Employment in the Benalla Rural City local government area dropped by 6.6 per cent in the quarter to June 30, 2020.
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The quarter was always going to be see a drop in employment, as a result of local businesses coming to terms with, and adapting to COVID-19 restrictions.
While the JobKeeper program has allowed some businesses to keep staff on, limitations on who can apply has seen 326 local people lose their jobs in Benalla Rural City.
In that time the town has seen three businesses close down - although two of those have moved online and continue to trade.
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That is according to the Business Development - Activity report presented at Benalla Rural City's Finance and Operations committee meeting on Wednesday August 19.
Other notable figures the report highlights are:
● 24.8 per cent of businesses in Benalla applied for the JobKeeper program;
● Benalla was ranked eight out of the nine Local Government areas in the Ovens Murray region for JobKeeper applications as a proportion of businesses;
● Benalla ranked 380th out of 506 Local Government areas in Australia for JobKeeper applications as a proportion of businesses;
● Four hundred and fourteen people applied for JobSeeker; and
● Fifty-seven people applied for Youth Allowance.
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The report was presented to council by its business development coordinator Catherine Macmillan who spoke about how businesses in Benalla have been managing through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Because of COVID-19, and it has obviously been a tumultuous few months,” Ms Macmillan told the meeting.
“A few businesses have closed their shop fronts but pleasingly (some) are still trading online.
“The biggest impact is that the estimated local employment is at 4866, it’s a fall of 6.6 per cent.
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“The greatest decrease in employment in Benalla was in manufacturing and in percentage terms the greatest decrease has been in the arts and recreation services.”
Ms Macmillan spoke about the impact COVID-19 is having on the business community and how industry in Benalla has adapted.
“The JobKeeper wage subsidy program has allowed many businesses to keep workers on their books during the crisis with the fortnightly payment of $1500,” Ms Macmillan said.
“This has just recently been extended until March and there’s also JobSeeker, which is higher than the old Newstart allowance.
“In terms of business development support the two solar farms are up and running.
“Glenrowan West has has 10 to 12 employees on-site in this quarter and about 350 employees are expected to be required from August to October.
“And that includes the key skills of labourers, electricians and machine operators.
“The Winton solar farm is also going great guns, they’ve got 36 contractors on-site and are looking at an additional eight staff including trainees and cadets.
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“They will also need business admin, engineering students and that project will be completed by January 2021.”
Ms Macmillan also touched on job losses at the LS Precast facility, but explained they were not necessarily anything to do with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“LS Precast retrenched approximately 80 employees from its Benalla operations this quarter,” she said.
“(That was) due to the ongoing disputes with the West Gate Tunnel Project.
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“A lot of those employees who were retrenched have been put in touch with the Working (for) Victoria Fund.
“So there is an opportunity for workers to be re-employed elsewhere in the region and I believe that has happened across a number of those who had lost their jobs.
“In terms of innovation and entrepreneurship we now have five north east Victorian councils (which have) joined the start-up shake up group.”
Ms Macmillan said council's priorities for 2021 were to continue strengthening existing partnerships.
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“And we're also developing a regional skills network and expanding the website and other opportunities for people to get involved,” she said.
“We’ve also been having discussions around a Benalla business innovation hub.
“(With) the Benalla 10gb broadband project, we’re still waiting on the grant of $50,000 to be signed off.
“We’ve heard its okay, we are just waiting on the paper work and as soon as that happens we’ll be able to move to a feasibility and action study.”
Following Ms Macmillan's presentation, Mayor Danny Claridge questioned her regarding local job opportunities at the Winton Solar Farm.
“I’ve had a couple of people comment that they’ve put job applications into the solar farm, but have not even had a reply,” Cr Claridge said.
“Do you know if that’s the case? Are locals getting a fair crack at the jobs out there.”
Ms Macmillon said because of the COVID-19 pandemic the solar farm was actually prioritising local people for roles.
“They certainly can’t be employing anyone from interstate as its’ hard to come across the border, and even from parts of Melbourne now,” she said.
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