From September 1, the centre will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.30am to 4.30pm, closing between noon and 1pm for staff to take a lunch break.
The revised operating days have been selected to align with when the Kyabram District Health Service, which operates from the shared Tongala facility, is open, making it easier for residents to access multiple services in a single visit.
The decision was made following a review of usage, which found that Tongala was the council’s least-utilised service centre, accounting for about seven per cent of in-person customer service interactions and one per cent of library visits, respectively.
Campaspe Shire Mayor Daniel Mackrell said council’s decision to direct resources to where community demand was greatest wouldn’t affect its commitment to providing accessible services.
“Council understands that any reduction in local services may be disappointing for some community members, and this decision was not made lightly,” Cr Mackrell said.
“Tongala residents will continue to have access to customer service and library services in town two days a week, while also being able to connect with council by phone, online or at our nearby Kyabram and Echuca service centres.
“As more people choose to access council services digitally or by phone, we need to make sure our service model reflects how the community is using those services today.”
Services including support for readers and access to library programs will be available on both days, with the council’s librarian still based at the site on Tuesdays, and school holiday activities set to continue.
Shire residents can continue to pay their rates and registrations online as well as requesting to speak with a member of council’s customer service team over the phone, or at another centre.
