Ashburton Council endorse $1.5m COVID-19 relief package

Shire of Ashburton Council have endorsed a series of financial support and relief measures to be made available to the community at the April Ordinary Meeting of Council held electronically last week.

Shire of Ashburton President Kerry White said that she was pleased Council have taken an active response to assist community groups, sporting clubs and small businesses at this uncertain time.

“We are fortunate that the Shire of Ashburton is in a strong financial position and we are able to assist our community members by offering them this package of relief measures.

“Hopefully this will alleviate some concerns or pressures that are being felt across the Shire as we continue to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and we are happy that we are able to do our bit that will assist keep businesses going, keep people in jobs and reach out to groups and clubs so they can reignite for the benefit of the community as restrictions ease and we begin to resume a more normal day-to-day life.

“There will no increase to rates for 2020/21 and we will defer issuing rates notices for 2020/21 until the first week of November 2020 while also implementing a monthly payment option to allow ratepayers to apply for a more flexible payment arrangement whilst paying no added fees and interest.

“Special payment arrangements for rates will also be extended to 30 June 2021 and there will no special arrangement fee applied and late payment penalties and instalment interest may be waived upon application.

“Applications can be made to write off outstanding debts incurred since 1 February 2020 as a result of financial hardship and loss due to COVID-19.

“Other measures in the relief package include 12 month’s rent relief on leases to small businesses, community groups and clubs, no increase to Fees and Charges for 2020/21 and a review of the list of chargeable items and the adoption of a Financial Hardship Policy will enable our commitment to support the whole community.

“I am pleased to announce that the Shire of Ashburton will establish a COVID-19 Small Business and Community Grants Fund of $250,000 in addition to a COVID-19 Support and Relief Reserve of $250,000.

“The COVID-19 Small Business and Community Grants Fund will be made available to those businesses, community groups and sporting clubs who can demonstrate hardship and/or losses due to the restrictions put in place to reduce the spread of the pandemic. This also extends to our signature and major events who have had to cancel or postpone their event but have still incurred associated costs.

“The application process will be available from our website in the coming week and will remain open until November.

“We would also like to acknowledge the $1m made available by Chevron to the Chevron Onslow Relief Fund that will enable the provision of financial support and critical health services to Onslow residents, Aboriginal communities, local businesses and the unemployed and encourage Onslow businesses and residents to get involved in the Shop Local Voucher Program.

“The Shire is also working with our community partner Rio Tinto to develop an assistance package that will benefit our Tom Price, Pannawonica and Paraburdoo communities”.

Information on the Small Business and Community Grants application process will be made available shortly and anyone with queries on eligibility for specific assistance measures can get in touch by calling 08 9188 4444 or emailing [email protected].

Stay up to date on our website, and through Facebook by following both Shire of Ashburton page and Ashburton Community COVID-19 Info page.

For media information contact:

Alison Lennon, Manager Media and Communications, Shire of Ashburton

M: 0409 314 140 | E: [email protected]

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