$2m funding package and rate freeze as part of Shire care package

Two million dollars in recovery support, a zero percent rate increase in 2020/21, and free outside school hours care for critical health and support workers are among the initiatives announced in the Shire of Augusta Margaret River’s COVID-19 Community Care Package.

In addition, ratepayers will also be able to access new flexible payments options, and the Shire will also waive all non-regulatory Shire fees and charges, and penalty interest charged on outstanding rates, from 26 March 2020 until 30 June 2020.

Council voted in the package as a means to ease the social and financial burdens on local community members, groups and businesses that are being experienced as part of the fallout from the current global COVID-19 health pandemic.

Shire President Ian Earl said the Community Care Package was voted in unanimous by Council at tonight’s Ordinary Meeting, with the $2m funding allocation still subject to public advertising period of one month.

“Hopefully the community can take some comfort in seeing the support that will be coming through at local government level,” he said.

“Federal and State funding support measures are already trickling through but we hope these additional measures, delivered at grassroots level, will further serve our community in withstanding this crisis.

“Funding will be coming from our Waste Reserve, which is in good shape recently as a result of the community being so diligent in complying to our new three bin system and new waste and resource recovery initiative.

“That’s been a huge effort and now is the right time to offer the benefits of that commitment back to the community.”

It is expected Community Care Funding will support services including, but not limited to, the following types of support: 

Programs that connect neighbours and community members to assist and support each other; Enhancing people’s access to critical information and resources;  Transportation and delivery services; Provision of supplies ;  Support for people who need urgent accommodation due to the impact of the pandemic;  Access to mental health and counselling services;  Technology to enable people to access information, resources and connect with other people and services; 

Business Support Funding will support activities including, but not limited to: 

Continuation of business networks and associations;  Toolkits and other support for business to assist them through the pandemic;  Access to information resources for businesses  Financial advice for the business community;  Advice for businesses who are redefining their business model in response to the pandemic;  Support for businesses who are providing a community service in response to the pandemic;  Support for businesses when they are able to reopen through provision of funding for activation/marketing

To access the package benefits please email as follows: 

Organisations seeking funding as outlined above must email [email protected] with their proposal. To discuss your proposal in the first instance please phone 97805255. Anyone wishing to discuss their rates payment options can contact [email protected] Critical health and support workers who wish to access Outside School Hours Care are encouraged to contact [email protected]. Additional qualifying criteria may apply. Continuance of the service during the COVID-19 response is subject to State direction.  A general COVIDa-19 email address [email protected] has been set up for all other service and facilities enquiries and suggestions. 

A centralised hub of COVID-19 information and resources is available via the Shire’s homepage at www.amrshire.wa.gov.au

A direct link the the Community Care package pdf is provided for your information.