Tate Papworth
The Brimbank council is considering rate relief measures for residents impacted by the COIVD-19 pandemic.
It comes as pressure mounts on the local economy with more businesses forced to close their doors and the public urged to stay home.
The council is yet to finalise what the rate assistance package would look like or when it would be brought in, but in a statement released on Thursday said it would contact ratepayers when a decision was reached.
It said the focus would be on immediate relief and assistance as a first step in a multi-pronged recovery approach.
Plans for a broader stimulus strategy for the medium to longer term, when businesses and the community are back up and running, are also being discussed.
While there’s no indication on when a decision on rate relief may be made, the council has announced a number of smaller measures to help sporting clubs and animal owners.
A hold on utility charges, licence and lease fees for sporting clubs has been put in place, while animal registration fees have also been put on hold until the COVID-19 crisis is resolved.
Additionally, all community grant recipients have been offered an extension for the grants they’ve received, so they can hold their programs once it’s safe to do so.
The council encouraged local businesses to take advantage of the state and federal governments’ business stimulus packages.
It’s not the drastic action the Wyndham council took last week, unveiling a $5 million stimulus package of its own to help support businesses and retain jobs during the pandemic.
Under Wyndham’s stimulus package, businesses which fall into the commercial, industrial or farming categories will have their rates deferred for six months, until September this year.
Wyndham mayor Josh Gilligan said that helping to keep people in jobs would have a flow-on effect for households.
“This package is designed to complement the initiatives announced by the state and federal governments over the past few days, but with a local flavour,” Cr Gilligan said.
