It’s been a challenging time for all of us with the continuing Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation. While nation-wide measures to help slow the spread have greatly affected our day-to-day lives, I would like to reassure everyone across the community that we are doing all that we can to support our residents, small businesses and community clubs.
To reduce the financial pressure on households, we are working to introduce a freeze on municipal rates and charges including security and waste charges as well as removing instalment, interest and penalty fees. We are also removing client fees for community care services and reducing meal fees for all Home and Community Care (HACC) and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) recipients for the next two months.
When it comes to supporting local business, we have partnered with Business Foundations to provide tailored one-on-one advice on business continuity planning, ways of identifying and reducing financial pressures, and implementing immediate business strategies. In addition, the City has introduced a new Small Business Information Hotline on (08) 9205 8904 to offer advice and assistance to local businesses.
Last week, I visited several local small businesses with Federal Member for Stirling Vince Connelly MP to get an idea of the challenges they are facing at the moment and to let them know that the City is here to help. We also checked in on the City’s Meals on Wheels team in Balcatta to find out how they were preparing for an expected increase in demand for delivered meals.
When we spoke to a Woolworth’s representative at the Westminster store it was clear there was an incredible amount of work going on behind the scenes to meet community demand. After speaking to a mix of business people, it was heartening to know that regardless of the size of the business, everyone was rising to the challenge.
With Vince Connelly at Woolworths in Westminster
To look out for the most vulnerable members of our community, we have implemented a series of new services including a support hotline. We now have the dedicated phone line 1800 729 655 available for seniors and people with a disability, multicultural and Aboriginal communities, families and young people. The City is also distributing emergency packs containing toiletry and sanitary items to identified vulnerable individuals and families.
Our Meals on Wheels team has been stepping up its production from 500 meals to 1,000 meals per day in anticipation of increased community demand. If you are already a Meals on Wheels client and would like to receive extra meals, please contact the service on its regular number. People not already using the service, but are interested in receiving meals, should phone (08) 9205 8579. Please note that priority will be given to elderly residents and people with a disability at this stage.
The City's Meals on Wheels preparation area
We now have a dedicated webpage on the City’s website to keep the community informed of changes to City of Stirling services and facilities as they occur. The www.stirling.wa.gov.au/update webpage includes information about essential services, cancellation or postponement of local programs and events as well as links to state, federal and international health authorities.
In other news, the Recycling Centre Balcatta has the green light to undergo a total redevelopment. Council recently voted in favour of the much-needed upgrade, as many outdated aspects of the ageing facility are set to reach the end of their useful life. Amongst the centre’s shortfalls, its single entry and exit point regularly causes congestion on site and the existing Waste Transfer Station - which originally took shape 40 years ago as a bailing station - is now not fit for purpose.
With the City's Waste Education Officer Vanja Marjanovic
The redevelopment will ultimately re-shape the facility into three distinct areas – a Free Community Drop-Off section that accepts recycling materials, a Paid & Pass Community Drop-Off to dispose of green waste/general junk and a Waste Transfer Station for commercial and bulk waste disposal. The City is set to start developing designs for a revamped centre later this year and work is expected to get underway during the 2021/2022 financial year.
Before the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation took hold, we thanked our Adopt-a-Park supporters with an appreciation breakfast at Stirling Civic Gardens. Crs Felicity Farrelly and Elizabeth Re were also on hand to thank the dedicated supporters for all their efforts in keeping the City’s parks and reserves safe and clean.
Adopt-A-Park supporters enjoy a coffee
With the City of Stirling covering such an extensive area, the time that supporters put into keeping a watchful eye on local parks and reserves is invaluable. From reporting issues such as graffiti and illegal dumping to picking up litter, they really do a wonderful job.
We also recently launched the City’s very first parklet in Inglewood. Gaining popularity as way of supporting local business and fostering community engagement, parklets are small and creative public parks that make use of parking bays.
With Deputy Mayor Bianca Sandri and members of the Respoke team in the Dundas parklet
Once we get past the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, the parklet designed by Respoke will be another opportunity to attract more people to Inglewood and in turn, support local business. The parklet outside Finlay and Sons café on Dundas Road features a swing bench for people of all ages and ‘Jenga style’ seating. We are currently developing a second Inglewood parklet that will be added to the corner of 7th Avenue and Beaufort Street.
With the COVID-19 response putting many City services, programs and facilities on hold, the next issue of the bi-monthly Stirling Scene will not be produced in its usual magazine format. In its place, the City has produced a one-page ‘Stirling News’ feature that has appeared in local papers and is available via the City’s website here.
If you’re looking for ways to help maintain positive mental health, the City’s digital library is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The service offers a huge selection of eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines to download as well as the Kanopy movie streaming platform.
Most recently, Stirling Libraries has launched its very own app to access these services from the palm of our hand. Look for ‘City of Stirling Libraries’ on Google Play or the App Store to download the app or head to www.stirling.wa.gov.au/libraries for more information about the City’s digital library.
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