Meeting the challenge of COVID-19
Community Care and Recovery Package
The City of Launceston is actively monitoring the outbreak of coronavirus disease, or COVID-19, and is liaising with health authorities on our response.
The health and safety of our community and our employees are our highest priorities. The Council will update this page with important community information or any changes to our services and facilities should they arise.
There is easy to understand and factual information on COVID-19 available at:
What is the City of Launceston doing?
State and Federal health authorities are the lead agencies in developing and implementing Australia's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in line with the Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus.
Following the announcement by the Federal Government of expanded social distancing measures, the City of Launceston has transitioned to internet and telephone-based customer service systems.
To comply with the new measures announced by the Prime Minister, the Council has also announced a number of closures of facilities around the municipality:
- Launceston Leisure and Aquatic Centre
- Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery (both sites)
- Town Hall Customer Service Centre (front desk)
- Visitor Information Centre
- All Council-owned playgrounds and skate parks, including Riverbend Park, the playgrounds at City Park and Cataract Gorge
- All Council-owned community centres and halls
- Albert Hall for functions and conventions
- All Council-owned barbecue facilities, including Punchbowl Reserve, Heritage Forest and Riverbend Park
- Basin Cottage at the Gorge
- Brisbane Court eatery area
- Duck Reach Power Station
- Showers at the First Basin - toilets will remain open
- Lilydale Falls Camp Ground (to campers only)
- Myrtle Park Camp Ground
- St Leonards Picnic Grounds (to campers only)
These closures will remain in place until further notice.' All Council parks will remain open, such as City Park and Royal Park. The health and safety of our community and our employees are our highest priorities. The Council will update this page with important community information or any changes to our services and facilities should they arise.
Customer Service Changes
While we have closed the Customer Service Centre front desk to the public, anyone who requires assistance with any Council services can still call the Customer Service via the below contact details:
Phone: 6323 3000 for all inquiries
Email: contactus@launceston.tas.gov.au
Report an Issue web portal
A large number of our services are also available online.
Community Care and Recovery Package
The City of Launceston has now adopted its Community Care and Recovery Package.
For full details of the package please click this link.
Planning
The Council is currently working with the State Government and other councils to provide as much flexibility as possible to progress planning applications throughout this pandemic.
All Planning applications currently on public exhibition can be viewed online on our eServices page here
All current planning applications are also available for viewing during Council's normal businesses hours by booking an appointment on 6323 3220
Immunisation Clinic
As of Wednesday, April 1, the City of Launceston's free weekly public immunisation clinic will relocate to the Tramsheds Function Centre at Inveresk.
The clinic has been operating out of Town Hall for many years. However, in the interests of public safety and to maintain social distancing provisions, the service will move for the foreseeable future.
The clinic will continue to open at the regular time of 10am every Wednesday and run through until 11am. There is a large car park at Inveresk and it's a quick four minute journey on the Tiger Bus from City Stop D on St John St.
In the interests of everyone's health and safety, we ask that parents and guardians, where possible, only bring the person requiring vaccination. Please do not bring friends or other family members such as grandparents. If you need to bring an interpreter they are welcome to come.
Please be prepared for longer wait times in the event these clinics are busy. And please, if you or the person requiring vaccination is sick, do not come to the clinic until you have fully recovered.
COVID-19 Council Media Releases
This page will be updated with all relevant media releases from the City of Launceston.
COVID-19 Health Information
There is easy to understand and factual information on COVID-19 available through the below resources.
The Tasmanian Government's Department of Health is preparing for further cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania, and healthcare workers are on high alert for potential cases.
If you think you might have COVID-19 because of recent travel or contact with a confirmed case, phone the Tasmanian Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
Additional Resources
The State Government has set up a one-stop-shop for all services, announcements and the latest health information regarding the coronavirus. View more online here www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au
Top tips to stay connected as a community
We're aware Launceston communities may be under stress from recent changes to our daily lives due to COVID-19. Our Community Development Team has put together a list of activities and ways to keep connected to your community called Top Tips To Look After Yourself and Stay Connected.
Download the Top Tips to Look After Yourself A4 resource here(PDF, 2MB)
Waste Transfer Station/Remount Road
The Council has announced that it has closed its waste transfer station at Remount Road for non-essential users to fall in line with the State Government's COVID-19 control measures.
This announcement will not affect regular household rubbish, recycling and FOGO services.
The closure is temporary for a four-week period.
Council Meetings
Due to new COVID-19 control measures announced by the Premier this week, the City of Launceston will shift to the virtual world for all council meetings for the foreseeable future.
All Council meetings will now be held via video conferencing with elected members, with the audio live streamed to the public.
This arrangement will take effect from this Thursday's (April 2) ordinary Council meeting and the Special Council meeting.
If any Launceston ratepayer wants to ask a question during Public Question Time, they can email up to three questions, which will be read out at the meeting, and either answered or taken on notice.
If anyone wants to speak to an item on the agenda, including a development application, they can email a statement of no more than 300 words. Those statements will then be read at the meeting.
Questions or Statements
Questions or statements must be emailed to contactus@launceston.tas.gov.au by 12pm Thursday April 2 and must include your name and a contact telephone number. If you cannot email your questions or statements, please call our Customer Service Centre on 6323 3000 for assistance.
Agendas and Audio