Media response - financial assistance

Published on 13 May 2020

Response to Southern Times Messenger.

  • How many ratepayers - residential, corporate, industrial or small businesses - have applied for rate relief within your councils as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic? How many applications have been approved and what other financial help have you provided or will provide?

Comments attributed to Mayor Erin Thompson

We have 80,000 rate paying properties and we’ve received approximately 50-60 enquiries for rate relief.

Around 550 ratepayers have entered into payment arrangements since 11 March 2020 (the date COVID-19 was declared a pandemic).

Council announced a range of COVID-19 support measures in early April, which included:

  • Providing ratepayers with a longer period of time to pay fourth quarter rate instalments without incurring penalties for up to eight weeks past the due date.
  • Waiving lease and associated costs for businesses, sporting clubs and community groups using council facilities.
  • Establishing a $50,000 community wellbeing and resilience fund to support existing groups to tackle social isolation, mental health, financial security and food security.
  • Establishing a ‘Think Local, Buy Local’ campaign to promote local businesses and support the local economy.

Council will be reviewing additional options for rate relief measures at next week’s Council meeting (19 May).

ENDS

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