Benjamin Millar
Hobsons Bay Council will deliver more than $1 million in extra support for local businesses and sporting clubs hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Councillors voted last week to release the council’s fifth community support package since the pandemic began last year, taking to almost $11 million the Council’s total investment in COVID support.
The latest package is targeted at businesses struggling under the lengthy lockdowns that have crippled their trade, including an extension to the waiver of fees for registrations of food ($530,000) and health ($40,000) and the waiver of footpath trading permit fees ($120,000) for the 2021-22 year.
Eligible tenants of council buildings will also receive an estimated $100,000 in rent relief.
The council has proposed a further $100,000 for an ‘innovation and collaboration’ event to help local businesses take advantage of new opportunities.
Sporting clubs will benefit from assistance with electricity bills worth $85,000 and extension of the current waiver of ground allocation fees, while $50,000 will go t the arts via a program of live outdoor music.
A report to last week’s council meeting noted that the Annual Budget 2021-22, adopted in June, was premised on expectations that the period of severe lockdowns during the pandemic was drawing to an end.
“It is anticipated that further support packages may be required as the roadmap to reopening unfolds.”
Mayor Jonathon Marsden said the situation across Hobsons Bay and the whole of Victoria has failed to improve since the council adopted the budget.
“Extended lockdowns and high case numbers could not have been foreseen and it has meant we have had to look deeper for ways to further support our community as we prepare to exit lockdown once vaccination targets are met,” he said.
“These additional programs build on some great initiatives already achieved, or in train, to support our community – it will hopefully help lighten the load for some and give us a sense of hope and something to look forward to.”
The council will now directly contact eligible businesses, tenants and sporting clubs.
