Katherine Town Council will receive a share of $13.1 million of Territory government funding to support local government in seeing their communities through the pandemic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Minister for Local Government Gerald McCarthy says the assistance is to help councils implement measures in supporting job creation, waiving and deferring rates for businesses in hardship and re-purposing unspent grants.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges and the Territory Labor Government is doing everything possible to help Territorians to get through these difficult times," Mr McCarthy said.
"We are supporting the Local Government sector to continue to deliver essential services, create and support jobs and keep communities throughout the Territory sustainable and operational.
More reading:
"Our initiatives will also help councils to improve sanitation in council areas and engage local communities in activities, messages and signage that will help to keep Territorians safe as we work through this pandemic together," he said.
The news comes after KTC announced earlier this month they are "considering" waiving rate increases.
"Council is considering a zero rates increase for the next financial year," Mayor Fay Miller said.
"We are also considering our Hardship Policy in order to assist those who might wish to seek assistance from council in the form of payment of rates by alternative instalments.
"In good faith, I have opted to take a decrease in my mayoral allowance and am hoping that other areas such as keeping our fees and charges at a zero increase," she said.
While not entirely unexpected, the initiatives from the Department of Local Government, Housing and Community Development in collaboration with the Local Government Association of the NT Territory are unique among Australia's States and Territories.
Measures include:
- Establishment of a one-off $7.1 million Special Community Assistance and Local Employment (SCALE) program in 2019-20 to: provide immediate funding to assist with council employment and operating costs; support jobs creation and maintenance opportunities in communities; provide targeted rates relief; and assist with COVID-19-related compliance and management costs.
- Establishment of a $6 million Council Support Package in 2020-2021 to support councils in offering rates waivers and deferrals for commercial ratepayers facing hardship.
- Inviting councils to repurpose approved, unspent grants under the Special Purpose Grants and Strategic Local Government Infrastructure Fund programs for initiatives related to business continuity or COVID-19-related costs.
Additionally, the commencement of the Local Government Act 2019 has been deferred for 12 months to allow councils, and others affected by the new legislation, time to concentrate on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With Katherine Town Council's monthly meeting set for tomorrow night, the impact of this support for Katherine residents is bound to become clear over the coming days.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday at 6am from the Katherine Times. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.
