Loddon Shire Mayoral Column 24 August
Published on 24 August 2021
Regional Victoria in lockdown
As announced by the Premier on Saturday, regional Victoria is now in lockdown until 11.59pm Thursday 2 September.
Due to the lockdown, Council offices remain closed to the public until further notice. You can still call Council on (03) 5494 1200 or email loddon@loddon.vic.gov.au for assistance.
The Loddon Visitor Information Centre is also closed during the lockdown period. Visitor information is available at their website or by calling (03) 5494 1257, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
A reminder that the lockdown means we must stay at home other than for one of five reasons:
- shopping for necessary goods and services
- caregiving or compassionate reasons, including medical care or to get a COVID-19 test
- exercise (once a day for two hours)
- authorised work (with a permit) and permitted study
- to get a COVID-19 vaccination (provided the distance travelled, and the time taken is no more than is absolutely necessary)
Victorians may also leave home to visit their intimate partner, their single social bubble buddy, or in an emergency – including those at risk of family violence.
Exercise and shopping is limited to five kilometres from your home. If there are no shops in your five-kilometre radius, you can travel to the ones closest to you. Shopping is limited to one person per day, per household. The five-kilometre limit does not apply to care and health care.
Face masks must be worn indoors and outdoors by those aged 12 years and over, whenever you leave your home. The Victorian Government is also recommending that children of primary school age wear facemasks (this is not mandatory).
For full details regarding current restrictions, please visit the COVIDSafe Settings website.
Support for regional businesses during lockdown
The Victorian Government has announced a package of automatic cash grants for regional Victorian businesses following the extension of the lockdown to the whole of the state.
Jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments, the grants will be made automatically without the need for regional businesses to make an application.
The support builds on the package announced on 19 August. The grants include the Business Costs Assistance Program, Licensed Hospitality Venue Fund and COVID-19 Disaster Payments.
Businesses in regional Victoria that do not qualify for this new support and have experienced a reduction in revenue of at least 70 per cent are encouraged to apply for the Small Business COVID Hardship Fund, which provides grants of $14,000 to successful applicants.
More information about business support programs is available from Business Victoria.
Regional Growth Summit virtual event
A free one-day virtual event dedicated to supporting Victorian regional and rural businesses will be held on Wednesday 1 September for this year’s Regional Growth Summit.
The Regional Growth Summit will focus on online business and expanding digital knowledge, fostering collaboration and encouraging action in your local business community.
The virtual event will bring together business leaders from across regional, rural and outer metro communities to share stories of inspiration combined with immediate practical actions to help a business grow.
The event will not only share stories of inspiration and change, but is also a chance to meet other regional and rural business owners in interactive workshop and networking sessions.
Another free online event will take place on Monday 6 September for the Victorian Regional Growth Showcase. This virtual half-day event will build awareness and celebrate the key digital and innovation projects happening across Victoria.
For more information regarding the Regional Growth Summit and Regional Growth Showcase – including links to register for the events, visit the Regional Growth Project website.
eLearning with Agriculture Victoria
Agriculture Victoria has a selection of online courses that can be undertaken at your own pace, at any time and from anywhere with an internet connection.
The department’s eLearning site has a range of courses, enabling you to enhance your skills without having to attend an event or workshop in person.
The courses cover a range of subjects: biosecurity, farm and business management, livestock and animals, climate and weather, agriculture recovery, and crops and horticulture.
To access the courses you need to create an account, which will then give you full access and track your progress as you move through the courses.
To find out more visit the Agriculture Victoria eLearning page.