How we're responding to COVID-19

On Thursday, 29 April, the City of Canada Bay announced a suite of measures to support local businesses and residents in the City of Canada Bay throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Supporting our community

Council is working to ease the impacts of social distancing and isolation within our community and to ensure everyone has access to important social support services. This includes:

• The launch of the Canada Bay Connects campaign to tackle social isolation
• Purpose-built Canada Bay Connects Community Space within collaborate.canadabay.nsw.gov.au offering online programs, services, and support during the COVID–19 pandemic
• Extended library loan periods and renewals for existing loans
• Direct phone support and regular follow-up on request for our vulnerable residents
• An automatic one-month interest-free extension on residents’ fourth rates instalment amount.

Supporting local business and sporting clubs

Small businesses and sporting clubs are vital to our community, and we are working hard to support our local economy during this time, including:

• Waiving ongoing footpath dining fees until the end of July with the possibility of extension should dining restrictions be extended beyond July
• A rental relief policy for impacted tenancies, detail of which is included in a separate report on this Council meeting agenda
• Waiving fees for health inspections for local business
• Deferring parking permits for businesses and parks for 12 months
• The launch of a Love Local campaign to support the local economy by highlighting and promoting local business efforts to transition through COVID–19
• Purpose built Canada Bay Connects Business Hub within collaborate.canadabay.nsw.gov.au, an online platform including support and training resources for local business owners and a platform for local business to promote current services and offerings to our community
• No ground hire charges for local sporting clubs during the period shutdown and a proactive approach to supporting clubs when competitions are able to begin again
• Working with local golf and tennis clubs to ensure ongoing operations can continue in strict adherence with social distancing guidelines.

City of Canada Bay’s JP Services will be temporarily suspended from Monday September 14 due to COVID-19 restrictions. We apologise for any inconvenience and will endeavour to re-introduce this service for our community once COVID-19 restrictions have been lessened.

For information on how to access local JP Services, click here. 

We've recently launched Canada Bay Connects, an online portal offering programs, services, and support to our community through COVID-19. Visit our Canada Bay Connects Community Space to explore children's activities, access support services from government and community organisations, and share how you're keeping connected with your neighbours and community during this period.

We've recently launched Canada Bay Connects, an online portal offering programs, services, and support to our community through COVID-19. This includes the Canada Bay Connects Business Hub for local business owners. Visit the page to receive access to the hub when it launches late April.

Council has set up a free Phone Support Service for vulnerable people in our community. Vulnerable people may be those who are experiencing social isolation as they live alone or may not have support in place to assist with their care and wellbeing. 

Residents can request calls at their chosen frequency (weekly, fortnightly or monthly) which can be stopped at any time. The purpose of the calls is to assist with social connection, welfare monitoring and linking vulnerable community members with essential support services when required.

Residents can sign up to this service by emailing support@canadabay.nsw.gov.au or calling our customer service centre on 9911 6555.

We have opened our customer service desk at the Drummoyne Civic Centre. As a condition of opening, we will be collecting contact details that may be provided to health authorities for contact tracing if requested.

If you are feeling unwell, please stay home. You can access customer service by email council@canadabay.nsw.gov.au, phone 9911 6555, and website live chat (see the pop up in the website footer).

Please note a one-month interest free extension will automatically apply to residents' fourth rates instalment amount. If you have been impacted by COVID19 and require additional time to pay your rates, please email council@canadabay.nsw.gov.au to discuss options.

The City of Canada Bay has reopened Five Dock Library, Concord Library and The Learning Space at The Connection, Rhodes. 

The facilities will be operating under reduced hours with restricted capacity. Five Dock Library and Concord Library will also have exclusive seniors-only operating hours.

Five Dock Library and Concord Library:
Monday – Friday: 9:30am–5pm
Saturdays: 9:30am–4pm
Sundays: 1–5pm
Seniors only: Thursdays 9:30–10:30am.

The Learning Space
Monday – Sunday: 10am–5pm.

