Source: Auckland Council
Everyone will need to play their part to keep safe when Auckland Council reopens most of its facilities, including libraries, pools and community centres across the Auckland region from Monday 31 August.
In line with Auckland’s change to Alert Level 2 at 11.59pm on Sunday 30 August, reopened facilities will have procedures in place to ensure the health and safety of customers and staff.
QR codes have been placed in all the council’s public buildings, including libraries, pool and leisure centres and community venues and the council will be encouraging all visitors to check-in using the NZ COVID Tracer app or register their visit manually, as well as observing social distancing and introducing limits on group numbers.
Important role
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says that everyone still has an important role to play when the facilities open on Monday, but to continue to follow Level 3 rules until then.
“I’d like to remind everyone that restrictions will still be in place this weekend and we all need to continue to follow those rules until they change at 11.59pm on Sunday,” he says.
“Health authorities now agree that it is safe to move to Level 2 next week, but we still need to ensure that we follow all of the safeguards necessary to constrain the spread of COVID-19.
“Wear a face covering on public transport, register your AT HOP card, keep track of your location using the NZ COVID Tracer app, and continue with regular handwashing and other good hygiene practices. Following these rules will help ensure we beat COVID-19 again, just as we did last time.”
In addition to community facilities, the council will also be reopening its service centres and customer-facing facilities, but with some changes to process.
Online tools
Auckland Council Acting Chief Executive Patricia Reade says the council will do all it can to get back to business as usual, but there will be more use of the council’s online tools to get things done under Level 2.
“We welcome the move to Alert Level 2 and will do all we can to ensure customers can access the services and support they need,” says Ms Reade.
“Some of our face-to-face services, such as in-person pre-application meetings and drop-in consultations won’t be available under Alert Level 2, and applications for consents or licences are now also online, so it’s important to check the website or call ahead to make sure the service you need is available.
Ms Reade says the council can conduct more of its business online and that customers can rest assured that the delivery of its services won’t be affected.
“For quite some time we have been set up to undertake significant portions of our business in a virtual environment. The circumstances we find ourselves in now means that has become a primary way for us to interact with our customers.
“We will still have a physical presence and our teams that work in the community, like food inspectors, animal management and noise control officers, will still be carrying out their work with appropriate health and safety procedures in place.
“The council will do all it can to ensure a smooth transition to Alert Level 2 and to help Aucklanders go about their daily business. Given the changing conditions, we will continue to monitor the situation and respond in accordance with the government’s direction.”
Further information
For more information and opening hours visit aucklandcouncil.govt.nz, aucklandleisure.co.nz or aucklandlibraries.govt.nz.
