Coronavirus (COVID-19)

About this page

This page has information on the Council services we've had to suspend or change during this time, and Council and community events that have been cancelled or postponed in response to government guidelines and recommendations .
For all other information visit our Coronavirus Online Help Hub.
As directions and recommendations from the Australian and Victorian governments change, we may need to make more changes to the way we're delivering services. Please monitor this page for updates.

Important information

If you suspect you might have Coronavirus, refer to advice on the Department of Health website or call the Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398. Please keep 000 for emergencies only.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website (including the daily update page) and the Department of Health website are the best sources of up-to-date information about Coronavirus (COVID-19). DHHS has translated information if English is not your first language
We're working closely with government agencies and following their direction regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19).
We're committed to delivering as many services to our community as we can, where it's safe and permitted to do so.
We apologise for the inconvenience our service changes will cause, and thank you for your patience as we work to respond quickly to this fast-changing situation.
We've activated plans towards ensuring the health and safety of our community and provision of essential community services. These plans are being continuously reviewed and updated as the COVID-19 situation changes.

Changes to Council services

Service, program or facility	What's changed?
Customer Service	Our customer service centre (at Council's civic centre, 20 Siding Avenue, Officer) is closed until further notice, but you can still contact us online, or by phone, post or email. More info: Changes to customer service
Pet registration	We are accepting animal registration renewal payments up until 30 June 2020 without penalty. (Extended from 10 April). More info: Pet registrations
Bin collection	Bin collection continues as normal, but bins may be collected a little earlier in the day than usual. More info: Earlier bin collection times
Hard and bundled green waste collection	The free hard waste and green waste collections will still be happening during April or May, depending on where you live in the shire. More info: Check your collection week
Green waste drop-off days	The free green waste drop-off days are still happening in April and May, with measures in place to help protect you and staff at the collection facilities. More info: Waste drop-off days
Libraries	All Casey Cardinia Libraries are closed until further notice. This includes the following libraries in Cardinia Shire: Emerald Library Pakenham Library Cardinia mobile libraries More info: Casey Cardinia Libraries
Maternal and Child Health services	Our MCH centres are closed, but we're still doing phone consultations. Important info: Changes to Maternal and Child Health services
Youth Services	My Place youth centre is closed until further notice, but young people can still get support from our Youth Services team over the phone. Our Teenage School Holiday Program has been suspended until further notice. The My Place Good Choice Awards event scheduled for Friday 27 March and the Harry Potter Party scheduled for Friday 3 April have been postponed. Important info: Changes to Youth Services programs
Parks, reserves, sporting grounds and playgrounds	You can still visit most parks and recreation reserves across the shire to use open space areas for exercise and fresh air. However, you are not permitted to use most facilities and equipment in these areas. Emerald Lake Park and Mt Cannibal will be closed to visitors from Friday 3 April. Important info: What you can and can't do in open spaces
Immunisation sessions	Sessions previously scheduled at Pakenham Hall will now be held at Cardinia Cultural Centre. The new Hills Hub in Emerald will now host immunisation sessions from Wednesday 15 April. These sessions replace those previously scheduled at Gembrook Community Centre. Please note the revised immunisation sessions schedule, which includes these changes. Important info: Other changes to immunisations
Bushfire recovery centre	The recovery centre at Tonimbuk Hall is temporarily closed. More info: Bushfire recovery
Community halls, hubs, centres and neighbourhood houses	Most of these facilities are closed until further notice. More info: Facility closures or service changes
Council and Town Planning Committee meetings	Town Planning Committee meetings are being combined with General Council meetings until further notice. View the new meeting schedule
Kindergartens	Kindergartens across Cardinia Shire are independently putting closures in place or staying open until the end of school term. Please get in touch with your kindergarten provider directly for more information.
Cardinia Cultural Centre	The centre is closed until further notice and all performances and events are cancelled. The Vista Cafe is also closed but is running an evening home delivery service from Tuesday to Sunday, 5pm to 8pm. See the Khans Hospitality Services website for details. The centre will still host immunisations and the Red Cross blood donation centre. More info: Cardinia Cultural Centre closure
Playgroups	Playgroup and supported playgroup sessions have been cancelled until further notice.
Leisure facilities and pools	Cardinia Life – the gym, stadium, cafe and pool are closed. Memberships have been placed on hold. Childcare services at the centre are no longer available. Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre – the centre is closed. Officer Community Hub – the stadium and meeting rooms are closed. Outdoor pools – The outdoor pools at Pakenham, Garfield, Koo Wee Rup and Emerald Lake Park are already closed for the season. More info: Cardinia Leisure
Community bus	The community bus will not be available for bookings until further notice.
Forget Me Not dementia cafe at Koo Wee Rup	Cafe sessions have been suspended until further notice.
Community Leadership Program	Sessions are postponed until further notice.

Parks, reserves, sporting grounds and playgrounds

Emerald Lake Park and Mt Cannibal will be closed to visitors from Friday 3 April.
You can still visit most parks and recreation reserves across the shire to use their open space areas for exercise and fresh air. However, you are not permitted to use most facilities and equipment in these areas, in line with government guidelines to reduce Coronavirus (COVID-19) risk.
When you visit open space areas you CANNOT use these until further notice:
- playgrounds
- skate parks
- BBQs
- picnic tables and picnic areas
- outdoor gym equipment.
Do not visit our open spaces if you don’t feel well.
Before, during and after using open spaces please practise social distancing (stay 1.5 metres away from others) and good hygiene.
We are not accepting casual bookings for outdoor spaces and recreation reserves until further notice.

