Response, Reactivation and Recovery Plan
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Response, Reactivation and Recovery Plan Response, Reactivation and Recovery Plan City of Ballarat’s swift response to the Covid-19 well as develop initiatives in support of local businesses pandemic prioritised the need to protect the and the community. health of residents and staff. Council’s Response City of Ballarat will continue to work hard to contain and Recovery Pandemic 2020 Plan was instigated and minimise the health and economic impacts of in March 2020. the virus on residents and local businesses; and A dual focus, along with the health imperative, was where possible to introduce measures and create on ensuring that where possible within government opportunities to offset the profound effects of the pandemic guidelines, the organisation was able to pandemic. continue the delivery of key services and projects as In 2020 – Recovery Commitments Underway: BUSINESS AND ECONOMY Support Initiative Value Conclusion Date Rate instalment payment $50,000 for 2019–2020 30 June 2021 deferrals and no interest on $175,000 for 2020–2021 late payments Deferred outdoor dining Fees were initially deferred until the end of January 2021 Fees waived until permit payments but has now been extended until January 2022 January 2022 Food Act Registration $60,154 Food Act waived fees March 2021 Public Health and Wellbeing $43,997 Public Health and Wellbeing Act waived fees Act Registration discounts TOTAL: $104,151 waived fees “Be Kind” Ballarat $150,000 Will run until early Marketing Campaign 2021 Establishment of a Contacted 610 businesses to check on business wellbeing Ongoing dedicated Economic and provide information on support packages and services Response Contact Centre available which has transitioned to a Business Concierge service Environmental Health 484 registered businesses have received hardship Ongoing until Team helped businesses to concessions to date. March 2021 operate in a Covid-19 safe manner 2 COMMUNITY RECOVERY Support Initiative Value Conclusion Date Provision of Lucas City of Ballarat provided Lucas Community Hub to UFS as 31 December Community Hub and CBD a COVID-19 Testing venue and the CBD Seniors Citizens 2020 Senior Citizens Centre facility was provided to Ballarat Health Services. Establishment of a From 1 May to 26 June 2020 316 public drop offs were 30 June 2020 temporary Donations received with 6,152 items donated. Centre non-perishable food Donations distributed to 6 local welfare agencies and items (8 weeks) to Federation University via 51 deliveries. 4 Foodbank deliveries were also received and distributed to local agencies in partnership with Ballarat Foundation and Ballarat Community Health. Helped local food agencies Council made 205 individual food hamper deliveries to 30 September with food deliveries vulnerable community members, supporting local welfare 2020 agencies who had limited volunteers available. This reverted back to the agencies to coordinate in September in line with easing restrictions. Family and Children’s Existing operational, these programs just moved into an Option for online Services supported families online environment. activities continues via online information, Parent Place: one-on-one phone support, • 16 videos produced by Parent Place/Family and virtual playgroups and Children’s Services team on-line first parent groups • 9 videos prepared by partner organisations • Continued online engagement of volunteers Supported Playgroups: • 91 engaged clients/families • 9–10 virtual playgroups a week since 23 April • Weekly phone calls or text messages with clients • 273 Supported Playgroup activity packs contactless delivered during lockdown • 11 editions of Supported Playgroup newsletters MCH: • First Time Parent Groups – 31 virtual groups averaging 4–8 families each group Maternal and Child Existing operational, these programs just moved into an Option for Health programs used online environment. telehealth will be a combination of home MCH: ongoing visiting, brief face to • 7,293 KAS consults completed. New born babies and face appointments and vulnerable families continued to be seen face-to-face telehealth consultation during lockdown Immunisation: • Approximately 9,000 childhood and school immunisations since March. • 5 childhood sessions continued to be provided weekly • School immunisation program provided 6 COVID sessions at BALC during lockdown • 24 school based sessions provided • Continuity of twice monthly immunisation service provision provided to Golden Plains Shire and two school immunisation sessions at Bannockburn Secondary College. • New booking app implemented 3 COMMUNITY RECOVERY Support Initiative Value Conclusion Date Let’s Pivot regional $5,000 committed to support this regional recovery December 2020 