By Jeremy Sollars
Southern Downs councillors will discuss a wide range of potential COVID-19 responses at a special meeting tomorrow – Friday 15 May – including extending the payment period for current water and sewerage charges until the end of June.
The meeting via teleconference of councillors at the Warwick and Stanthorpe chambers due to COVID-19 restrictions will be live-streamed to the public on the council’s Facebook page from 2pm tomorrow.
The agenda for the meeting lists a “first stage” of the council’s draft program of measures relating to COVID-19 response and recovery.
Here’s the full list of measures proposed and to be discussed tomorrow by councillors –
• Extend the payment period for water and sewerage levies issued in April 2020 up until the end of June 2020
• Waive interest on overdue rates and charges calculated at 30 June 2020
• Suspension of debt recovery activities for all outstanding rates and charges
• Refund of fees and charges for forward bookings for community events which are cancelled as a result of COVID-19
• Waiving of fees for temporary event permits up until 31 December 2020
• Suspension of charging of interest on outstanding rates and charges
• Extension of the period of time that can be entered into for existing payment arrangements
• Accelerate the processing of payment of all invoices, wherever possible meeting a fourteen day timeframe
• Waiving of food license fees for 2020/2021
• 50% reduction in all development assessment fees for any new applications, extensions to existing applications and operational works applications fees for 2020/2021
• Moratorium on the application of the Invasive Pest Control levy for 2020/21
• Refocus the community grants program on COVID-19 recovery actions arising from the recovery plan for 2020/21
• Waive the rental accommodation license fees and caravan park permit fees for 2020/2021
The agenda also outlines in broad terms a series of “stage two” measures –
• Reductions in pedestal charges
• Early release of refocused Community Grants Program
• Accelerating capital works program
• Partnerships to enhance community wellbeing. Special Council Meeting – 15 May 2020 4
• Consideration of extended payment terms for 2020/21 rates and levies.
Mayor Vic Pennisi has previously not ruled out a freeze on general rates increases but has acknowledged the widespread expected impact of COVID-19 on residential and commercial ratepayers.
The council’s 2020-2021 budget is still being compiled and Cr Pennisi has not yet announced a date for the budget’s release, but it is normally handed down by the end of June.
The agenda for tomorrow’s meeting states “to deal with the far reaching impacts of COVID-19 a staged approach is required by Council in order to support the community, and Council will continue to implement further initiatives as recovery moves forward”.
“Longer term possible announcements will focus on accelerating capital works projects specifically designed to inject money into the local economy and align with Federal and State Funding opportunities,” the agenda states.
“It’s important the first stage of Council relief as well as subsequent further stages are not duplicating support from other levels of government, but rather are ensuring those who aren’t already receiving assistance are given the vital help they need.”
