Changes to Council services due to COVID-19

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  

See what you can and can't access in all our parks, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Emerald Lake Park is again open to visitors (from Wednesday 13 May), but with some changes due to COVID-19:  

• The Emerald Lake Park cafe has reopened with revised hours: 
  • Monday to Friday: 9.30am to 1.30pm 
  • Saturday and Sunday: 11am to 4pm
  • School holidays: 9.30am to 3.30pm 
• The paddleboats are currently closed. For regular updates visit Lakeside Paddleboats
• The Model Railway is currently closed due to interruptions caused by the construction of Puffing Billy Railway's new Discovery Centre. 

Mt Cannibal is closed until further notice to support the state government’s COVID-19 physical distancing requirements and to protect public safety. 
 

Nobelius Heritage Park remains open, but Emerald Museum is closed until further notice.
 
Deep Creek Reserve - The golf course and water play area are closed until further notice. The playground has reopened. The cafe is open for take away only. 

• Outdoor playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gym equipment are again available for use (as of 26 May). This is in line with Victorian Government recommendations
• BBQs are not allowed to be used, but you can use picnic tables and seating.  
• At all outdoor locations, Victorian Government regulations regarding recreation activities must be followed - gatherings of no more than 20 people are allowed, and physical distancing must be maintained. 
• Casual bookings for weddings, funerals and gatherings in our outdoor spaces and recreation reserves can now be made, as long as they meet the Victorian Government guidelines.

The following libraries will reopen in a limited capacity and with revised opening hours from Monday 22 June:

• Cranbourne
• Doveton
• Emerald
• Endeavour Hills
• Hampton Park
• Pakenham
• Mobile library (not operating on Saturdays). 

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm; Saturdays 10am-1pm.

Bunjil Place Library will remain closed. 

• There is a limit of 20 people in each space (not including staff) at any one time.
• You must provide your contact details to library staff before entering the library.
• You don’t need to book to visit the libraries.
• Please keep your visit short (less than 2 hours). 
• Return chutes are now open again. 
• Public PC’s are spaced out to allow for social distancing.
• Online June events and winter school holiday programs are operating.
• A home delivery service is being offered.

More info: Casey Cardinia Libraries

• Our MCH centres are starting to gradually reopen. Appointments in centres are being prioritised for families with the youngest babies.
• Our booked, over-the-phone consultation service is continuing. 
• For all bookings call 5943 4250

Important info: Changes to Maternal and Child Health services 

• Funded 4-year-old kindergarten across Cardinia Shire will be free for Term 2 (from Tuesday 14 April), however timetables may have changed slightly. You should have received information about this from your kindergarten provider - if not, please get in touch with your kindergarten provider directly
• Our kindergarten providers continue to offer 3-year-old kindergarten. The following providers are offering it at no cost to families during Term 2: bestchance services, Beaconsfield kindergartens, Gembrook Preschool and Cockatoo Kindergarten. Programs may be delivered a little bit differently than usual, so please get in contact with your kindergarten provider directly for more information.
• If you would like to register your child for kindergarten for 2020, please go to the Register for kindergarten web page and use the online registration portal. 

• Young people can still get support from our Youth Services team over the phone. Contact the team during business hours (8.30am to 5pm) on 1800 496 884 or myplace@cardinia.vic.gov.au
• My Place youth centre is reopening in a reduced capacity from Monday 1 June, 2020. This is in line with Victorian government COVID-19 restrictions.
  • The centre’s new opening hours will be Monday to Friday, 2.30 pm to 5.15pm.
  • No more than 15 people can attend the youth centre at a time.
  • Physical distancing still applies – at least 1.5 metres between people at all times. Other safe operating practices have been introduced in line with COVIID-19 guidelines.

  • Services that usually operate at My Place may be operating at a reduced capacity, or providing services online. For more information contact My Place on 1800 496 884 or view the Youth Services Directory

• The Teenage School Holiday Program has been suspended until further notice. 
• Most youth programs and groups are still running online. 
• Our new COVID-19 Youth Services Directory has information about services available to young people in Cardinia Shire during COVID-19, as well as links to useful information.
• We are also producing a new e-zine for young people, available on the Youth Services Facebook page

More info: Youth Services

Cardinia Life Leisure Centre, Pakenham 

• All sessions and classes at Cardinia Life must be booked. 
• The pools reopened in a limited capacity from Monday 1 June, for lap swimming and water-based rehabilitation – 60-minute sessions are available for online booking. There is capacity for 20 swimmers per session and 3 swimmers per lane only - you cannot attend the pools without a booking. 
• The gym reopens with a limited service on Monday 22 June.
• Group fitness and aqua classes are also resuming from Monday 22 June.
• The gym is limited to 20 people per session; group fitness and aqua classes are limited to 10 people per session.
• Toilets are still available for use but the change rooms are closed. 

More info and to book: Cardinia Leisure website

Stadiums at Cardinia Life and Officer Community Hub

• The stadiums are reopening in a limited capacity from Monday 22 June.
• 60-minute pre-booked court sessions are available for casual shooting and training only.
• Limit of 20 people per session.
• Competitions are scheduled to start again in July.

More info and to book: Cardinia Leisure website

• Pakenham Regional Tennis Centre is open for casual bookings.  
• Outdoor pools – The outdoor pools at Pakenham, Garfield, Koo Wee Rup and Emerald Lake Park are already closed for the season.

• The centre is closed until further notice and all performances and events are cancelled.
• As of 1 June, the Vista Cafe has reopened, from Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 8pm for no more than 20 customers at a time. It is now also offering a limited takeaway menu. 
• The cafe is also running an evening home delivery service from Tuesday to Sunday, 5pm to 8pm to Pakenham, Officer and Beaconsfield. 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

• 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

• The recovery centre at Tonimbuk Hall reopened on Monday 1 June. It will be open Mondays and Fridays, 10am to 3pm. 
• Lunches and community dinners are still on hold. 
• For information on COVID-19 safety measures in place at the centre, visit the Bushfire recovery web page. 

More info: Bushfire recovery

Facility closures or service changes to community halls, centres and neighbourhood houses

We are accepting animal registration renewal payments up until 30 June 2020 without penalty. (Extended from 10 April). 

More info: Pet registrations

• Town Planning Committee meetings are being integrated with General Council meetings. 
• The public cannot attend these meetings in person. You can watch the meetings live-to-air via webcast

View the new meeting schedule

Playgroup and supported playgroup sessions have been cancelled until further notice. 

The community bus will not be available for bookings until further notice.

Cafe sessions have been suspended until further notice. 

Sessions are postponed until further notice.