Shoalhaven City Council Announces $17.5M COVID-19 Financial Relief Pa
Published on 13 May 2020
At last night’s Strategy & Assets Committee Meeting, Shoalhaven City Council revealed a $17.5M COVID-19 Financial Relief Package to help ratepayers during this extremely difficult period. On top of financial assistance measures previously announced to support businesses and development activity across the Shoalhaven, the further support package revealed last night offers direct financial support to every property owner in the Shoalhaven to the extent of $300 for 2020/21 financial year. Shoalhaven City Council CEO Stephen Dunshea said “This relief package is another step towards seeing our region recover from what was a devastating summer season, now compounded by the impact of this terrible COVID-19 crisis.”
“In recognizing the varying degree to which the coronavirus pandemic is impacting each home, property or business owner, Council will shortly be writing to all property owners with the offer of $300 in direct financial support to reduce the cost of their Council rates, water, sewer and domestic waste management charges in 2020/21” Mr. Dunshea said.
“Council’s assistance package will total an estimated $17.5 million should all property owners accept the offer of this assistance.”
Property owners who choose to advise Council that they wish to accept the assistance in response to the letter of offer, will see credit amounts appear on their rates and water/sewer bills to the combined value of $300. “In reducing the amounts payable for 2020/21, it provides all property owners with more in their pockets to help during these difficult times.” Mr Dunshea said.
Mr Dunshea further stated that “In adopting the relief package, Council decided to make it a ‘whole of Council’ approach by spreading the reductions across the various charges. Where property owners do not attract any or all of the water, sewer and domestic waste management charges, the full value of the assistance will be provided by adjusting the Council rates relief .”
The package still needs to be adopted by Council during the Ordinary Meeting later this month, following this, letters will be sent to property owners. If no response is received prior to 30 June 2020, it will be deemed that individual owners have decided to ‘opt-out’ and not take up the offer of assistance. Those who have ‘opted out’ however will still be able to seek assistance under Council’s Hardship Policy should circumstance change during the year.