Ararat Rural City Council has announced additional closures to amenities to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
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The changes announced on Monday involve preventing campers from using the Green Hill Lake campground and locking and closing the Alexandra Oval Reserve gates and community centre.
Chief executive Dr Tim Harrison said the new arrangements had been put in place after Premier Daniel Andrews' announcement on Sunday that all non-essential services should cease to operate.
Dr Harrison said campers are currently using the Green Hill Lake campground would be permitted to stay and could leave voluntarily at their discretion, but new campers would not be permitted.
Community Safety Officers will be patrolling the area regularly to enforce this measure.
He said the Alexandra Oval precinct in Ararat would be closed, with the gates locked to prevent traffic entering. Pedestrian access would still be allowed. Alexandra Gardens are not affected.
The full details of all service arrangements can be viewed on Ararat Rural City Council's website - www.ararat.vic.gov.au.
Ararat Rural City Council last week suspended services and closed facilities until further notice to help ensure the health and safety of the community and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Dr Harrison said it was "paramount" for the Council to protect the health and welfare of residents in light of the escalation of risk and the State Government's extra regulations that were announced over the weekend.
"I reassure our residents that Council continues to work closely with State and Federal Government agencies, the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and the East Grampians Health Service to determine our response to the pandemic," he said.
"Council will continue to take the advice of experts and officials and will take the necessary steps to protect our community, our staff members and volunteers.
"The State and Federal Governments have instigated a very well-coordinated public health response to COVID-19.
"I encourage the community to stay calm and keep informed about the virus through official government channels, which are the most accurate source of information."
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Eliza Berlage
Eliza Berlage made the move to Horsham to report for the Wimmera Mail-Times in October 2019. Originally from Sydney, she has a sociology background and spent two years working in the press gallery in Canberra.
Eliza Berlage made the move to Horsham to report for the Wimmera Mail-Times in October 2019. Originally from Sydney, she has a sociology background and spent two years working in the press gallery in Canberra.
