Gunnedah's councillors have adopted the new $1.02 million 'Invigorate Gunnedah' funding package to support locals through the ongoing pandemic.
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Councillors voted at Wednesday's ordinary meeting to adopt the funding package, which has a number of short, medium and long term strategies to get Gunnedah back on track.
There were a few disagreements during the meeting, but it was ultimately decided that some of these contentious items would be removed from the package.
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The medium term item 'boost funding for NightQuip' will be removed, as NightQuip will no longer run due to the cancellation of AgQuip.
Two short term items will also be removed. The first is 'encourage local businesses to bring forward Christmas bonus' in the form of providing Gunny Money gift cards to employees'.
The second, 'provide Gunnedah shire ratepayers on the pensioner concession rate a $200 Gunny Money gift card', will also be removed.
Deputy mayor Rob Hooke was the main proponent behind removing these items.
Cr Hooke said during the meeting that Christmas bonus' "could be seen as funds themselves" rather than just gift cards, and said that giving gift cards to pensioners was "only going to be fair for part of the population".
"While it's got the right intent, and I really admire the team for putting the suggestion forward, I don't think it's a good move," Cr Hooke said.
"[Pensioners' gift card funds] should be redistributed in areas where we could actually help stimulate our economy and businesses."
Council's support and business focus will assist us build capacity to face the 'new normal'.
- Chamber president Juliana McArthur
An additional $3500 will also be moved from the council's general revenue to fund the package. This is on top of the reallocation of $600,000 of unspent funds from the Farmer Army budget, and $205,500 from general revenue.
Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce president Juliana McArthur delivered a presentation at the meeting, and was particularly appreciative of the short-long term measure to significantly boost funding for Business Partner Program, to "help get businesses back on their feet and assist employment generating projects".
"The extra $200,000 to the Business Partner Program is a wonderful commitment by council, and chamber applauds the initiative," Mrs McArthur said.
"We are a motivated and resilient business community but we are faced with some significant challenges. Council's support and business focus will assist us build capacity to face the 'new normal'.
"There are big numbers involved for council but the significant local spend proposed to stimulate business and create investment opportunities is essential to our economic wellbeing."
Invigorate Gunnedah is the second phase of the COVID-19 Business Support Package.
The first was introduced after the April council meeting, and was targeted at the initial shock when the pandemic first hit.