Rates relief forms part of a $6.5 million support package for residents and businesses affected by COVID-19 that was endorsed at last week’s Maribyrnong council meeting.
Councillors described being moved to tears by empty shops and the community experiencing “sheer terror” in response to the pandemic.
Residents and businesses can apply to defer paying rates for May and September without penalty interest, and eligible businesses can receive a 50 per cent discount for next quarter.
Cr Gina Huynh told the meeting the council was very proud of being debt-free and hence could offer support.
“We have around 40,000-42,000 rateable properties and most of them have been affected in some way or another,” she said.
“We’re trying help as many people and local businesses as possible but at the same time we’re still trying to maintain some level of normalcy by maintaining upkeep of parks and footpaths and the pool and so on …”
Cr Megan Bridger-Darling said the package would help the community get through up to a year of “sheer terror”.
“I do want to point out that we have nearly 5200 business in Maribyrnong that are run from home or that do not employ staff so these are people that are being hit financially that we’re able to directly assist,” she said.
“The numbers are quite staggering when you look at the small geographical footprint of our city and the high population and the density of businesses within that footprint.
“I think that this is a really comprehensive start to how we can help our community get through this next six to 12 months of sheer terror.”
Cr Cuc Lam said it was “heartbreaking” to see businesses closing.
“Every time I walk past the street and I see the empty shops, I nearly cry every time I walk through that,” she said.
Mayor Sarah Carter said that under a separate COVID-19 financial hardship policy, all ratepayers experiencing financial hardship could apply for an interest-free payment plan or to defer their rates without penalty interest up to June 30, 2021.
“We are in an environment that none of us have ever been in before but with these packages, we hope to support those in our community who are feeling the strain of this pandemic,” she said.
