THE time has come to experience the arts and culture in Bathurst again. Bathurst Regional Council has set a date to reopen its various cultural and community facilities, which have been closed for more than two months due to COVID-19. The first of the facilities, the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre and the National Motor Racing Museum, will open for business again on Wednesday. They will be followed on Thursday by the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum and then the new Bathurst Rail Museum on Friday. On Tuesday, June 9, council will reopen Bathurst Library and Bathurst Regional Art Gallery (BRAG). The only museum without a date to reopen at this stage is Chifley Home. READ ALSO: Work continues behind the scenes at city's cultural facilities Mayor Bobby Bourke said he was thrilled to see the community invited back to these facilities. "We've still got to abide by some of those restrictions, but it's great to see Bathurst is starting to reopen and I just hope that dirty word, COVID, stays away," he said. For the facilities that will reopen, there will be safety measures put in place to protect patrons. "Some of the measures include limited visitors inside each facility, increased cleaning and disinfecting, providing hand sanitiser, installing signage and practising social distancing," Cr Bourke said. Council has been put in a very tough position since the pandemic started, and one of its biggest achievements is that it has managed to retain all of its staff during that time. Some staff have been relocated from the civic centre to other council facilities to help with social distancing, while 35 staff members have been working from home. "We're probably the biggest employer in town and to keep them working ... it's been worthwhile and I really appreciate what the staff have done," Cr Bourke said. "They've worked well with the council and the directions the councillors have given them, and you couldn't ask for a better outcome."
THE time has come to experience the arts and culture in Bathurst again.
Bathurst Regional Council has set a date to reopen its various cultural and community facilities, which have been closed for more than two months due to COVID-19.
The first of the facilities, the Bathurst Visitor Information Centre and the National Motor Racing Museum, will open for business again on Wednesday.
They will be followed on Thursday by the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum and then the new Bathurst Rail Museum on Friday.
On Tuesday, June 9, council will reopen Bathurst Library and Bathurst Regional Art Gallery (BRAG).
The only museum without a date to reopen at this stage is Chifley Home.
Mayor Bobby Bourke said he was thrilled to see the community invited back to these facilities.
"We've still got to abide by some of those restrictions, but it's great to see Bathurst is starting to reopen and I just hope that dirty word, COVID, stays away," he said.
For the facilities that will reopen, there will be safety measures put in place to protect patrons.
"Some of the measures include limited visitors inside each facility, increased cleaning and disinfecting, providing hand sanitiser, installing signage and practising social distancing," Cr Bourke said.
Council has been put in a very tough position since the pandemic started, and one of its biggest achievements is that it has managed to retain all of its staff during that time.
Some staff have been relocated from the civic centre to other council facilities to help with social distancing, while 35 staff members have been working from home.
"We're probably the biggest employer in town and to keep them working ... it's been worthwhile and I really appreciate what the staff have done," Cr Bourke said.
"They've worked well with the council and the directions the councillors have given them, and you couldn't ask for a better outcome."
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