Latest News

• Add My News • Search Old News

Latrobe Local News:
Council Works with Community towards COVID Recovery

You can still call Council on 1300 367 700 and receive assistance with COVID-19 related matters.

By Portal Admin - 21st December 2020 - Back to News

Latrobe City Council is helping residents and businesses recover from the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Council established a Helpline team during the pandemic to provide food, face masks and information to the public about supports available in a bid to ease the many pressures they were facing.

While that Helpline formally ended on 17 November, the public can still phone Council on 1300 367 700 and receive assistance with COVID-19 related matters.

For some people, the Helpline was also a sense of social connection during long periods of isolation.

"While Council is better known for looking after roads, rubbish and libraries, we also have staff dedicated to caring for the community. Their skills have come to the fore in times such as COVID," Latrobe City Council Mayor Cr Sharon Gibson said.

A major task for the team during COVID-19 was packing and distributing 9000 masks through some 30 organisations to people who asked for help. The Helpline team also provided food for vulnerable people with assistance from emergency relief providers.

"Food was dropped off at households in need where people had no other support and were in isolation for various reasons," Cr Gibson said.

Team members provided information, advice and interpretation of the restrictions, and provided the public with links to emergency relief services. Community groups were given access to training sessions that covered such topics as new ways of operating, grants available from Council and risk management.

"Members of community groups also received phone calls from the Helpline team to discuss how COVID was affecting them," Cr Gibson said.

"Council staff helped groups to apply for Council’s Community Grants for projects and to service the Latrobe City community."

The Helpline team will continue to provide referrals to internal and external services such as connecting people into aged care, libraries and homeless services.

The Helpline staff received 477 inbound calls from community members and businesses between 11 May and 17 November 2020.

During the same period, the Helpline staff phoned community members to gather information about the impact of the pandemic in Latrobe City. They found many respondents were uncertain about the future in relation to their health and wellbeing, education, employment and income.

Helpline staff also rang and visited businesses that were open.

Council will undertake further survey work over the coming months to monitor and identify changes in the impact of COVID-19 on the community to assist recovery planning and community support.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com

If you are the author of this story you can edit it by clicking here

• Council’s Responsibilities during the Local Council Election Period
  Council Election Caretaker Period from Tuesday 22 September to Saturday 24 October at 6pm.
• Council Elects New Mayor and Deputy Mayor
  Councillor Sharon Gibson is the new Mayor of Latrobe City
• Council Grants Support the Community
  138 projects funded through its Community Grants and Community Sponsorship programs.
• Council’s Building Services Team can Answer your Building Questions
  Building Services team is available to answer questions relating to building works and permits during the restrictions.
• Council working to help Business Access Outdoor Dining Assistance
  $87.5 million Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package ready to assist local businesses.
• Youth Council Spreads Health Message
  Good Food for Mental Health project was identified to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for the Latrobe City population.
• Latrobe City Council named an Employer of Choice
  Latrobe City Council, recognised as an Employer of Choice in The Australian Business Awards 2020.
• Early Works Underway for Car Parks in the Latrobe Valley
  Tests underway to determine feasibility of the eight preferred sites in Moe, Morwell and Traralgon.
• Community Sport Survival Package Second Round Open
  Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Survival Package – Round 2
• Renewal Works for Fincher Street
  Project is expected to be completed in early April.
• Community Motorsport Program Funding Open
  First motorsport and motorcycling funding program to back community clubs, participants and encourage greater female participation.
• Community Food Relief Fund Applications Open
  Launch of the State Governments $5 million Community Food Relief Fund
• Asphalt Works Coming Up
  Asphat sealing on road network in Wonthaggi, Inverloch, Woodleigh, Krowera and Grantville.
• Help us shape our Community Engagement Policy
  The final Policy is expected to be considered for adoption at the February 2021 Council Meeting.
• Caring for our Diverse Community
  Council appointed new members to the City Cultural Diversity Advisory Committee.
• Progress towards Workforce Win for Meat Processors
  Workforce limits on Victorian meat processors won’t be able to keep up during peak spring season.
• COVID Restriction Inconsistencies Raised
  Inconsistencies and confusion with respect to current COVID-19 rules and restrictions.
• COVID Small Steps Forward
  Optimism and disappointment with announcement of easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
• COVID Pandemic to Impact Seasonal Workforce
  A workable solution must be found before farmers put the for sale sign on the front gate.
• Give your Voting Ballot Papers to the VEC
  Mail your completed voting ballot papers for the council election to the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).
• A New Home for the Phillip Island Community and Learning Centre
  PICAL’s current site is set to be the site for the new Phillip Island Community Hospital.
• Draft Climate Action Plan 2020-24 Endorsed by Council
  The Plan identifies a number of actions to undertake to achieve the objective of zero net emissions over the next 10 years and to ensure a climate resilient community.
• Funding for More Latrobe Valley Community Projects
  Upgrades to community meeting spaces in Glengarry and Morwell with nearly $200,000 fund.
• Statement on COVID Restrictions for Regional Victoria
  Regional Victoria re-entering Stage 3 COVID restrictions this week.
• Rate Freeze, Not a Freeze for Some
  Council rate increases being experienced by a number of local rate-payers.
• New Regional COVID Rules a Mixed Bag
  Mixed views on COVID-19 restrictions for Regional Victorians.
• Northe Calls for Greater COVID Compassion
  Interstate travel exemption process applicable to persons seeking to say goodbye to a loved one or attend a funeral urged.
• New Paths lead to Improved Community Access
  Construction has started on a new path along Storey Street in Wonthaggi, between Wentworth Road and Korumburra Road.
• New Paths lead to Improved Community Access
  Construction has started on a new path along Storey Street in Wonthaggi, between Wentworth Road and Korumburra Road.
• Traralgon Renewable Energy Project Supported by Latrobe City Council
  Renewable energy project at Traralgon Neighbourhood Learning House.
• Wonthaggi Railway Station Extension in Progress
  Local design company DB Design, Council and the Historical Society worked closely to prepare the project and significant attention to detail was required to ensure it was supported by Heritage Victoria.
• Do your Bit for National Recycling Week
  There is still room to improve!
• Dalyston Readies for New Netball Precinct
  Bass Coast Shire Council has allocated $1.135 million to this $1.635 million project.
• Cowes Pool unable to Open this Summer
  Safety of the community is both Council’s and YMCA’s number one priority.
• Labor’s Bushfire Recovery ‘Plan’ Long Overdue
  Rolling old money up in a new press release delivers nothing for families, businesses and communities in East Gippsland and north east Victoria hit by January’s catastrophic bushfires.
• Bass Coast Welcomes Funding for Public and Community Housing
  $25 million for Bass Coast
• Latrobe City Advocates for Additional COVID-19 Testing Resources
  Additional COVID testing resources to assist in reducing the lengthy delays requested.
• Policies Adopted in Time for New Act
  The Public Transparency Policy 2020 provides clarity on the information Council must make available, access to that information and categories of information that Council may not be able to make available to the public.
• Northe Highlights COVID Concerns
  Concerns raised relating to the State Government’s COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2020.
• Northe Calls for Budget for Big Builds
  Russel calls for meaningful support for economic recovery to the Latrobe Valley. It is important the local economy could be stimulated and encouraged with valuable developments in the region.
• Call Out for Creative Ideas to Boost Tourism
  Ideas needed for creative projects that have strong potential to become new tourist attractions, contributing to the economic recovery of the region in 2021 and beyond.
• Regions Still in Lockdown Despite No New Cases
  Why do communities and businesses in country Victoria can’t move to the Last Step?