Emerald Lake Park

Emerald Lake Park will close to visitors from Friday 3 April.
Until that time, please note that you cannot use the playground, BBQs, picnic areas/tables or outdoor gym equipment.
Paddle boats and the model railway will not be operating until further notice.
The Emerald Lake Park cafe is closed until further notice.
Casual bookings for outdoor spaces and recreation reserves across the shire are not being accepted until further notice.

Nobelius Heritage Park

Nobelius Heritage Park remains open.
Emerald Museum is closed until further notice.

Mt Cannibal Flora and Fauna Reserve

Mt Cannibal will close to visitors from Friday 3 April.

Deep Creek Reserve

The golf course, water play area and playground at Deep Creek Reserve are closed until further notice.
The cafe is open for take away only.

Community halls, hubs, centres and neighbourhood houses

Community halls

Community halls will be temporarily closed to the public until further notice. Council and hall committees are working with hirers.
No bookings for community halls will be taken at this stage. Halls will be open for immunisation sessions.
The bushfire recovery centre is closed. More info: Bushfire recovery page.

Pakenham Hall

Pakenham Hall is closed and is not currently available for hire. Tentative bookings will be taken for dates from Tuesday 14 April, but this will depend on what restrictions are in place at the time.
Toilets in the hall are closed. Public toilets are available at PB Ronald Reserve.

Neighbourhood houses and community centres

These will remain open but will have changes to their operation and program delivery. To find out more visit each centre's website or contact the centre directly.

Community hubs

The Cockatoo Community Complex and Beaconsfield Community Complex will be temporarily closed to the public until further notice. No bookings are currently being taken at this stage and no activities will operate from these sites.
The Hills Hub in Emerald will no longer open for the first time to the public from 20 April as previously advised. Room hire at this facility will not be available until further notice.

Senior citizens' centres

All centres will be closed until further notice:

Pakenham Seniors Citizens
Cockatoo Senior Citizens
Koo Wee Rup Senior Citizens
Lang Lang Senior Citizens
Gembrook Senior Citizens
Emerald Seniors Citizens

Integrated child and family centres

Service providers located at these centres have closed or are delivering services in alternative ways e.g. by phone. The service providers will keep in touch with their clients and communicate when full service activity resumes from these sites.

Toomah Community Centre

Toomah Community Centre will be temporarily closed to the public until further notice.
Soul Food café at Toomah will also close until further notice.
For all Windermere enquiries please call 1300 946 337.

Events and event cancellations in Cardinia Shire

Due to the Australian Government's limits placed on public gatherings to slow the virus' spread, the following Council or community events have been cancelled or postponed.

Council events

Council will cancel or postpone any Council-hosted events with an estimated attendance of 500 or more people.
We will update this page if we decide to cancel or postpone Council-hosted events with an estimated attendance of under 500 people.

Council events that have been cancelled or postponed

Citizenship ceremony – was to be held on Thursday 19 March.
Walk against racism – was to be held on Thursday 19, Friday 20 and Saturday 21 March.
Weed control workshop – was to be held on Saturday 21 March.
Breakthrough ice education event (Youth Services) – was to be held on Tuesday 24 March.
My Place Good Choice Awards event (Youth Services) – was to be held on Friday 27 March.
Harry Potter Party (Youth Services) – was to be held on Friday 3 April.

Community events in Cardinia Shire

If you are not sure if a community event will go ahead, please monitor event details on the organisation’s website or social media and/or check with the event organiser.

Community events that have been cancelled or postponed

Council is aware that the following community events have been cancelled or postponed:

Pakenham Show – was to be held on Saturday 21 March 2020
Easter in the Park (Cardinia Lakes Residents Group event) – was to be held on Sunday 29 March 2020
Bunyip Show – was to be held on Sunday 22 March 2020
Gembrook Market - was to be held on Sunday 22 March. Suspended until further notice.
Emerald Funfest and PAVE – was to be held on Sunday 29 March 2020
Cockatoo Country Market - was to be held on Saturday 4 April 2020.
Rotary Pakenham Dance - was to be held on Saturday 4 April 2020
A Taste of Gembrook – was to be held on Saturday 18 April 2020
Detox Your Home event – was to be held on Saturday 18 April 2020
DrumMUSTER event – was to be held on Saturday 18 April 2020
Yakkerboo Festival – was to be held on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April 2020
ANZAC Day services – The Australian Government has advised that ANZAC Day services should not go ahead due to the large number of older Australian who attend such events. A national event from the War Memorial in Canberra will be televised. Read transcript from The Australian Government's press conference on 18 March
Puffing Billy Running Festival – was to be held on Sunday 3 May. More info: Media release on cancellation of Puffing Billy Running Festival

Sports events in Cardinia Shire

If you are unsure if a sporting event will be going ahead, please monitor event details on the organisation’s website or social media and/or check with the event organiser.

Sports events that have been cancelled

Council is aware that the following sports events in Cardinia Shire have been cancelled:

Cardinia Life sporting competitions
Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre: The centre has cancelled competition following advice from Tennis Victoria and Tennis Australia. Coaching programs will continue to run as normal.

Coronavirus Online Help Hub

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Our online help hub is your one-stop-shop for finding information on topics including:

directory of local relief service providers
government assistance for individuals, households and businesses
current situation status, case numbers and restrictions
symptoms and how to keep yourself healthy and slow the spread of the virus
what to do if you suspect you have Coronavirus, or are diagnosed with it
family violence support
looking after your mental health.

If you’re having trouble finding or understanding the information in the hub, you can contact us via the hub's online form and a Council officer will be in touch.

Visit the online help hub