How we're responding to COVID-19

Please see the drop-down menus below for Council updates to facilities, programs, and services.

The City of Canada Bay has been planning for and continues to work toward, action to combat the threats posed by COVID-19 to our community and essential services.

Our Continuity Management Team has been meeting regularly to develop actions that will aim to slow the spread of COVID-19 within our workforce and within our community.

We are also committed to supporting our community and local business owners throughout this difficult time. This includes the launch of Canada Bay Connects, an online portal offering programs, services, and support to our community through COVID-19.

Health updates

Call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080 for general advice or healthdirect on 1800 022 222 if you have symptoms. If you require translating or interpreting services, call 131 450. Visit NSW Health for the latest advice.

Click here for information and referrals for people with disabilities and their supporters about COVID-19.

$1.68 million assistance package for residents and local business

On Thursday, 29 April 2020, 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 2020 with the possibility of extension should dining restrictions be extended beyond July 2020
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.

Canada Bay Connects Community Space

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.

Canada Bay Connects Business Hub

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. Click here to v isit the page.

Phone support service

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.

Customer Service

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).

Libraries

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 9–9:30am.

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
Visitors are required to check in and out via a QR code upon entry and exit. Staff can also check visitors in and out manually if you do not have a smartphone
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.

Waste and recycling

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

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.

Venues for hire

The City of Canada Bay is accepting bookings at our community venues as of 1 December 2020. Hirers will have the relevant COVID Safety plan in place and will adhere to government guidelines.

For more information click here to visit our venues for hire page.

Sports and recreation

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 2020, 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:

The current Public Health Order, Level B
Level B of the AIS Framework
Sports specific requirements mandated by your peak body
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

Five Dock Leisure Centre’s Health Club, crèche, and gymnastics program are open. Patron numbers inside the centre have been limited and all visitors will be required to sign in and out via a QR code or at the Customer Service desk.

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

Health Club

Group fitness classes are limited to one person per four square metres and a maximum of 30 people plus instructor
Online bookings for group fitness classes are essential
Improved ventilation and natural airflow to exercise areas
Increased cleaning by our contractors and staff
Some equipment has been rearranged or is unavailable to ensure social distancing can be maintained
Cleaning and sanitising products are 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 is available for filing bottles only, no direct drinking from the bubbler is permitted.

Gymnastics

Five Dock Leisure Centre has recommencing a recreational program as well as a modified MAG and WAG competitive program.

Classes are limited to one person per two 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
Additional storage for bags, bottles, shoes, etc. has been introduced
Drop off and entry points have been modified
The viewing area is open with a max capacity of 20 seated and checked-in patrons
The water bubbler is available for filing bottles only, no direct drinking from the bubbler is permitted

Stadium

Five Dock Leisure Centre sports courts are open. Sports courts users must:

Prepare or dress for sport at home
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 has increased the cleaning of equipment in the stadium area and is following strict hygiene protocols outlined in its COVID Safe Plan. The viewing area is now open and has capacity for 20 seated checked in patrons.

Change room facilities are open, however, the lockers remain closed and patrons are only able to access the toilets, showers and hand basins. Patrons are encouraged to shower and change at home.

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

Parks and waterways

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 30 people outdoors
Social distance at least 1.5metres between yourself and others at all times.

Playgrounds, skateparks and outdoor fitness stations are open for public use.

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.

Seniors

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

Council meetings

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.

Council elections

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 resources

Mental health

eSafety