Coronavirus: Blacktown Council closes pools, gyms, restricts library patrons
Blacktown Council is responding to the coronavirus pandemic by closing or scaling back operations at public facilities across the region.
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Blacktown Council will close its recreational swimming pools and gyms and scale back operations at libraries in response to the global coronavirus outbreak.
Recreational swimming pools and gyms at the council’s five leisure and swimming centres will close on Saturday in an effort to combat the virus, Blacktown Mayor Tony Bleasdale announced today.
Lap pools will stay open for squad and individual training, however, learn-to-swim classes and the council’s Acceler8 programs have been cancelled.
The centres affected by the measures include: Blacktown Aquatic Centre, Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope, Mt Druitt Swimming Centre, Riverstone Swimming Centre and Charlie Lowles Leisure Centre Emerton.
The council’s tennis courts and indoor sporting courts will remain open, but team games are not permitted.
Libraries, community centres and senior citizens centres will remain open with the 100-people rule and will undergo daily hospital-grade cleaning.
The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre will be closed to the public but will remain open to artists.
Council-operated child care centres will remain open in line with state government policy.
Parks and reserves will remain open but will operate under the ‘social distancing’
Guidelines.
Sporting fixtures concerning football, AFL, cricket, softball and baseball have been suspended at Blacktown International Sports Park.
The new measures come into effect just days after the council announced it would cancel or postpone some of its biggest annual events, including the Blacktown City Festival.
Mayor Bleasdale said the measures were necessary to help combat the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have a duty of care to protect the health and wellbeing of residents and our staff by taking all necessary actions to slow the spread of the virus,” he said.
“Evidence is clear, the most effective way to slow the infection rate is by ‘social distancing’
including avoiding crowds, meetings and gatherings, staying at home if you have cold or flu
symptoms, working from home, and putting one-to-two metres ‘space’ between people where possible.”
Council’s core services including its garbage collection, as well as operations at the Animal Holding Facility, will continue.
Council events cancelled or postponed:
Citizenship ceremonies at Bowman Hall
Marsden Park Community Forum, March 21
Blacktown Night Markets, March 27
Seven Hills Festival, March 28
Anzac Day commemorations, April 25
International Day of Mourning, April 28
Riverstone Festival, May 16
Blacktown Festival (including Medieval Fayre) May 23-30
NAB RunWest, March 29
Council community programs cancelled:
Adopt-a-Park volunteer program
Bushcare volunteer program
Nursery volunteers
Nursery open days
Council services to continue:
Garbage collection – services and schedules
Recycling – services and schedules
Clean up – booking times may have to be extended
Maintaining parks and reserves
Council call centre – 9839 6000
Blacktown City libraries
Community and senior citizens centres
Animal Holding Facility
All parks and reserves