Shire lifts its coronavirus response to $2.1 million

THE Surf Coast Shire council has proposed a COVID-19 support package of more than $2 million for residents and businesses.

At their special council meeting on Tuesday this week, councillors considered adding $1,768,000 for COVID-19 support into the draft budget in the 2020-21 year.

About $400,000 has already been earmarked for this financial year.

The proposed package includes the following initiatives for 2020-21:

• $1 million to help businesses and communities to re-establish and recover from the impacts of the pandemic
• $195,000 of support for people experiencing financial hardship as a result of the coronavirus by waiving interest on outstanding rates and debts
• $250,000 of rate relief in the form of a rebate for commercial and industrial ratepayers to support economic recovery across the shire, and
• $323,000 of support for food, hospitality and accommodation businesses, by waiving of fees for food, health and caravan park registrations as well as Shopfront ‘Street’ Trading permits (including A-frame and alfresco dining permits).

The support package includes a draft COVID-19 Hardship Policy with payment plans that allow for increased flexibility for ratepayers experiencing hardship from the impacts of the pandemic.

It also highlights the new Community and Economic Support Teams, created to work directly with communities and businesses as they undertake local relief and recovery efforts.

Ahead of the council meeting, shire chief executive officer Keith Baillie said the pandemic would continue to affect the shire’s communities beyond the virus transmissions, and the council was preparing for that challenge with this support package.

“This is a significant response to what is an extraordinary situation. Council has a critical and ongoing role to support our ratepayers, residents, businesses and community groups as they face the impacts of the pandemic now, and as we work together to recover and rebuild. These funds will be crucial in supporting this work.

“We are pleased to include a draft COVID-19 Hardship Policy as a part of the support package, to allow for greater flexibility for residents and businesses facing hardship under the current circumstances.”

The council has been pushing a strong “stay home” message during the pandemic and shire mayor Rose Hodge said it appears to be working, with only 10 cases recorded in the shire and none in the past three weeks.

She said this was an excellent result but the pandemic and the importance of social distancing were far from over.

“We’ve still got to stay vigilant.”