2020 Year in Review: July-September

JULY 2: THE City of Greater Geelong proposed a support package to help the region recover from coronavirus. The package would see $5.6 million added to immediate relief measures the council announced in March and April. It would also include more than $1.7 million investment in new and continued initiatives to help the city’s financial recovery.

JULY 9: LEADING industry bodies welcomed the state government’s establishment of a $5 million fund for businesses facing cancellations from people in the locked-down postcodes in Melbourne. Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula said regional businesses, including motels, caravan parks and short-term rentals would be eligible for up to $225 per night for cancelled bookings.

JULY 16: The best of Geelong and the Bellarine’s music scene was streamed around the world as the region took part in the award-winning Isol-Aid online music festival. Isol-Aid was created in response to the coronavirus pandemic, when it became apparent that musicians would be heavily affected by the cancellation of tours and gigs and the inability to play venues throughout Australia. Geelong was the first regional centre to be showcased on Isol-Aid.

JULY 23: THE JobKeeper and JobSeeker schemes were extended beyond September, but the payments would be be reduced. Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced some of the long-awaited details of what would come after JobKeeper, which was scheduled to end on September 27 but will now continue until March 28.

JULY 30: THE buildings around South Geelong railway station and opposite GMHBA Stadium were being primed for major redevelopment under a draft plan for the area prepared for the City of Greater Geelong. The draft South Geelong Urban Design Framework identified the South Geelong station and Moorabool Street precincts as separate key development areas.

AUGUST 6: GEELONG and the Bellarine returned to tighter coronavirus restrictions, with Stage 3 in effect across Victoria as of August 6. The full reintroduction of the Stage 3 lockdown is the latest in a series of tightened restrictions in recent days, including no visitors being allowed in the home and the mandatory wearing of face coverings outside the home.

AUGUST 13: ALL kinder in Victoria was to be free for Term 3 and children will be supported to learn from home through a relief package to support early childhood services through the pandemic from the state government. The extension to the free sessional kinder support and a further $1.6 million in grants were to be available via the Australian-first School Readiness Funding program for kindergartens to help deliver early childhood education to children learning at home.

AUGUST 20: A CORONAVIRUS testing blitz began in Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo, opening new testing sites and extending the hours of existing ones. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the decision was driven in part by 175 cases being detected in Geelong over a two-week period.

AUGUST 27: THE City of Greater Geelong council agreed with all changes recommended by an independent panel to its Settlement Strategy and the Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas Framework Plan. The two plans would direct growth away from the Bellarine Peninsula and towards Armstrong Creek and future growth areas in Geelong’s north and west, and Amendment C395 would implement them into the city’s planning scheme.

SEPTEMBER 3: RESIDENTS and businesses in the City of Greater Geelong would have a new, dedicated bin for glass within seven years as the council moved to comply with the state government’s new circular economy policy. The council also entered a new phase of the renewable organics project it is pursuing with in partnership with Barwon Water.

SEPTEMBER 10: THE state government’s roadmap for easing coronavirus restrictions received a mixed reception in Geelong, with some hospitality operators left disappointed by its cautious approach. Hospitality operators would have to remain under the existing Stage 3 restrictions of only take-away and delivery until the Third Step of the roadmap, which would allow mostly outdoor service, a group limit of 10 and density limits.

SEPTEMBER 17: GEELONG made a big move along Victoria’s roadmap to coronavirus recovery. Premier Daniel Andrews announced regional Victoria would take the Third Step on the roadmap as of 11.59pm on September 16 – only three days after regional Victoria entered the Second Step.

SEPTEMBER 24: THE City of Greater Geelong council sought outdoor dining ideas following the easing of coronavirus restrictions, and one café owner said tables in car parks could be the way forward. The city waived all outdoor dining fees, and encouraged cafes, restaurants and bars to submit proposals to either begin or expand their outdoor dining. Under the Third Step of the coronavirus roadmap, hospitality venues can have up to 50 patrons outdoors and up to 20 patrons indoors, with time limits and social distancing in effect.