collaboration project program helped communities with resilience building Ageing Well assessment 4,231 assessments completed using telehealth Will be reviewed in team converted to January 2021 to telehealth determine if F2F will recommence Social Connections 1,897 hours of activities delivered with 575 residents Ongoing program used creative involved virtual alternatives to group activities Meals on Wheels continued 41,137 main meals provided to 792 residents The second as normal but with higher 45 volunteers have returned to MOW delivering meals Eureka site demand and a second site concluded on the set up at the Eureka Centre, 28 September as well as contactless 2020 and delivery delivery has now returned to normal. New online youth agencies 18 agencies engaged in network and over 1,200 views to Ongoing, to be network ‘Keeping Youth in webpage reviewed in 2021 the Loop’ developed Youth Awards delivered $10,000 committed to support 2020 awards and online Concluded online for the first time ever delivery, 91 nominations received and viewed by 1,585 September 2020 people. Partnering community Approx. $2,500 in sponsorship waived from 12 community Concluded organisations in youth organisations. September 2020 services had their financial sponsorship contributions waived. Youth led ‘Fully Sick’ online $4,000 for 2019–2020, online reach to 10,260 people Concluded music and arts festival $1,000 for 2020–2021, online reach to 1,615 people November 2020 Total 24 artists involved in 2020 festival. 50 ‘Fully Sick Festival’ in-home packs created for young people without internet access. Reusable masks, Donated items September 2020 thermometers and family activity packs were distributed to the intercultural community Fines waived for overdue Approximately $37,000 of fines waived February 2021 library items stopped Opening of Adult Exercise $50,000 – New exercise equipment installed specifically to November 2020 Equipment Project at Mount cater for senior members of the community. Pleasant Reserve Opening of new $70,000 – New fenced space including path network, July 2020 Pennyweight Park shelter and seating. Community Dog Park 4 COMMUNITY RECOVERY Support Initiative Value Conclusion Date Upgrades at Wendouree $30,000 – New path network and dog play equipment July 2020 Community Dog Park Upgrades at MR Power $30,000 – New path network and dog play equipment July 2020 Park Community Dog Park, Sebastopol Opening of new playspace $400,000 – New fenced district level play space including November 2020 at MR Power Park, picnic area, basketball space and integrated greenspace. Sebastopol Upgrades at Doug Dean $60,000 – The works include the installation of a new flying November 2020 Reserve in Delacombe fox, tree planting and additional seating. Opening of new Changing $250,000 - New fully accessible facility now open in North September 2020 Places and Accessible Gardens. Public Toilets Transformation of Albert $300,000 – Renovation project has transformed the CBD October 2020 Graham Reserve reserve with new play facilities and a 3x3 basketball court. 5 ADVOCACY Support Initiative Value Conclusion Date Advocacy for several long- Submissions to the Building Victoria Recovery Taskforce, 30 June 2020 term strategic projects DELWP, (June 2020) seeking planning support and fast tracking of key projects. Advocacy around fast Submissions to the Building Victoria Recovery Taskforce, 30 June 2020 tracking planning support DELWP, (June 2020) seeking planning support and fast tracking of key projects. Advocating on behalf of In-kind – Several funding submissions and project 31 December businesses and residents concepts developed based on community and business 2020 for funding to support sector priorities. changes and adaptations CASI Program Funding $64,746 secured from Victorian Government to provide 31 December Secured social connection to at risk community members 2020 6 For 2021 – Recovery Commitments Moving Forward: BUSINESS AND ECONOMY Support Initiative Value Conclusion Date Waiving outdoor dining 127 x $200 = $25,400 January 2022 permit fees to January 2022 (includes 41 new and 86 renewals) Temporarily waiving ‘A 44 x $100 waived fees = $4,400 Review in frame’ signage permit fees January 2022 for hospitality venues Waiving annual fee for local 6 x $560 waived = $3,360 Review in operators with Itinerant January 2022 Trading permits Waiving Local Law activity 16 x $200 waived = $3,200 Review in permit fees to operate a January 2022 recreational activity for commercial gain on City of Ballarat land Outdoor Dining Project $500,000 from Victorian Government's Local Councils January 2022 Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package grant – for outdoor dining hubs and small outdoor dining infrastructure for hospitality businesses in Ballarat Free booking and use of the 5 groups took up