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.

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

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. More information on the Conditions of Entry is available here.

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

Bidjiwong Community Nursery is open by appointment only. For enquiries, please call 9843 0555. Volunteering activities have resumed at the nursery - more information here.

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.

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.

Community Help

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

For details on the changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, including information about extended operating hours for businesses and construction sites, click here.