Urgent $32m to help city

RESIDENTS who are yet to pay rates and businesses who have bills with the council need not bother paying for now, after Townsville City Council passed a $32.3 million hardship package to cushion the economic blow of coronavirus.

The council, through a special meeting yesterday while in caretaker mode, resolved to enact a list of measures to assist ratepayers, business owners, developers, and local contractors.

It is understood the council is also expected to make an announcement within days about whether libraries and other public facilities will stay open.

The first tranche of measures, outlined last week, include making parking free in the CBD, benefiting those who remain working in the city or who are coming in to shop or run other errands.

Rates notices have been deferred until at least June 30, though Mayor Jenny Hill said there was nothing that could be done for those that have already paid.

Hotel and motel owners, which are suffering due to increasingly restrictive venue lockdowns, will also be provided relief through the deferral of pedestal charges, better known as the “toilet tax”, which raised $24.2 million for the council last year.

Fees and charges for sporting clubs and associations will be deferred. Development application fees and infrastructure charges will be discounted.

The second tranche of measures, announced yesterday, include moves to support more than 300 contractors used by the council, promote small businesses through social media, and redeploy council staff to assist with essential community services.

This includes changing the council’s invoicing policy so contractors are paid within 14 days, instead of the current 30.

All measures are expected to expire on June 30, though it is expected that will be extended if agreed upon by the new council.

Councillors had to be called in for the special meeting because the chief executive cannot sign off on measures that impact the budget.

The first and second tranche of measures will cost the council $2.3 million and $30 million respectively.

Waste and water services are guaranteed to continue to run regardless of the COVID-19 impact as they are considered essential services.