Changes to Council services and facilities

From 6pm on Friday 26 March, masks will no longer be required in retail settings, but Victorians will still need to carry one with them at all times and wear it on public transport, in rideshare vehicles and taxis and in sensitive settings such as aged care facilities and hospitals.

Victorians will be able to host up to 100 people in their home per day. Outdoor gatherings in public places – the beach, the park – can also increase to 200 people.

There will no longer be limits on class sizes for outdoor and indoor physical recreation or fitness classes – and unstaffed gyms will be moving from a density limit of 1 person to 8sqm to 1 person per 4sqm.

The 75 per cent cap on private and public offices workers will also be removed. While all workplaces are still required to ensure people can work from the office in a COVID-Safe way – with a density limit of 1 person per 2sqm – they will no longer be required to permit workers to work from home.

Restrictions are subject to changes at any time. Go to www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus or call the 24-hour hotline 1800 675 398 for the latest updates.

COVID-19 vaccinations are now available in Victoria. For more information as the situation evolves, please visit https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines and for a vaccine eligibility checker and updates: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine.

You can also check your eligibility, find a vaccine provider or register by calling 1800 020 080.

Our Torquay Civic Centre doors are now open. To keep you safe, we've set up an appointment-based system, so please book in at the link below or call 5261 0600 to make a time to see a customer service agent.
Whether it's live chat or lodge a request on our website, on the phone, or in person by appointment - we're here to help. Opening hours 8.30am - 5pm weekdays.

Book an in-person appointment with a customer service agent

Customer service contact details are:

Lodge a request for service online

Hours: 8.30 am - 5 pm (Monday to Friday)

Phone: (03) 5261 0600 or 1300 610 600

Postal Address: PO Box 350, Torquay, 3228

Email: info@surfcoast.vic.gov.au

The Anglesea Resale Shed will remain closed until further notice.

Hours at Anglesea Landfill and all transfer stations have returned to normal.

All facilities will remain cashless and only process account and EFTPOS transactions.

Please adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Payment arrangements at Council waste facilities

All Council waste facilities including Anglesea, Lorne and Winchelsea transfer stations are currently cashless and will accept payments via account or EFTPOS only. Using debit and credit cards instead of cash and making use of online and self-serve transactions can help reduce the risk of infection and slow the spread of coronavirus.

Primary and secondary schools

From Wednesday February 2021, primary and secondary schools will be open for on-site learning.

Surf Coast Shire kindergarten/occasional care/family day care

Kindergarten/occasional care/family dare care are open for all children. For safety, additional precautions are in place including staggered drop-off and pick-ups, staff greeting children at the gate, children washing hands before interactions and play, some changes to room layouts and activities. As always, rooms will be cleaned after use and equipment disinfected.

Maternal and Child Health

The Surf Coast Shire Maternal and Child Health service remains available to provide support to our community. To limit the spread of COVID-19 in the community, the service is adopting alternative modes of service delivery. These include consultations taking place via the phone, and nurse visits to the home for families with young or vulnerable infants. All Maternal and Child Health Centres are closed until further notice.

New Parent Groups

We know how important first time parent groups are to new parents. To keep you connected, we have moved our groups online. For more information, please email rsvpparented@surfcoast.vic.gov.au.

Parent Education

Our parent education calendar of events has been suspended due to COVID-19 restrictions.  We are exploring ways to continue providing support to our community. Please email rsvpparented@surfcoast.vic.gov.au if you would like to be kept up to date. The Maternal and Child Health Service continues to operate via alternative modes of service delivery

Kurrambee Myaring Community Centre and Torquay Children’s Hub

Venue hire and activities at Shire facilities have been suspended until further notice. Council will continue to update hirers who use these facilities.

We thank you for your understanding at this time.

DHHS COVID-19 information for parents with infants and young children

Tips for self-isolating with kids.

Surf Coast Sport and Recreation Centre and Winchelsea Health Club are now open. From 6.00pm on Friday 26 March, 2021, there will no longer be limits on class sizes for outdoor and indoor physical recreation or fitness classes – and unstaffed gyms will be moving from a density limit of 1 person to 8sqm to 1 person per 4sqm.

Please visit www.surfcoastevents.com.au for the latest information on major events in the region. For community events and markets, please see our community calendar.

Beach car parks and roads are open, but parking regulations will be strictly enforced at all beach locations across the Surf Coast Shire.

Motorists will be able to park in designated parking bays only, and parking regulations will be monitored and strictly enforced. Cars must not be double parked or parked along access roads.

Point Addis

Parking restrictions remain in place on the west (Anglesea) side of Point Addis Rd.

Further changes

The above arrangements will be reviewed each day and if social gathering requirements are not observed it may be necessary to make further changes to prevent public gatherings in accordance with the directions of the Chief Health Officer.

Above all else the direction is if you can stay at home, you must stay at home.

Council has cancelled its 24 March meeting. Read more.

From Thursday 18 February 2021, the Torquay and Lorne Visitor Information Centres will be open.

The Australian National Surf Museum is closed but is now running virtual tours for schools.

We have enacted our pandemic response plan and a Council working group is meeting daily to evaluate and respond to the latest COVID-19 developments. Our decision making is being informed by advice from health authorities.

Please contact the Department of Home Affairs for any citizenship enquiries on 131 880 or visit their website https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/. See here for further information about our upcoming virtual citizenship ceremonies.