COVID-19 Response and Recovery

On Tuesday 14 April, Councillors endorsed a number of COVID-19 response actions now in place, and other response and recovery initiatives being developed for determination by Council, to support our community and businesses.​​​​

Actions to date amount to a cost of $944,000, with a further $1 - $1.5 million in initiatives to be considered.

Hardship Provisions
Hardship Policy

A range of initiatives have been actioned to provide community and business support through the legislative and policy mechanisms available to Council, and at this stage, with a particular focus on actions under Council's Hardship Policy. These actions include:

  • Suspension of interest charges on outstanding rates for a maximum period of six months (no application needed)
  • Suspension of debt collection activities (no application needed) ​​​​​

  • Provision to defer quarterly rate instalments for Q4 2019/20 and Q1 2020/21 for all categories of ratepayer (on application, evidence required).

  • Establishment of extended periodic payment plans (on application).

  • Expansion of hardship provisions to incorporate business ratepayers subject to eligibility criteria aligned to ‘Job Keeper’ eligibility criteria.

  • Waiving of lease payments for Council Lease/Licence holders for six months from 1 March 2020 for identified tenants.
  • Council tenants currently excluded can apply for consideration based on hardship.

More information on how to access hardship provisions is available here.

Council encourages any ratepayer experiencing difficulties in making payments to contact Council's rates team on (02) 4934 9700.

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For business
Response

Maitland Council will be implementing a range of support initiatives for local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic including:

  • ABR Database Project (to expand Council/Business Communication)
    To expand the current database of businesses from 860 to the 15,000 businesses that exist across the city.
  • Business Matters COVID-19 Editions – Free
    Online newsletter with supporting blogs, currently distributed to around 860 businesses and including the latest information on government and other support and business opportunities during this pandemic period. 
  • Vibrant City Sponsorship Program - $20,000**

    The program offers both in kind and financial sponsorship to local organisations that fit within the guiding principles of the Maitland City Council Sponsorship Policy.

  • The ‘Grants Guy’ Webinar Series - $1,000**
    Series of three webinars covering applying for grants, tackling tenders and business planning through difficult times. Available for free to all businesses in Maitland.

  • A Taste of Maitland food and beverage promotion - $10,000** 
    Online promotion to encourage residents to support local food and beverage outlets.

  • Social Media Campaign promoting The Levee businesses - $5,000** 
    Campaign to build community awareness of businesses at The Levee that are open and/or have online shopping available.

  • Fast tracking actions from the draft Destination Management Plan - $30,000** 
    To allow for online service delivery, user generated content and improved user experience for both now and in anticipation of when restrictions on movement are lifted to encourage visitation to local businesses and attractions.
  • Marketing and Promotion Rates - Maitland CBD - Revenue foregone $337,000
    Council will maintain its commitment to the marketing and promotion of Central Maitland as a lifestyle precinct focused on The Levee. Funding for this is raised through a two tiered special rate - the first, a lower tier over a defined footprint of the CBD and the second, a higher tier on properties with defined frontages to The Levee (former Mall). From 2020/21 it is proposed to discontinue the higher rate applying to the properties fronting The Levee (former Mall) and maintain only the broader CBD special rate. 

**Funding is available in the current operating budget and initiative is underway or in development

Recovery

Recovery support initiatives below are for further development and identification of funding, for consideration and determination by Council as the City moves through the course of the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic.

 ​​​​​Innovation Grants for start-ups/adaptation of business*

  • Grant funding for start-ups and businesses to develop solutions and create opportunities that respond to the current pandemic.
  • Business Accelerator Program*
    Support and assistance to help businesses take their business online, including but not limited to e-commerce opportunities.
  • Place Score for key commercial centres*
    Undertaking research to establish an understanding of the impact of the current situation on key commercial centres and recovery indicators.
  • ​​​​​​Central Maitland Business Prospectus Launch $5,000**

    Release of the Business Prospectus, direct targeting of business prospects, and supporting marketing and promotional campaign.

