AS COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS EASED DURING THE SECOND HALF OF 2021–22, WE STARTED TRANSITIONING BACK TO IN-PERSON SERVICES AND A HYBRID WORKING ENVIRONMENT. OVER THE YEAR, WE RESPONDED TO COMMUNITY NEEDS WITH ASSISTANCE PACKAGES, BUSINESS GRANTS, FINANCIAL RELIEF, ADVICE AND SUPPORT.
As the closest level of government to the community, we play a critical role in emergency management. We continued our COVID-19 response in 2021–22, maintaining working groups such as the COVID-19 Pandemic Committee and the Pandemic Response and Recovery Team.
We provided expertise and guidance to staff and residents on restrictions, testing, quarantine and vaccination requirements, ensuring information was widely available in printed form and in numerous community languages.
We also worked closely with our local public health units to ensure vulnerable and isolated residents were supported and we created a mobile vaccination clinic to service our local community.
In line with State Government directives and for the health of our community, we had to continually postpone non-essential services and events. We also closed key facilities, including the Service Centre at Town Hall, Glen Eira Leisure, Glen Eira Libraries and the Youth Centre.
We were able to open facilities in public open spaces, such as playgrounds and fitness equipment and Bailey Reserve Skate Park, however, there were occasions where we had to stop bookings for sportsgrounds, pavilions and sports facilities. Our winter sporting teams abandoned many of their matches and competitions in the middle of their season as the State locked down in 2021.
We used innovative processes to run essential services, such as immunisation, in-home support, waste, customer service and maternal and child health. These included moving services online where possible, conducting telephone appointments and using Microsoft Teams for onsite meetings. We gradually transitioned back to in-person services as restrictions eased in 2022.
With the constant closure and reopening of our key services, we moved to providing many of our services online. This affected our casual staff and 330 staff members were not required and were not rostered during the lockdown periods.
Staff that could work from home, continued to work from home during lockdown restrictions between July 2021 and October 2021. As restrictions eased, we welcomed the opportunity to recommence our face-to-face services.
We maintained and updated infection control procedures, which kept our staff and community safe. When staff were able to return to the workplace, they did so under the State Government directive, which included wearing masks and adhering to density guidelines. All staff were required to undertake COVID-19 training that covers safety measures such as vaccination requirements, hygiene and cleaning measures and how to respond to a COVID-19 suspected or confirmed case.
The State Government introduced mandatory COVID-19 vaccination orders and all staff were required to provide evidence they had received approved COVID-19 vaccinations. These orders are still applicable for specified workers and facilities.
We continued to support the community as we commenced the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the key initiatives we undertook this year included:
- introducing our Hardship Rates Relief Support Package which allows ratepayers to apply for a rate relief credit of $150 on Council rates and a pro-rata adjustment for the Fire Services Property Levy;
- waivers for new registration and renewal fees that supported 1,413 food and health and wellbeing businesses;
- installing 20 outdoor dining parklets to cater for more patrons;
- converting the Godfrey Street, Bentleigh car park into the Bentleigh Urban Living Space to entice residents and visitors back to local shopping centres;
- delivering the Digital Pathways Program to assist business owners in developing their digital literacy;
- recruiting two COVID-19 Business Support Officers to assist businesses to implement COVID safe plans;
- relaxing parking infringements resulting in lost revenue of more than $1.7 million;
- running free weekly online fitness sessions at Glen Eira Leisure;
- running free online StoryTime session at Glen Eira Libraries;
- providing a dedicated local COVID-19 Hotline to support residents, businesses and community groups looking for information, advice and support during the COVID-19 crisis. A total of 240 community members accessed our Hotline to receive support and advice; and
- delivering a COVID-19 Emergency Food Relief Program to over 100 residents in mandatory isolation who had no other means of support.
| COVID-19 community financial support | 2019-2020 | 2020-2021 |
|---|---|---|
| COVID-19 Community Action Grants Program | $51,805 | $376,586 |
| COVID-19 Community Recovery Grants Program | - | $114,097 |
| COVID-19 Response and Recovery Small Business Support Grants | $167,000 | $710,000 |
| As part of COVID-19 Response and Recovery Package | $3.2 million | $5.7 million |
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on our community and workforce over the past two years. We will continue to consult with the community on initiatives to help community groups, businesses and sporting clubs to remain viable and resilient.
As an organisation we will continue to focus on bringing our staff back together to strengthen collaboration, creativity and social connections. We will also make progress on major projects that were placed on hold during the pandemic.