-week-old babies to provide information and support including weighing and physically checking the baby.
Support for business
Many local businesses have had to adapt and change the way they do things due to the impact of Coronavirus. To help support local businesses, the Casey Cardinia Region is offering tailored services and information sessions, including:
· Fortnightly Essential Webinars
· Free mentoring sessions (via phone)
· Monthly Industry Innovation Masterclass Webinars
· An #ImStillOpen social campaign.
Find out more at www.caseycardinia.com.au
If you are, or know of, a local business owner that is need of assistance and support, visit Council’s Coronavirus Online Help Hub at www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/onlinehelphub for information and advice on Council and government assistance packages.
Local business that have been impacted are also invited to participate in the South East Melbourne Regional Business Survey. The survey will help inform local recovery and support programs that best respond to businesses’ needs and assist Council in advocating to State and Federal Government. This survey closes at 5pm on 16 May. To participate and for more information visit https://creating.cardinia.vic.gov.au/regional-business-survey
Council’s Economic Development team offers a central contact point to help businesses get the information they need and navigate information, permit and registration processes. Call the team on 1300 787 624.
Community support
Council’s dedicated Emergency Support Team has provided assistance and support to more than 200 community members across the shire. This has included weekly calls to vulnerable residents, responding to residents’ phone enquiries or online requests for a call back, and ensuring the most up-to-date information is included on Council’s Coronavirus Online Help Hub.
For more information or assistance, including support in accessing emergency relief, phone 1300 787 624 or visit www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/onlinehelphub
