Statement from the Mayor: Return to Stage 3 Restrictions
Published on 03 August 2020
I imagine - like me - you may be feeling scared, disappointed, frustrated, anxious or angry today.
2020 has been a huge year for us all. We have faced so many challenges and changes. And now things are set to change yet again.
Regional Victoria will return to Stage 3 ‘Stay at Home’ Restrictions from 11.59pm this Wednesday, August 5th.
We know what this looks like, because we have been there before. We know that families, friends and loved ones will be isolated and that businesses will have to close. We know that parents and care givers will do their best to help children learn from home. We know that people will be out of work. We know there will be financial and emotional struggles. We know it will be hard.
But we can do hard things – because we have done them before. It won’t be easy. But we must do this for our state and our community, to get on top of our greatest health challenge.
Hard times are an opportunity to show compassion. So be kind to others and be even kinder to yourself
Supporting our local businesses is more important now than ever before. We need to continue to back them however we can.
I also wanted to remind you of the support Council can offer to anyone who may need extra assistance at this difficult time.
Our Community Relief Service remains open and can help with things like meals, grocery shopping, collecting medicines or prescriptions and link you to other support services.
We also have a range of financial hardship measures in place to support local households and businesses. This includes extending the payment deadline for fourth quarter rate instalments until September 30 as well as waiving interest and late fees on overdue rates and payment plan options.
More detail about this and other services and support available is on our website or please call us and we can provide more information.
Last week my fellow Councillors and I also adopted the organisation’s budget for the 2020-21 Financial Year. This includes a $1.5 million COVID-19 Community Recovery Fund, which will provide targeted relief to those who need it most.
We are currently developing our Community Relief and Recovery Plan which details how Council and other local agencies will help address the economic and social impacts this pandemic has, and continues to have, on our community.
In the coming weeks we will announce further detail about this, including our next phase of support and relief.
In the meantime, I urge you to follow the directions, look after one another, stay home and stay safe.