Council reveals big Geelong relief package

Free parking, rent waivers among city support measures

FREE CBD parking, potential rates savings and a host of refunded, reduced and waived fees are among a series of immediate coronavirus support measures passed by Geelong’s council.

City of Greater Geelong councillors on Tuesday night unanimously voted to introduce a series of immediate support measures, while passing a motion to develop economic and community support packages to soften the blow of the coronavirus pandemic.

The motion included a forecast that the city may go into the red to fund the support measures, with council “considering a fiscal policy of deficit to fund these support packages”.

While the city will now move to craft a short-term and medium-term economic and community support packages, a host of immediate measures were introduced, including: DEVELOPMENT of a council COVID-19 financial hardship policy that would include consideration of rates; WAIVER of rent/fees for community and sporting groups within council-owned land/ grounds and buildings for six months from March 1, 2020; REDUCTION of rent by 50 per cent for eligible commercial tenants in council buildings or on council land for six months from March 1, 2020; REFUND of alfresco dining permit fees for 12 months; REFUND of A frame permit fees for 12 months;

REFUND of food premises registration fees for th three months of the 2019-20 financial year;

REFUND of health premises fees for three months of the 2019-20 financial year; DEVELOPMENT of business support portal for local businesses;

DEVELOPMENT of small business expert support program using local businesses; GEELONG Business Concierge Service expansion to support business program development; and

FREE casual on and off street parking in the Geelong CBD until June 30 next year.

Councillor Eddy Kontelj said both businesses and workers were being hit hard by the massive downturn caused by stringent measures introduced to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

“We’re seeing people losing jobs by the thousands, local businesses are closing, they’re struggling already and it only feels like we’re a month into this thing,” Cr Kontelj said.

Mayor Stephanie Asher said the initial measures passed on Tuesday were a “good start”, with more to come.

“The council is really feeling for the businesses and people being hit hard by this crisis,” Cr Asher said. “As a group we’ve agreed to look at all options and do whatever we can to help. That’s likely to mean we go into deficit in next year’s budget, but if ever there’s a time to do that, it’s now.”

Councillors were last night meeting again to discuss further opportunities to provide support to the community.