Council call centre worker Chloe Garrs has asked people calling into council to be patient and understand that where questions relate to issues over which council has no control or enforcement, call centre workers are unable to help.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms Garrs comments on the daily Facebook live update from council, follow increasing numbers of calls to council from irritable residents asking a variety of questions relating to the COVID-19 outbreak.
While it might seem like a two minute rant to you, we're taking 50-100 calls a day and it can really take its toll and so just be kind to one another and to us. We're human and we're here to help.
- Chloe Garrs, BVSC call centre worker
Some of these include whether council can stop tourists from entering the shire or whether council can put up roadblocks (council can ask people not to visit the shire but can't enforce it, nor can it put up roadblocks).
People have phoned to report what they consider to be violations of personal hygiene practises and social distancing, neither of which council can do anything about but Bega Police are dealing with social distancing in public places, Ms Garrs said.
She said they received a lot of calls about toilet paper, asking whether council could get some (they can't) and what they should do about the alternatives (don't flush wipes - even ones that say they are flushable, newspaper or kitchen roll down the toilet as it clogs the sewer system - use a separate bin).
"When you're calling just be patient with us we're in unprecedented times, we're still on the back of the bushfire recovery, people are exhausted, mentally and physically and I'm sensing the frustration on the phones from everybody," Ms Garrs said.
Remembers the people on the phones are there to help you and more often than not we're also members of the community, we've also been impacted.
- Chloe Garrs, BVSC call centre worker
"Some people are handling this better than others. Remembers the people on the phones are there to help you and more often than not we're also members of the community, we've also been impacted.
"While it might seem like a two minute rant to you, we're taking 50-100 calls a day and it can really take its toll and so just be kind to one another and to us. We're human and we're here to help," Ms Garrs said.
She said that in relation to COVID-19 information council received the information at the same time as the public and was guided by NSW Health.
The Coronavirus Health Information Line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, call 1800 020 080
Check the NSW Health website or the Federal Health Department website for the latest health and well being measures.
