COVID-19 Community Relief Package
Council have adopted a number of measures to support the community during the ongoing COVID-19 economic fallout, with an estimated value of $3.1 million.
We recognise that local community organisations, sole traders and businesses are the backbone of Hedland. The adopted measures are intended to ease economic hardship and compliment measures announced by other governments, such as the Federal Government's JobKeeper package.
Key measures include the following:
- Establishment of a $360,000 Community Group Assistance Fund for eligible not-for-profit organisations
- Establishment of a $625,000 Support Local Business Fund for eligible small businesses
- Commitment to a 0% increase on existing Town fees and charges in the 2020/21 financial year
- Commitment to a rates freeze for the 2020/21 financial year
- Commitment to a temporary reduction in creditor payment terms from 30 to 15 days
- Commitment to considering rent relief applications for any Town owned properties that meet Federal Government criteria
- Commitment to refund fees and charges relating to the use of Town facilities that are closed or do not meet current social distancing guidelines
- Commitment to working with suppliers that have been affected by supply chain disruption, including partial payments on contracts
- Commitment to waiving fees and charges for mandatory operating costs for impacted local, small business
- Confirmation that COVID-19 falls within exceptional circumstances in the Town's Debt Management policy
Click here for more information on the agenda item.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
I'm a local community organisation, local sole trader or small to medium sized business - how do I access grant funding?
Details on the Community Group Assistance Fund and Support Local Business Fund will be announced soon. Please check back to this webpage regularly for updates.
How is the Town funding these measures?
A number of the COVID-19 relief measures will result in the Town forgoing revenue (for example, waved fees). The funding of the Community Group Assistance Fund and the Support Local Business Fund are derived from the Town's financial risk reserve.
How will the 0% rates increase be guaranteed?
At the April Ordinary Council Meeting, the 2020/21 Statement of Objects and Reasons was endorsed for public comment. This Statement includes no increase in either the rate yield per dollar, or the total cross-category rates yield. This will be guaranteed once the final rating strategy for the 2020/21 financial year.