Update from the LEMC 3 September 2021

Published on 03 September 2021

MEDIA STATEMENT

3 September 2021

UPDATE FROM THE LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The Local Emergency Management Committee, comprising State agencies, NGOs, and Central Darling Shire Council meet daily to ensure services to COVID affected areas are coordinated and able to meet immediate needs.

TESTING CLINICS

To coordinate the Day 5 and 12 home visit testing the Wilcannia COVID Clinic times have changed to the following:

• Wilcannia Drive Through Clinic 10am – 2pm – Entry through Myers Street
• Between 2pm-4pm Home visit COVID testing for Day 5 and 12

The Wilcannia MPS Emergency Department is open 24/7 to all community members who require assistance.

Testing clinic times in White Cliffs, Ivanhoe and Menindee remain the same.

With the potential of bad weather over the weekend, testing clinics may close early to ensure the safety of staff and residents.

VACCINATION CLINIC

The vaccination clinic at the Wilcannia Town Hall is open until 1pm today. Further clinic times will be notified shortly.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT HUB

The Emergency Management Hub is under construction at the Wilcannia Oval. Drive through testing will continue at the oval with all entry, both drive through and walk in, will be through Myers Street.

The Hub will house the support personnel required to ensure the ongoing management of the current COVID outbreak including health staff, Police and ADF. The Hub will be fully self sufficient and will not use any of the resources which have been provided for the COVID relief effort.

COMMUNITY SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION

Wilcannia residents will start to see the first of more than 30 motorhomes delivered to the town which will help residents who need to isolate during their infectious period. The Community Supported Accommodation project is overseen by NSW Health which will manage the sites, ensuring food, water and basic needs are met.

This option provides a respectful and appropriate environment to safely isolate for the Wilcannia community. It can also be established quickly, scaled up or down easily if required and managed in a practical way. The accommodation will be operational on Monday.

Following community consultation, Health Infrastructure developed the plan for the community support accommodation in Wilcannia in consultation with Far West Local Health District (LHD), Central Darling Shire Council, Aboriginal Affairs NSW, the Local Emergency Management Committee, and the NSW Rural Fire Service.

Each motorhome has heating and cooling and includes living and bedroom accommodation, kitchen, toilet, a shower, and radio/television. The campervans are well insulated to cater for the variable weather in Far Western NSW.

TELSTRA CELL ON WHEELS

A temporary mobile phone station has been set up near Wilcannia Hospital in an effort to improve reception during the current outbreak. All agencies have been in discussion with Telstra to improve access to mobile and internet services. The “small cell” will assist with hospital coverage.

It is expected Telstra will have an announcement on the services they are looking to provide in the next week.