Changes to Council services for Extreme fire danger day on Boxing Day

Published on 23 December 2024

Surf Coast Shire Council services will be impacted on Boxing Day (Thursday 26 December) due to the forecast Extreme fire danger conditions.

Council aims to protect the safety of the community and employees on days rated by the Country Fire Authority as having ‘Extreme’ or ‘Catastrophic’ fire danger.

Under its policy, Council employees and contractors will not work or travel in fire risk zones at the highest risk times, and Council facilities in high risk areas will close.

As a result, service closures and changes on Boxing Day include:

• Anglesea Landfill open 5am-10am, Transfer Station 9-10am, Re-sale Shed closed;
• Lorne and Winchelsea Transfer Stations closed;
• Scheduled kerbside bin collections in high risk areas (Anglesea, Point Addis, Bellbrae, Freshwater Creek and Connewarre) will take place between 5am and 10am. Please put your bins out the night before;
• Public litter bin collections – no change in low risk urban zones. Collections in high fire risk areas will not take place during the highest risk times. Catch-up collections will be made once conditions ease;
• Public toilet cleaning in high fire risk areas will be prior to 10am with potential late cleans if conditions ease; and
• Lorne and Anglesea visitor information centres will be closed, with services accessible from the Torquay Visitor Information Centre.

General Manager Community Life Damian Waight said Council would be working hard to have bins collected and if delays occur, would catch up as soon as possible once conditions become safe.

“The safety of the community and our employees is our absolute highest priority, and the expert CFA advice is to avoid high risk areas on Extreme fire danger days,” he said.

“We understand that people’s bins will be full on Boxing Day. Kerbside collections will start very early in the morning with the aim of making as many collections as possible before 10am, and any areas not covered will be caught up as soon as possible.

“Please continue to leave your bins out until they are collected.

“Public litter bins may also become full in high bushfire risk areas on Boxing Day. They’ll be emptied as soon as conditions ease, and we are asking for the community’s help while we manage the conditions. If you see full bins, please take your rubbish home and help keep our beautiful places neat and tidy.

“We appreciate the community’s help and understanding.”

Council’s Facebook and Instagram pages will carry further updates as they become available, while our website provides an up-to-date list of changes.

(Note: many other Council facilities and services will be closed on Boxing Day as is standard for a public holiday.)

“We urge everyone to be prepared for the conditions on Boxing Day by implementing your fire plans and downloading the VicEmergency app to remain informed,” Mr Waight said.

Information about fire danger ratings is available on the CFA website.

Any changes to conditions and impacts to service levels will be communicated.