Council package to support businesses during COVID-19

April 16, 2020

Gunnedah Shire Council has announced a $1.6 million COVID-19 Business Support Package to help local businesses through this challenging time.

The package includes new measures to reduce some of the charges businesses face, as well as introducing a new Business Partner Program round to assist in developing ways to adapt to changes in spending.

Mayor Jamie Chaffey said the COVID-19 Business Support Package was aimed at protecting the Shire’s economy and residents’ livelihoods.

“COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on both health and economies throughout the world,” Cr Chaffey said. “Our own Shire is no different. Many businesses in Gunnedah are already feeling the strain. This partial lockdown, while essential, is brutal on our businesses, and we all need to work hand-in-hand to ensure our economy remains strong and resilient.

“We have consulted with the Gunnedah and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry to put together the COVID-19 Business Support Package.

“The package includes some measures Council had already taken to ease the financial strain, including providing relief from interest on overdue rates and not escalating overdue debts during this time. But we have also included new measures, carefully weighed to ensure Council remains financially strong and able to deliver essential services.

“These measures include: a reduction of some water and sewer charges; an additional round of the Business Partner Program to help businesses adapt to meet changed consumer spending patterns; extending the waiving of street trading fees; a new approach to planning and compliance; and a strong focus on our Local Procurement Policy.

“We will also be looking at a further COVID-19 Community Resilience Business Recovery Support Package to help our businesses when this threat is over.

“Many businesses have already shown resilience and creativity during this lockdown, adapting quickly to diversify their operations, and they are to be congratulated.

“Gunnedah Shire has survived and thrived through some real challenges in the past. We can again. This package is aimed at working alongside the measures introduced by the Federal and State governments to protect our economy and make sure we are ready for the recovery phase.”

The objectives of the COVID-19 Community Resilience – COVID 19 Business Support Package are to:

1. Provide fees and charges relief to small business; 2. Provide relief from interest on overdue rates, annual charges and fees whilst ever Council’s Business Continuity Plan (BCP) is activated; 3. Provide assurance that Council will not escalate overdue debts whilst ever the Council BCP is activated; 4. Support local employment and local purchasing; 5. Encourage business diversification and capacity building; 6. Communicate updates from all tiers of Government and Non-Government to the business sector; 7. Further support to those businesses in need due to the pandemic impacts where any significant gaps are identified in the Federal and State packages.

Gunnedah Shire Council already has in place an escalated Capital Works Program ($28 million) and Community Resilience Program ($3.2 million) in response to the unprecedented drought impacting the community, which will also assist in alleviating some of the economic impact of the COVID19 pandemic.

Caption: Vera and Robert Banks of Soil Futures Consulting were recent recipients of a grant through the Business Partner Program to create a website.

ENDS

Media contact: Eliza Gallen (02) 6740 2100.