Council services on Catastrophic and Extreme fire danger days
To help keep our community and staff safe, some Council facilities may close and services may be disrupted on days with an Extreme or Catastrophic fire danger rating, or during extreme heat or heat waves.
When the Country Fire Authority (CFA) declares an Extreme or Catastrophic fire danger day, Council may temporarily change or suspend some services to reduce risks to staff, contractors and the community.
Council employees and contractors will not work or travel in high-risk fire areas during the most dangerous parts of the day.
What areas may be affected?
On Extreme fire danger days, service disruptions may occur in high bushfire and grassfire risk areas, including:
- Lorne
- Aireys Inlet
- Anglesea
- Parts of Jan Juc
- Outer areas of Winchelsea and surrounding districts
On Catastrophic fire danger days, disruptions may also affect outdoor facilities in:
- Torquay
- Other urban areas across the Surf Coast
What facilities may close?
Depending on the fire danger rating and location, the following facilities may close at short notice:
- Waste transfer stations
- Visitor Information Centres in Lorne, Anglesea and Winchelsea
- Kindergartens
- Maternal and Child Health services
- Sports grounds and recreation reserves
- Council-owned and managed community facilities
Changes to waste services
Kerbside bin collections and public bin servicing may be delayed, paused or rescheduled in affected areas.
To reduce risk, collections may start earlier than usual and any missed collections will be completed as soon as it is safe to do so.
Events and bookings
Council-run events, events on Council land and community bus hire bookings may be cancelled or rescheduled when fire conditions pose a safety risk.
How we'll keep you informed
If services are affected, we'll let the community know as soon as possible. Where practical, we'll contact affected users directly.
For the latest updates, follow Council's social media channels and stay informed about local fire conditions through the CFA.