Newcastle Council will be discussing the development of a COVID-19 economic resilience package, and will change conditions on supermarkets, doctors’ surgeries and outdoor dining restaurants to help cope with the corona virus outbreak.
Newcastle Council say they have been working with the NSW Government to ease pressure by giving supermarkets more flexible delivery times and truck movements, allowing doctors’ surgeries to stay open longer and lifting restrictions on the use of footpaths for food premises to help patrons practice effective social distancing.
The 'Community and Economic Resilience Package', will be discussed at Tuesday night's ordinary council meeting, and will respond to the economic and social disruption of the corona virus in the Newcastle area.
The Council has raised concerns people may need to be in isolation for unknown periods, resulting in small businesses facing supply chain issues, reduced economic activity and an increased unemployment rate.
Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor, Declan Clausen, says the package will look at ways of developing the skills, accelerating digital literacy and growing community cohesion among local businesses.
"It is important businesses have the opportunity to engage in training so they can work efficiently online, especially when it is harder to meet face to face''.
"The
more flexible approach will allow essential businesses and service providers to
operate more responsively to the City’s changing needs in line with the latest
advice from the NSW Government," Newcastle Council said.
“One of the
ways we can help ease pressures right now is to be pragmatic in our approach to
regulation in line with the latest advice from the NSW Government,” Lord Mayor of Newcastle Nuatali Nelmes said.
“Supermarkets
struggling to meet unprecedented demand can increase the number of daily
deliveries, and their delivery trucks can arrive later or earlier than usual to
help ensure shelves remain stocked."
"We only ask that businesses let their neighbors know about the changes and likewise ask for understanding from
nearby residents. "
Medical
practices will also be able to stay open longer or set up flexible testing
arrangements aiming to ease the demand on hospitals and support our wonderful
health system and front line medicos.
“Restaurateurs
will enjoy more flexibility with outdoor dining options for safe social
distancing in line with Government directives as we continue to use levers at
our disposal to facilitate community and economic resilience," Councillor Nelmes said.
Councillor Nelmes says the approach complements the Community
and Economic Resilience package currently under development by City of
Newcastle staff.
The 'Community and Economic Resilience Package', will be discussed at Tuesday night's ordinary council meeting, and will respond to the economic and social disruption of the corona virus in the Newcastle area.
The Council has raised concerns people may need to be in isolation for unknown periods, resulting in small businesses facing supply chain issues, reduced economic activity and an increased unemployment rate.
"It is important businesses have the opportunity to engage in training so they can work efficiently online, especially when it is harder to meet face to face''.
''Local businesses are being encouraged to contact council if they are struggling to operate in such unprecedented times, and we will work to get consent conditions relaxed".
Meanwhile, Newcastle Council continues to work with government agencies to limit the spread of the virus.
A decision has been made to close Fort Scratchley until further notice, to protect the visitors and volunteers from the Fort Scratchley Historical Society who run the facility.
The closure is consistent with advice from Museums & Galleries of NSW encouraging all volunteer-run museums and galleries to close and for all volunteer support programs to be suspended temporarily.
Newcastle Councils broader volunteer services have also been suspended temporarily.
