Brimbank City Council is continuing to support its diverse community to respond to and recover from the coronavirus crisis, while acknowledging the ongoing and emerging challenges facing residents and businesses.
In April, Council adopted the whole-of-council Brimbank Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response and Recovery Strategy, and a progress report was presented at the Council meeting on Tuesday (19 May 2020).
Since the strategy was adopted, 75 per cent of the identified actions are now underway. A further 16 per cent of actions are complete and 9 per cent are ready to be rolled out as part of stage 2.
Highlights include:
- 73 applications approved for rate deferral under the Brimbank COVID-19 Financial Hardship Policy, and 58 sports clubs and associations advised of financial relief options.
- Libraries staff have processed 500 new online library memberships in just over six weeks, and delivered 6772 books and library items to residents’ homes as part of the ‘Library to Your Door’ initiative.
- An average of 642 over-the-phone maternal and child health consultations conducted each week.
- Direct engagement with almost 600 local businesses to understand their needs, including the start of planning for a new Local Business COVID-19 Recovery Taskforce.
- Facilitating 84 ‘window visits’, whereby staff communicate at the front door or porch with elderly residents who live alone, are over 90 years of age or who experience poor mental health or wellbeing.
Brimbank Mayor, Cr Georgina Papafotiou said Council has adapted to the crisis by providing services safely and in different ways, and is now looking towards recovery.
Council has been speaking with community service providers and residents to understand how the crisis is affecting sections of the community, which has helped inform a Brimbank Community Impact Analysis.
‘While we’ve been continuing to provide essential services, it’s also about helping our community stay engaged, healthy and maintain a sense of normality at this time – whether that’s through a book, an online gym class or a phone call to check in,’ Cr Papafotiou said.
‘We know Brimbank is susceptible to a prolonged coronavirus crisis, so we are putting our community first, and listening to their needs to help us get through this crisis and come out strongly on the other side.
‘Council will continue to work in good faith to support residents, and in continuing to engage to align and integrate our coronavirus response and recovery with the work of the Federal Government, State Government, local businesses, social services and stakeholders.’
