Published on Thursday, 17 February 2022 at 1:04:33 PM
The Premier and State Government have gone to great lengths over the last two years to:
- ensure community safety and well being; and
- preserve the health system and local economy.
At a Special Council Meeting on 1 February 2022, Council considered the current threat of Omicron as it spreads around the State and how best to protect our community from COVID-19. The other priority for council is protecting staff to ensure a continuity of service delivery for the community.
Service delivery within our Shire includes open and usable facilities like our rec centres, libraries and administration buildings and also continuing vital services for the vulnerable like our Meals on Wheels delivery service and Seniors Staying Connected program.
As such, Council has resolved to mandate vaccination for:
- Elected Members, all Shire staff, volunteers, consultants, and contractors by 21 February 2022; and
- those aged 16 years and over who use or visit Shire services and facilities from 21 February 2022.
This excludes outdoor facilities such as public toilets, parks, swimming pools, playgrounds, skate parks, outdoor basketball courts, sporting grounds, Kambalda Waste Facility and the Coolgardie Waste Facility.
The Shire of Coolgardie recognises that our community is particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and the highly transmissible Omicron variant due to our remote location, our Indigenous and elderly populations, and our inexperience in ‘living with COVID’.
The Shire recognises the importance of putting safeguards in place for our community now as COVID continues to spread around WA, including into regional areas such as the South West and Goldfields.
The Shire also recognises that vaccinations alone are not the answer to fighting the spread of COVID. In addition to mandating vaccination, the Shire will consider implementing complementary protection measures including mask wearing, physical distancing and good hygiene. The CEO will develop a policy for the implementation and use of rapid antigen testing (RATs) for some staff to further reduce the risk of spread of infection and protect the health of the community.
Council’s decision to introduce vaccination mandates has come from information and consultation with:
- other regional, rural and remote Councils;
- Department of Health; and
- Western Australia Local Government Association (WALGA).
The vaccine mandates come into effect on Monday 21 February, enabling community members to get vaccinated with their second/third dose and the Shire to organise its staffing and resources to implement the vaccine mandates.
While users/visitors to Council services and facilities will need to provide proof of vaccination or proof of medical exemption from Monday 21 February, the Shire will work with unvaccinated community members to explore alternative access to services and facilities.
Council has also noted that as of 19 December 2021, the Shire of Coolgardie had not reached the State Government’s preferred threshold of an 80-90% vaccination rate[1]. While we are close to this goal as a community, with 77.6% having received their first dose and 65.9% received their second dose, it is important that the Shire continues to support community members in getting vaccinated where possible, to protect the health and safety of our residents.
Vaccinations are currently available at the Coolgardie Medical Centre and the Kambalda Medical Centre. Community members are strongly encouraged to book an appointment, although some walk-ins are accepted.
The Shire of Coolgardie would like to thank community members who have been practicing COVID safe behaviours such as checking into venues using the Service WA app, sanitising their hands on entry, and practicing social distancing.
For further information regarding the Shire of Coolgardie’s COVID-19 safety policy, visit https://www.coolgardie.wa.gov.au/community/covid-19.aspx or contact the Shire on 9080 2111.
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