    • Direct targeting of new businesses
    • Promotional campaign
  • Morpeth Business Prospectus Development and Launch $5,000**
    Development of a Business Prospectus, direct targeting of business prospects, and supporting marketing and promotional campaign.
    • Direct targeting
    • Promotional campaign
  • Visitor and City Economy PR campaigns - $50,000**
    Recommencing planned campaigns to generate media coverage promoting Maitland as a great place to live, work, visit and invest.
  • ‘The Levee’ major promotion including giveaways - $90,000** 
    Multimedia promotional campaign to generate direct sales in businesses incentivized with a major giveaway.
  • Love NSW DNSW led campaign - $16,000**
    Social media campaign focusing on food and wine and history and culture.
  • ‘Make it Maitland’ campaign Year 2 - $100,000**
    Build on the success of the first Make it Maitland campaign, this would be about promoting the visitor economy, one of the hardest hit sectors by the pandemic.

* Currently unfunded – funding sources will need to be identified and reported back to Council for consideration
**Funding is included in the current budget or the draft operating budget 20/21

For the community
Response

Initiatives and actions that will support business and the community during the pandemic are being developed, expanded or fast tracked in current or from future service programs and include: 

  • An expanded community grants program*
    To enable Council to provide financial assistance to existing community support and other groups who are providing community support services during the pandemic* (additional to the up to $50,000 allocated by Council to Maitland Neighbourhood Centre)
  • Creative Streets Funding - $60,000**
    Council partnering with the community to co-create, reimagine and creatively transform places around Maitland through temporary and semi-permanent projects. Program is currently open. Deadline will be extended and a new category added to include opportunity for rapid response initiatives including online.
  • #mymaitland Community Vibe Online Campaign - $10,000**
    Building on the previous successful #mymaitland campaigns, this will be the opportunity for the community to share their past and current #mymaitland experiences.
  • Live @ The Levee (Home Sessions) $12,000** 
    Taking the existing Live @ The Levee program online on the third Friday of each month. Music will be livestreamed and viewers will be encouraged to purchase takeaway or use a home delivery service from The Levee businesses, whilst they watch the music in the comfort of their own homes.

*Currently unfunded – funding sources will need to be identified and reported back to Council for consideration
**Funding is included in the current budget or the draft operating budget 20/21​​​​

Recovery

Initiatives and actions identified that would support the community recovery as the pandemic eases, and as the restrictions embodied in the current public health orders begin to be reviewed and lifted. Again, these initiatives are being developed, expanded or brought forward in current or from future service programs, and include: 

  • Rebound/recovery events, activities and promotions supporting reconnection within neighbourhoods and across the community, such as:
    • ‘My Place’ funding program* 
      The opportunity for the community to put forward their ideas online for how they would like their suburb to celebrate once the pandemic is over and receive funding to make it happen.
    • Street Eats and entertainment across multiple suburbs - $15,000** 
      A series of Street Eats and entertainment happening in multiple suburbs across consecutive weekends.
    • A ‘Rebound Campaign’ of Council, business and community initiatives and promotions supported by Council*
      Promotion similar to the previous Summer in Maitland campaign, whereby all Council, business and community initiatives are promoted together to encourage local and visitor participation.
  •  City wide creative arts program* 
    Offering support to the highly impacted creative community, this could include public art commissions, lighting and projection initiatives, live performances, theatre etc. right across the city.
  • New community infrastructure projects funded through COVID-19 grant relief opportunities should they arise.

  • COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Grant Program - up to $120,000 ***
    Offering up to $120,000 in community grants awarded to local non-profit community based organisations/groups, sporting groups and associations, service clubs and businesses for projects and initiatives that address community needs and encourage community reconnection in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

*Currently unfunded – funding sources will need to be identified and reported back to Council for consideration
**Funding is included in the current budget or the draft operating budget 20/21​​​​​
***Following an extensive review of the 2019/20 budget, funding has been identified​​​​ that at this stage will cover these initiatives​​​​​​