Golden Plains Shire offers rates help for those in hardship

GOLDEN Plains Shire has extended its COVID-19 financial hardship policy to provide a municipal rate cut to applicable residents and businesses.

At its 25 August meeting, council approved the use of a $100,000 allocation in the 2020/21 budget to its hardship policy to provide a maximum of $500 off rate payments for residents receiving JobKeeper or JobSeeker payments.

The scheme includes other options for ratepayers including waiving $100 off rates on properties for ratepayers who have experienced a 30 per cent income reduction, suspending payment of rates for 12 months, as well as extending no debt recovery action until 30 June 2021.

Mayor Cr Owen Sharkey said extending the financial hardship policy was vital to support ratepayers financially impacted by COVID-19.

“For some of our residents who have lost their jobs or income, and local businesses who have closed during lock down, the impact of the pandemic has been devastating,” he said.

“With this extension of the financial hardship policy, council has committed to delivering an additional $100,000 in financial relief to our residents and businesses that need it the most.”

Although a variety of other municipalities froze rate payments, the Golden Plains Shire didn’t see this as an option as its income solely relies solely on rate payments.

Cr Sharkey said it wouldn’t have been the right move to reduce the budget by two per cent because it would not have given those who need assistance any assistance at all.

“People that aren’t in hardship would be the ones to receive the biggest discounts if we did that,” he said.

“We extended and expanded the hardship policy, so for people in genuine hardship to get a $500 discount is a massive help and something I’m extremely proud of.

“I think it’s the greatest decision we’ve made as a council and helping those who need it the most.”

When introducing the policy for debate as last week’s council meeting, Cr Les Rowe noted the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic cut across all sectors of the Shire’s economy.

He specifically highlighted the challenges it presented some of the municipality’s primary producers and the knock-on affect it was having up the supply chain.

“There are farmers who have taken a big hit to their income this year,” he said. “China is the major buyer of wool, processing approximately 70 per cent of wool and sells mainly to the USA and Europe. Seeing these respective counties aren’t buying due to COVID this is the main cause of deflated wool prices.

“Furthermore, the price of lamb at the saleyards has fallen back to as much as 50 per cent before COVID.

“This year is a very different year and as a council we have an opportunity to make a positive difference and help our Golden Plains residents and businesses when they need it.

“I believe the financial hardship policy is one of our council’s best decisions and I’m proud to put my name to it.”

To help deliver on the plan, the municipality is aiming to use the State government’s Working for Victoria initiative to fund a new staff role.

Cr Sharkey said the new position would take on a more proactive approach to implementing the hardship policy.

“This position will proactive in the community by making phone calls to residents to see how they are, not just financially, but mentally and health wise and being able to point those people in the right direction,” he said.

Although the Shire’s $100,000 allowance for hardship policy is significant, if a large proportion of the municipality were to apply for a grant, it may not be sufficient.

The Shire’s director of corporate services Pip O’Sullivan said municipal officers are encouraging residents who are eligible to apply now so they can closely monitor demand for the funding.

“If we approach the threshold of $100,000, we will advise council and seek their thoughts on whether we extend it or whether the majority of those in need have been seen to,” she said.

“Although our budget is very tight and has been so for years, we’ve been able to manage this allowance without sacrificing anything else at this stage.

“The council are really committed to this and our rates team are working hard and are there to help our customers.”

Cr Sharkey added, “Ultimately if we exhaust that amount it will be the decision of the next council to continue that by borrowing funds or to cut a service.

“We feel based on the numbers we have gathered that $100,000 is going to be a massive help to a lot of people.”

To apply for the updated COVID-19 financial hardship policy visit goldenplains.vic.gov.au.