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South Gippsland Shire Council’s COVID-19 Home-Based Business Grants are now open.

The grants are open to home-based businesses in South Gippsland with an annual turnover between $25,000 and $250,000 that have experienced a downturn as a result of COVID-19. The grants are part of South Gippsland Shire Council’s $2M Community Support Package and are aimed at small food producers, home-based health and beauty services and creative and training businesses. Eligible businesses will receive a grant of $1,000 (ex GST) that can be spent on essential business fees, services or materials.

The Great Gippsland Fires of 1898

Bushfires ravaged Gippsland in the summer of 1897–98, covering an area of about 1600 square kilometres. The worst day, 1 February 1898, was named ‘Red Tuesday’, recalling that other day of horror so memorably recorded by William Strutt in his Black Thursday, February 6th. 1851. John Longstaff visited Gippsland later in February 1898 to view the fires at first hand and collect material for a major picture. Gippsland, Sunday night, February 20th, 1898 was exhibited in a dramatic installation in his Melbourne studio in August 1898. A row of kerosene-lamp ‘footlights’ provided the illumination, and the effect was said to be ‘lurid and startlingly realistic’.

Community support package update from Council

At the October Council meeting an update on the $2M COVID-19 Community Support Package was provided. Eight initiatives, including two stages of business grants, are now complete and further nine are currently in progress. Council also endorsed funding for recreation reserve maintenance, a new grant stream for home-based businesses and funding to encourage people to shop local in South Gippsland.

Council’s COVID-19 Creative and Cultural Arts Program is well underway.

The program features ten unique initiatives that aim to raise the profile of arts and culture in South Gippsland through a diverse array of events, workshops and activities. The program is part of Council’s $2M COVID-19 Community Support Package.

New Deer Control Strategy For Victoria

The Victorian Government is taking action to reduce the devastating environmental impacts of the state’s wild deer population while maintaining hunting opportunities by launching Victoria’s first ever deer management strategy. The Victorian Deer Control Strategy is being kick-started with a $1 million investment to manage the growing problem of deer in the outer northern and eastern suburbs of Melbourne.

Annual Report from Council Audit Committee

Council conducted a virtual briefing from the Audit committee with the press in attendance. Recommended action from Council is to endorse this report at Council meeting. Mr Chris Badger was recently appointed as the Chair but prior to that Mr Andrew Purcell was the Chair of the Committee.

The full Audit Committee has endorsed this report after a thorough review by the Committee.