In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, at a Council Meeting on Tuesday 7 April 2020, Councillors endorsed a $7.3 million COVID-19 Response and Recovery Package to support residents and ratepayers during COVID-19.

The Package provided immediate and ongoing financial support for individuals, local businesses, local community groups and sporting clubs that were impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

Throughout the pandemic, we had an important role to play in supporting community resilience, providing financial relief and in ensuring that the most vulnerable in our community were protected from further harm.

The aim of our $7.3 million Package was to provide immediate support and relief to those at risk. It contained a mix of financial concessions and new initiatives, ranging from the ability to defer rates without penalty interest and waivers to certain fees and charges to rent relief for Council community tenants and sporting clubs. Several new grants programs were also introduced along with other new initiatives to support our community through the changing circumstances. These included: mentoring and mental health programs; increased capacity in services for the vulnerable, such as delivered meals and immunisation; relaxation of parking restrictions; and a community kindness campaign which encouraged community members to share their stories and be kind to others, themselves, the vulnerable and local businesses.

Adjustments will be made to the package throughout the 2020–21 financial year. We will continue to engage with those who have been hit hard by the pandemic and ensure that our future investment is aligned to those initiatives that will make the most impact in the long-term.

For more information the Mayor and CEO Overview and visit the COVID-19 services update page on our website.