The administration building is open at this time but only one person at a time is being allowed to enter. The community are asked to, wherever possible, communicate with council by phone or email.

Development applications and construction certificate applications can be lodged by email and payment made by credit card over the telephone.

It is intended that there may be some limitations resulting from reduced staff numbers at times but that all functions of council will be undertaken at this time.

Service NSW has advised that testing for drivers' licenses will be suspended at Dungog indefinitely.

The VIC is closed to the public but Wendy Farrow is working three days per week to answer telephone and email inquiries.

The NSW Parliament on Tuesday passed legislation which amended the Local Government Act to allow councils to hold official meetings electronically, rather than physical attending the meeting.

Amendments were also made to the Environmental Planning and Assessment At to ensure that any development that protects the health, welfare and safety of the community during the pandemic can proceed without the normal development approvals.

The council elections due to be held in September have been put off until September 2021, or if necessary, as late as December, 2021. The current councillors will continue to hold office until that time.

The following changes have been made to the use of council facilities:

Clarence Town Community Centre -open for the Clarence Town Community Pre-school only.

Clarence Town Museum - Closed to all users;

Clarence Town School of Arts - Closed to all users;

Clarence Town Senior Citizens Centre - Closed to all users;

Clarence Town Swimming Pool - Closed to all users;

Clarence Town Holiday Park -Closed ;

Dungog Doug Walters Pavilion - Closed to all external users;

Dungog James Theatre - Closed to all users;

Dungog Museum - Closed to all users;

Dungog Swimming Pool - Closed to all users;

Gresford School of Arts Precinct -open for the Gresford Community Pre-school only.

Gresford Returned Serviceman's Hall - Closed to all users;

Martins Creek School of Arts - Closed to all users;

Paterson Museum - Closed to all users;

Paterson School of Arts Hall - Closed to all users;.Vacy School of Arts Hall -open for the Vacy Community Pre-school only.

Council's parks, reserves and other open spaces will generally remain open for passive recreational casual community use. Council implores users to abide by social distancing and number of users at the facilities at any one time. Group gatherings such as weddings, etc are not permitted.

All playgrounds, outdoor exercise equipment and skate parks are closed.

Specific rules apply to the following facilities:-

Clarence Town Tennis Courts - closed

Bennett Park - will remain open for non-structured and casual community use but canteen and change rooms will be closed;

Barnes Oval - is closed to all users (apart from the Education Department)

Dungog Showground - is closed to all organised use

Dungog Tennis Courts - closed

Open space areas will remain open for non-structured and casual community use; Boxing facility will be closed to all users; Council will liaise with the Golf Club lessee for continued use but they will be encouraged to not utilise the Club House Facility; Tennis Courts - closed

The following public amenities / toilet facilities will be closed.:-

Clarence Town - Wharf Reserve; Clarence Town - Lions Park (Bridge Reserve); Dungog - Bruyn Park (adjacent to the library); Dungog - Frank Robinson Park; Dungog - Showground; Gresford - School of Arts; Paterson - Kings Wharf Reserve;

All public electric barbecues will be turned off. These include barbecues located at:- Clarence Town - Lions Park (Bridge Reserve); Dungog - Coronation Park; Dungog - Frank Robinson Park; Dungog - Jubilee Park; Gresford - Orana Park; Paterson - Kings Wharf Park; Paterson - John Tucker Park; Vacy Park;

The tip shop is closed. All payments by eftpos only.

The two public swimming pools in the shire are closed as is the Dungog Library.