Ararat support for ‘COVID normal’

Ararat’s chief municipal officer has confirmed the rural city is primed to use the third step of the State Government’s COVID-19 Roadmap to Recovery to push ahead.

Ararat Rural City Council chief executive Tim Harrison said the council had received funding to prepare for the next steps towards a ‘COVID normal’.

He said the council would use the money to help Ararat district businesses ensure they were able to take full advantage of the changes to restrictions.

“We’re very excited for the next step of the plan, because it gives our local businesses their first step towards economic recovery,” he said.

“We want to help as much as possible and are working to make accessing assistance as quick and simple as possible.”

Dr Harrison said the Ararat council had been working closely with the State Government to ensure hospitality businesses could open safely.

He said this included accessing support funding and making sure that any paperwork was simple to follow and quick to be acted upon.

“Hospitality businesses will be able to access up to $5000, which can be spent on new equipment and training staff to follow health and safety guidelines,” Dr Harrison said.

“This funding will help all our businesses open and adapt to the new restrictions.”

Applications for these grants open soon, with further information available on Business Victoria’s website, www.business.vic.gov.au.

The Ararat council is also working to ensure any permits required for businesses, such as outdoor dining and liquor licensing, are simple and promptly acted upon.

Any Ararat district businesses needing help can email the council via its website, www. ararat.vic.gov.au, call Tim Mcdougall on 5355 0264 or email tmcdougall@ararat.vic.gov.au, or Phillippa Cairns on 5355 0241 or pcairns@ ararat.vic.gov.au.