COVID-19: How Council is responding to the Coronavirus

Council’s Customer Service Counter is open from 9:00am – 4:00pm Monday to Friday.

A maximum of 20 people are allowed within the Customer Service Centre at any one time. Please observe social distancing by remaining 1.5 metres from others.

Council meetings reopen to the public

Members of the public are now permitted to attend Council Meetings in person.

Council is mindful of the safety and welfare of Councillors, staff and the public meaning extra precautions and management of the meeting and chamber is required. Social distancing requirements means a maximum of 24 public attendees will be allowed to be in the Council Chamber at one time.

For more information regarding changes to conduct and operation of The Hills Shire Council Ordinary Meetings due to COVID-19, click here.

The Hills Shire Library Service

All our libraries are open for borrowing and have been registered as COVID Safe.

For more information about the operation of Hills Shire Libraries and for frequently asked questions, click here.

Hills Voices in the Time of COVID-19 

The Hills Shire Library is documenting the experiences of life in the Hills Shire during the COVID-19 pandemic so that we have a record for researchers and future generations. We will also be posting selected submissions on our website and social media, and may make them available in the future. To submit your experience or for more information, click here.

All bushcare and nursery volunteering in The Hills is postponed until further notice. Advice about the resumption of regular Bushcare and Community Nursery activities will be updated as the situation changes.

Bidjiwong Community Nursery is currently closed until further notice.

Council is currently not accepting applications for work experience opportunities. Advice about the resumption of work experience opportunities will be updated as the situation changes.

Household bins and clean-up material will now be collected from 5am on local roads and 4am on main roads in order to stagger drivers for social distancing purposes. For more information, read the media release.

The following services, facilities and activities are operating as normal: 

• Meals on Wheels
• Council's affiliated childcare centres
• Council's Contact Centre - call 9843 0555 for assistance with Council services or do business online via Council's website
• Community centres and performance theatres are now open in accordance with the maximum number based on the 4 sq metre rule and requires all occupiers to develop and comply with their COVID-19 Safety Plan.
• Access to parks and reserves - in accordance with State and Federal Government guidelines, if you are visiting public spaces, please do not congregate in these areas and observe a 1.5 metre distance between yourself and others.
• Civil works program and maintenance
• Waste collection and Kerbside Clean-ups

Click here to access information about Local Emergency Relief Assistance Providers for community members in need during the Coronavirus crisis.

Support for small businesses affected by COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Business owners are faced with challenging times. 98% of registered businesses in The Hills are classified as small, employing between 1-19 people. There are a range of stimulus and support available to our small business community. For more information on support for small businesses, click here.

The Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Hon. Rob Stokes has made the following Orders under section 210.17 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Extended Operating Hours for Businesses

Environmental Planning & Assessment (COVID-19 Development – Extended Operation) Order 2020, which allows the following changes:

1. Retail trading premises such as supermarkets, pharmacies and corner stores are allowed to operate 24 hours per day.

2. Waste disposal from retail premises can be done at any time.

3. Retailers that are part of hotels and motels are also allowed to provide food and beverages 24 hours per day.

4. Home Businesses and Home Industries can operate 24 hours per day and to employ more than 2 people other than the permanent residents of the dwelling, but not more than 5 people, providing they can abide by social distancing rules.

Notes on 4:

• Where the business was either Exempt, or
  When prior approval was given as Complying or DA Consented Approval.
• Does not include a new business (unless otherwise Exempt)
• Cannot relocate a business from one premises to another (unless otherwise Exempt)

Environmental Planning and Assessment COVID-19 Development - Extended Operation Order 2020(PDF, 367KB)  

Extended Operating Hours for Construction Sites

Environmental Planning & Assessment (COVID-19 Development – Construction Work Days) Order 2020 allows the following changes:

Extended days for Construction Work – Weekday construction site operating hours to be extended to weekends and public holidays to ensure workers can practice social distancing without a loss of productivity or jobs.

This means that builders and their employees will be able to work on construction sites seven days a week during their approved hours of operation provided they take all feasible and reasonable measures to minimise noise. This works does not include rock breaking, rock hammering sheet piling, pile driving or similar activities

For further information in relation to the Order, read the Environmental Planning & Assessment (COVID-19 Development – Construction Work Days) Order 2020 here.