The health and safety of our community remains our top priority. The City of Canada Bay will be strictly following State and Federal health guidelines including contact tracing protocols. We will be continuously reviewing operations and progressively increasing services and opening hours as it is deemed safe to do so.

The following conditions of entry will be enforced at City of Canada Bay Libraries:

• Capacity to Five Dock Library will be restricted to a maximum of 90 people. The Learning Space will be restricted to a maximum of 40 people
• Visitors are not permitted to enter if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms such as a sore throat, runny nose, coughing or fever
• Membership numbers or your name and phone number must be provided to staff on entry for contact tracing purposes
• Visitors must remain 1.5m away from others at all times
• Visitors must practice good hygiene by sanitising their hands upon entering and exiting the library, and before and after handling books or any other library materials.

Our Home Library service continues to operate while adhering to strict social distancing and sanitisation protocols. 

Our eLibrary is accessible anytime and has a wide range of free ebooks, digital magazines, newspapers, audiobooks, and music to keep you entertained. 

Our innovative library teams are investigating options to deliver virtual library services to our community. Sign up to our library enews for updates as we expand our online services.

Enquiries can still be made to our library teams on weekdays between 9am–5pm by calling 9911 6210 (Concord Library), 9911 6310 (Five Dock Library) or emailing library@canadabay.nsw.gov.au.

Our waste and recycling services including kerbside collections, bulk household collections, and the Community Recycling Centre continue to operate as usual.

Call the Waste Hotline on 1300 551 659 (Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm) or download our free 'Recycle Coach' app for kerbside and bulk household collection dates and notifications.

Development Applications can continue to be lodged online via the NSW Planning Portal, provided by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.  

The Duty Planner Service will operate as only a phone-based service until further notice. Book a Duty Planner appointment.

The Heritage Advisory Service will operate as only a phone-based service until further notice. Call Customer Service on 9911 6555 to make an appointment with our Heritage Advisor.

The City of Canada Bay are not accepting casual bookings at this time.

Council will be refunding and cancelling all bookings that are impacted by this closure.

Existing regular hirers will be able to continue suitable activities and must have a COVID Safe Plan in place. The City of Canada Bay will be monitoring compliance of COVID Safe Plans through Council’s COVID–19 Safety Hygiene Marshals.

Massey Park Golf Course and Barnwell Park Golf Course are open with strict social distancing measures in place.

Following the directive of State and Federal authorities, the City of Canada Bay has reopened all playgrounds and outdoor fitness stations from Friday, 15 May 2020. We will be monitoring the situation closely and taking advice from relevant authorities regarding the status of these facilities. 

The City of Canada Bay will resume its Canada Bay Active program on Monday, 18 May, with classes capped at nine participants in line with State and Federal regulations. 

Organised sports training can be resumed in the City of Canada Bay consistent with:

1. The current Public Health Order, Level B
2. Level B of the AIS Framework
3. Sports specific requirements mandated by your peak body
4. Your current licence agreement.

Prior to receiving Council’s authority to use sportsgrounds for organised training, you are required to submit: 

• A completed application
• The protocols you will be implementing to ensure compliance with the above requirements
• Evidence of up to date public liability insurance.

The information received will be processed within five working days and you will receive a booking confirmation authorising use. Please email openspacebookings@canadabay.nsw.gov.au for further enquiries.

Five Dock Leisure Centre’s Health Club, crèche, and some gymnastics classes will be reopening on Saturday, 13 June 2020. Patron numbers inside the centre will be limited in line with the latest Public Health Order and all visitors will be required to sign in and out.

The centre will be maintaining strict hygiene, cleanliness and social distancing standards. This will be achieved through COVID-Safe Plans which have been created in line with Government recommendations. These plans include:

Health Club

• Group fitness classes will be limited to one person per four square metres and a maximum of 20 people plus intructor
• Online bookings for group fitness classes will be essential
• Increased cleaning by our contractors and staff
• Some equipment will be rearranged or unavailable to ensure social distancing can be maintained
• Cleaning and sanitising products will be available next to equipment for members to use
• Members must bring their own mats and boxing gloves to classes (no club gloves or mats will be available)
• All members must bring a towel (no towel, no training)
• The water bubbler will not be available so please make sure to bring your own water.

