Council meeting wrap - September 2020

Council meeting wrap - September 2020

Published on 21 September 2020

The awarding of $83,500 of funding to 22 organisations through Council’s Community Grants Program and the extension to provide support to the community during the current COVID-19 pandemic is highlighted in the Gannawarra Shire Council’s September Meeting.

Held in the Kerang Council Chambers in accordance with the State Government’s COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Act 2020, the meeting was the last to occur before the Election Period, which is in place from 22 September to 24 October 2020.

Although the meeting was closed to the public, residents were able to watch proceedings live via Council’s website.

One of the key items adopted was the awarding of funding through Council’s Community Grants Program, with 16 projects and six events to benefit from this popular annual program.

Projects and events that will benefit from this funding demonstrated connection to the Gannawarra Shire Council Plan 2017-2021 and/or community profile priorities, and will address clearly identified community needs

The meeting also saw Council extend the operations of its COVID-19 Hardship Policy until a further review on or before 17 March 2021.

Initially approved at the April Council Meeting, the policy enables Council to hold interest on all outstanding debts during the COVID-19 pandemic and hold off on legal action of rates and charges.

The extension of the COVID-19 Hardship Policy is one of many support measures Council has implemented to help the community deal with and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Other measures include reducing hall hire and recreation reserve charges by 50 per cent, waiving Footpath Trader permit fees and halving registration renewal fees for hospitality, beauty therapists, hairdressers and other health-related premises for 2020/21.

Two key documents were adopted at the September 2020 Council Meeting after being placed on display for public comment.

First placed on public display in March 2020 then again in June and July 2020, the Domestic Wastewater Management Plan 2020-2024 outlines Council’s obligations to prevent public health risk and contamination of the environment from the disposal of domestic wastewater.

Meanwhile, the Community Engagement Strategy 2020-2025 outlines Council’s commitment to provide the community with genuine opportunities to contribute and inform strategies, projects, services and decisions that affect them.

Other matters adopted during the meeting included:

Confirming the closure of Council offices over the Christmas/New Year period from close of business on Thursday, 24 December 2020 through to Monday, 4 January 2021; The approval of a planning application for use of animal husbandry (pigeons) at a Koondrook property; Renaming the Koondrook Environmental Reserve the Sidney Reid Reserve and formally naming the reserve containing the Koondrook Swimming Pool to Willow Park Reserve, enacting on a recommendation from the Koondrook Development Committee; and Discontinuing the road reserve adjacent to 94 Mystic Park East Road.

For more information, including a link to the video from this meeting and minutes, please visit www.gsc.vic.gov.au/meetings