Wakefield Regional Council’s bold move to help its community through a rates relief and grants package has been praised by Member for Frome Geoff Brock MP as forward thinking and supportive.

“This council understands the pain its ratepayers may be going through during the COVID-19 Pandemic and is creating strategies to support its communities and help them through this difficult time,” Mr Brock said.

“The economic downturn caused by this virus requires leadership from all levels of government to ensure small business and community organisations survive and are able to re-establish themselves when we come out at the other end of this pandemic.”

“It is just this type of initiative I have been trying to encourage State Parliament to consider when it comes to support for sporting organisations and community groups,” Mr Brock said.

“I have attempted to have an amendment to the COVID-19 Emergency Response Bill passed in Parliament. It was passed in the Upper House, but we are still waiting for the outcome to see if it is passed into law that the government will waive prescribed costs in relation to the supply of water and sewerage services.”

Mr Brock said the Wakefield Regional Council’s decision to adopt a package to directly target those impacted by the pandemic measures included rate relief for impacted businesses, ratepayers, sporting clubs and community groups, with a full remission of fourth quarter 2019/20 rates and service charges for those who can show they have been directly impacted by COVID-19.

“They are also making grants available of up to $5.000 for impacted businesses to help with the engagement of professional support services or to encourage operational improvements or repositioning, and there will also be utilities support of up to $5,000 for sporting clubs and community organisations to help pay their water and electricity bills.”

Mr Brock said Mayor Rodney Reid announced that there may be more measures to come to help through these difficult times.