Learners and lap swimmers will be able to return to the pool from Monday after restrictions were lifted by the state government this week.
The premier, Dominic Perrottet, announced that indoor pools will reopen for swimming lessons, squad training, lap swimming and rehabilitation activities from October 11.
Gyms, indoor recreation and sporting facilities will reopen with density limits and classes of up to 20 people.
Council has confirmed that this means both Katoomba and Springwood indoor pools and fitness centres will reopen their doors from October 11.
Other council facilities will also reopen.
Council's customer contact centre at Katoomba will reopen Mondays to Thursday, from 9am to 4pm. This includes the Service NSW agency. Service NSW requires that the centre is open to all in the community (vaccinated and unvaccinated), except for driver testing that requires participants to be fully vaccinated.
Katoomba and Blaxland tips are now accepting waste as normal from all in the community. The reuse sheds will reopen from October 25.
Libraries at Katoomba and Blaxland are opening weekdays for those who are fully vaccinated. Click and collect will continue weekdays at Springwood Hub.
Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, including the café, will reopen for those who are fully vaccinated.
Fitness centres at Springwood and Katoomba are reopening, with a maximum of 20 to a class, for those who are vaccinated.
Indoor pools at Springwood and Katoomba are reopening from October 11, but only for learn to swim, lap swimming and squads. Bookings will be taken from today (October 8). Those attending aged 12 years and over must be fully vaccinated. Outdoor pools at Glenbrook, Lawson and Blackheath reopened on September 27 to all. The new public health order now states they are only open to those who are fully vaccinated.
Council sports grounds and ovals will be available for limited community sport training activities to recommence, for those who are fully vaccinated. People can undertake sport and exercise at outdoor public gatherings in groups of up to 20. This figure includes participants, coaches and support staff and spectators/parents. Clubs and associations will need to have a COVID-19 safety plan in place and provide the plan to council prior to undertaking training activities.
Echo Point lookout will reopen from October 11. The Visitor Information Centre at Echo Point will reopen Fridays to Mondays, 9am to 4pm, from October 15.
Blue Mountains tourist parks are also reopening, with restrictions. When booking, you are required to verify that your party includes no-one from outside of Greater Sydney, or any unvaccinated adults from outside the Blue Mountains Local Government Area.
Council camping grounds are also reopening, but only to those outside the Blue Mountains Local Government Area who are fully vaccinated. Those who live outside Greater Sydney are not currently permitted to visit local camping grounds.
Community halls will be reopening from October 18. COVID safety plans will be managed by community groups. Council will start taking bookings from October 11.
COVID Safe check-ins are required for patrons visiting council facilities. Proof of vaccination (for those 16 years and older) is also required at council facilities, as outlined above.
There are two ways to show proof of vaccinations: A COVID-19 certificate (a digital or printed copy); or an immunisation history statement (a digital or printed copy).
Masks will also be required in all indoor settings (except for those under 12 years). There will also be density limits for some areas.
"I urge the community to remember that council is operating within a framework that is set by NSW Health," the mayor, Mark Greenhill, said. "This includes facilities only being open, currently, for those who are fully vaccinated. This includes outdoor pools that have previously been open for those who are unvaccinated, but from Monday, October 11, are only open to those who are fully vaccinated.
"Council staff will not tolerate aggressive behaviours at facilities. Please remember that NSW police enforce the public health orders, not council."
The following Council facilities will remain closed for now:
The Springwood Customer Contact Centre will still be closed for face-to-face visitors until further notice, but customer service officers continue to be available on the phone. Council's eServices are also available. Go to https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/eservices.
Blue Mountains Theatre Box Office is expected to open for theatre ticket sales on Wednesdays to Fridays, 9.30am to 12.30pm, from October 20. Performances are scheduled to recommence in November.
Blue Mountains Hub and Braemar House & Gallery is expected to reopen on October 28.
Blackheath, Wentworth Falls and Lawson libraries will remain closed until further notice.
The Visitor Information Centre Glenbrook will remain closed until further notice.
The lighting of sports fields will also cease from today, due to daylight saving commencing and fitness centres reopening.
Stay up to date on the reopening of council services and facilities at bmcc.nsw.gov.au/COVID19-updates.
Get more information on the NSW Government's 'Reopening NSW Roadmap' at https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/easing-covid-19-restrictions.
