Singleton Waste Management Centre Closed, Staff Potentially Exposed to Covid-19 Case

BY ISABEL EVERETT

Singleton Council has closed their waste management facility until further notice, due to a staff member making possible contact with a person with a case of Covid-19.

Waste Management Facility staff have been sent home as a precaution with the facility to be deep cleaned today.

"The staff member became aware of potential exposure this morning and immediately informed Council’s senior staff. The only time the staff member has been at work since the possible contact was briefly this morning," Singleton Council said in a statement. 

"It is Council’s intention to return to normal operations at the Waste Management Facility as soon as practicable."

"Council’s highest priority is the health and safety of our customers and staff. We appreciate your understanding and support in these challenging circumstances."

Kerbside collections will continue to operate as usual.

Other Council facilities are not affected and continue to operate as usual.

Outrage over Telegraph Point Preschool closure

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI and JESSICA ROUSE

Parents at the Telegraph Point Children's Centre are outraged government ministers haven't stepped in to stop the closure of their preschool.

When questioned in parliament this week, the Minister for Early Education said due to contractual and compliance issues the current provider simply wasn't able to continue operating it.

Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education, Kate Washington says it's ridiculous the government couldn't step in.

"The Department and the Minister keeps pointing to commercial complexities but this is a government that can enter into contracts to build...a light rail down George Street but they can't navigate a solution to keep a small childcare service open. It just beggars belief," she said.

According to Kate Washington, it's an outrage the government didn't take action and stop the small preschool from closing, especially when alternative arrangement plans were offered to them.

"The operator and the community have put lots of alternative options to the Minister and the Department to keep the doors open but then they have all been rejected and the Department has instead only told the families that they need to find services elsewhere."

She says because of the Department's inaction, local families and their children are put at a disadvantage.

"[The school] provides vocation care, outside of hours care, pre-schooling and childcare to that small community and surrounding areas.

"Children will now miss out on the all-important transition to the local school. Families will struggle to juggle their work and family commitments. It's a sad day for Telegraph Point."

Kate Washington [Image: North Arm Cove]

Morpeth Bridge is closing again, prompting fears from business owners.

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Morpeth Bridge is undergoing yet another round of restoration works which has forced its full closure from today until 6pm on Monday - much to the dismay of many local businesses.

The closure is required for the installation of temporary support structures which will allow remediation work to be undertaken.

However the weekend is often the busiest time of the week for trade and with one road into the town closed off, local business owners fear their profit will be at another loss.

Local business owner Andrew Mason says while the community are supportive of the bridge closure so it stays fully functioning into the future, businesses still have grave concerns.

"Typically the businesses reported at the last business closure a significant drop in revenue for that weekend and we have approached RMS [Roads and Maritime Services] to discuss with them how we might solve that problem for the businesses not for this closure but for the following closures which will occur in May and August this year."

Andrew says there wasn't enough communication between the RMS and local businesses regarding the closures, but hopes this will change in the future.

Local businesses have already had one win with the closure scheduled for Mother's Day weekend in May being moved to earlier in the week.

There will be two more bridge closures this year including May, and another in August.

Image courtesy of http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au