By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council has received a petition calling for a fee waiver to be introduced on rates, for residents facing hardship due to COVID-19.
The petition – which has been signed by 77 people – said the council should apply the fee waiver to rates, up to a certain percentage, or on a case-by-case basis.
The petition was listed in the council meeting’s agenda last Tuesday. The agenda did not specify who had submitted the petition, due to privacy reasons.
The petition said: “This pandemic has affected everyone, including our local business owners, employees and their families.
“It also has an impact on local residents and their families who are not owners and employees of businesses in Wyndham as they have lost their jobs or work hours reduced.”
The agenda said the council would prepare a report to respond to the petition, at the next council meeting on June 23.
In April, Cr Intaj Khan raised a notice of motion urging the council to adopt a 10 per cent fee waiver on its rates, for each property across the city, due to the pandemic.
However, the motion was not supported by most other Wyndham councillors.
Earlier this year, the council established a $5 million WYNLocal Economic Support Package, as well as a small business support program and rates and fees relief for local businesses, due to the pandemic.
