Financial relief for traders and community groups

Financial relief for traders and community groups

Published on 20 August 2020

Local traders and community groups will receive financial relief during 2020/21, with Gannawarra Shire Council agreeing to waive or reduce numerous fees and charges.

With many businesses and community groups impacted financially due to the implementation of COVID-19 restrictions, Council has decided to implement the waiving of fees or reduction of costs for some services delivered by Council.

“As the community continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, business and community groups have had to adjust to the implementation of State and Federal government imposed restrictions,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Tom O’Reilly said.

“Council is able to provide support to the community through a range of measures, with the confirmation of the waiving or reduction in registration renewal fees outlined in the Food Act 1984 and Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 along with Council’s Local Laws, another way Council is supporting the Gannawarra during this ongoing pandemic.”

The changes to Council’s fees and charges, agreed upon at the August 2020 Council Meeting, include:

The waiving of Footpath Trading permit fees; The waiving of Food Act 1984 registration renewal fees for school canteens, swimming pools, community groups and sporting clubs; A 50 per cent fee reduction for Food Act 1984 registration renewal fees for bakeries, café/restaurants, coffee shops, home-based or mobile businesses, low-risk food manufacturers, takeaway shops and general stores; A 50 per cent reduction for Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 registration renewal fees for beauty therapists, hairdressers and other health-related premises; and A 50 per cent reduction in recreation reserve user fees, which applies to sporting clubs and organisations that utilise the Cohuna and Leitchville recreation reserves.

“The reduction in these fees and charges follows on from the adoption of Council’s COVID-19 Hardship policy in April 2020 and the approval of a 50 per cent reduction in hire fees for the Cohuna and Kerang memorial halls and the Cohuna, Kerang, Koondrook and Quambatook Senior Citizen buildings for the 2020/2021 financial year,” Mr O’Reilly said.

“Council will continue to monitor how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting on our communities and provide assistance as we begin our recovery from these unique and challenging times.”