Mayor Kris Bolam’s statement: Lockdown extension and new rules

Published on 18 August 2021

The announcement by the State Government that the lockdown will be extended and tougher rules introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic comes as an enormous challenge to all in Frankston City.

The Government has announced that the lockdown of metropolitan Melbourne will be extended by another two weeks, until Thursday, 2 September, 11.59pm with the imposition of restrictions including the closure of playgrounds, including skate parks, basketball courts and gym equipment, and a night curfew from 9pm to 5am.

Further new restrictions include the requirement for essential workers to obtain permits for authorised work and staffing reductions at large scale construction sites.

Under the new restrictions:

Exercise must be done alone or with one other person or dependent children – within 5 km of home.
No removal of masks to drink alcohol outside at public venues.
Playgrounds, basketball courts and skate parks will be closed.
Permits for authorised work reintroduced, as well as those for permitted students – required from Wednesday.
Single person bubbles and intimate partner visits permitted.
The 5km radius remains.

There are only five reasons to leave home:

Food and essential supplies.
Authorised work.
Care and caregiving.
Exercise for up to two hours and with one other person.
To get vaccinated or get tested for COVID-19.

The situation is rapidly evolving with exposure sites constantly being updated and added. Residents can familiarise themselves with the sites here: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites

As previously noted, some Council services have been altered and others have paused. For example, physical library branches are closed, however they continue with only a click and collect service. For a full list of impacted facilities, please visit https://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/Your-Council/Coronavirus-Updates

Our State Government leaders and senior public health officials have made clear their frustration that not everyone has been doing the right thing and following the rules. There’s also a growing sense of lockdown fatigue among the community.

It’s only by doing the right thing, sticking together, putting public health first and abiding by the rules that we’ll come out of this. Frankston City has a vibrant and strong community spirit and we’ll come out of this stronger than before.

In the meantime, I encourage all those eligible to get vaccinated. This is ultimately the only way out of this situation that we all face. I recently had my vaccination jab at the Frankston Community Vaccination Hub at the Bayside Shopping Centre. I was incredibly impressed with how well the service is run and the clear and concise information provided at every stage. I was also again reminded of the selfless and tireless dedication of our frontline health care workers, who have given so much during this challenging time. Check your eligibility and book online here: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-vaccine-eligibility-checker

Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help – our Relief and Recovery Call Centre is here to assist via live chat online and by phone. Our helpful staff are only a call way and can be contacted on 9768 1387. The centre is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm and for more information, please visit https://www.frankston.vic.gov.au/Our-Community/Community-Development/Community-Recovery-Call-Centre

Council is monitoring the situation closely and providing information frequently across our social media platforms, including Facebook. In the meantime, I urge all residents to follow the rules, stay safe and look out for each other. For more information, please visit www.frankston.vic.gov.au