Gymnastics

Five Dock Leisure Centre will be recommencing a modified MAG and WAG competitive program. A recreational program will commence on 10 July.

• Classes will be limited to one person per four square metres and a maximum of 10 people plus instructor
• Increased cleaning by our contractors and staff
• Modified times and duration of classes
• Modified rotations to abide by social distancing rules
• Unavailability of some equipment
• Due to occupancy restrictions parents and guardians will not be able to stay on site to watch the gymnastics classes
• Drop off and entry points will be modified
• The water bubbler will not be available so please make sure to bring your own water.

Stadium

From Wednesday, 1 July Five Dock Leisure Centre will reopen its sports courts. Sports courts users must:

• Prepare or dress for sport at home
• Shower at home before and after sport 
• Bring their own water bottle and towel
• Avoid unnecessary contact (shaking hands, high fives, etc.) and remain socially distanced during breaks in play
• Check in and out when entering and exiting the centre to assist with contact tracing.

Five Dock Leisure Centre will be increasing the cleaning of equipment in the stadium area and following strict hygiene protocols outlined in its COVID-Safe Plan. 

Patrons are encouraged to shower and change at home. Change room facilities will be kept off-limits and patrons will only be able to access toilets and hand basins.

For further enquires email info@fdlc.com.au or call 9911 6300.

Our parks and waterways are open, however, the correct precautions must be followed. 

We urge users to stay home if they are sick, consistently practice good hygiene, and follow social distancing restrictions:

• Gatherings are limited to a maximum of 10 people outdoors
• Social distance at least 1.5metres between yourself and others at all times.

Playgrounds, skateparks and outdoor fitness stations have been reopened for public use from Friday, 15 May.

If the community does not follow the correct precautions, the City of Canada Bay may be forced to restrict access to these public spaces.

At this time, we suggest that residents avoid crowded areas such as the Bay Run or the Homebush Bay Circuit and find alternative outdoor exercise areas.

Entry into City of Canada Bay community gardens has been restricted to members only.

All Seniors Bus Trips (Bay Connection and Active Adults) are suspended until further notice.

The most recent Public Health Order allows for Councillors and staff to attend Council and Committee meetings in person. The option of participation by audio-visual link remains available to Councillors.

As the total number of people attending Council Meetings cannot exceed 20, members of the public cannot attend at this time. Whilst this means that public forum is currently not occurring in its usual format, members of the community are encouraged to place written submissions to Council Meetings (please see details below).

The public will be able to view a live stream of each meeting in the usual way, via live stream to our Facebook Page at 6pm the evening of the Council meeting.

More information on Council meetings.

The September 2020 local government elections have been postponed by the Minister of Local Government to September 2021.  

Click here for more information from the Office of Local Government website.

COVID-19 Home Isolation ARABIC

COVID-19 Home Isolation ASSYRIAN

COVID-19 Home Isolation BURMESE

COVID-19 Home Isolation CHIN HAKKA

COVID-19 Home Isolation DARI

COVID-19 Home Isolation FARSI

COVID-19 Home Isolation GREEK

COVID-19 Home Isolation HAZARAGI

COVID-19 Home Isolation ITALIAN

COVID-19 Home Isolation KAREN

COVID-19 Home Isolation KOREAN

COVID-19 Home Isolation KURDISH KURMANJI

COVID-19 Home Isolation NEPALESE

COVID-19 Home Isolation SIMPLIFIED CHINESE

COVID-19 Home Isolation SPANISH

COVID-19 Home Isolation SWAHILI

COVID-19 Home Isolation TAGALOG

COVID-19 Home Isolation THAI

COVID-19 Home Isolation TIGRINYA

COVID-19 Home Isolation TRADITIONAL CHINESE

COVID-19 Home Isolation VIETNAMESE

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