Councillors voted to give those who had lost their job and were claiming JobSeeker as the result of the pandemic up to $500 off their rates notices as a measure to help.

The package, taken from an allocation of $100,000, also includes up to $500 off commercial rates for businesses that have had to use the JobKeeper scheme as a result of the pandemic.

The money is in addition to a hardship policy that was announced in April 2020.

Those initial measures included suspending debt recovery recovery action for unpaid rates; a waiver on interest on overdue 2019/20 rates; as well as payment plans for animal registration.

Director Philippa O'Sullivan said the council had budgeted for around $150,000 of outstanding interest payments to be waived as a result of the initial hardship policy.

Up to $100 of rates relief is also available for businesses who can demonstrate a loss of income greater than 30 per cent.

Councillors also agreed an extension to a policy of waiving interest on overdue bills. This was due to finish on September 30 this year, and will now carry on until June 30, 2021, the end of the next financial year.

In a discussion on the policy, Cr Helena Kirby said she would like to make sure there was money in reserve in case the entire $100,000 allocation was used up.

The mayor Cr Owen Sharkey said the measures were a "significant financial relief package" which would would offer support for "residents and businesses that need it the most". It was unanimously approved by councillors at the online meeting on Tuesday night.

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