MOUNT Gambier City Council has earmarked $2000 toward a COVID Prepared project, aimed at building business confidence among the community as restrictions ease across the city.
The project – which is still being formulated – is a joint initiative of the Limestone Coast Local Government Association (LCLGA), Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Mount Gambier.
The intent of the initiative is to ensure participating businesses are suitably informed on procedures and guidelines to enable them to provide the safest environment possible for staff and customers.
Businesses that register for COVID Prepared will agree to adhere to the standards prescribed in a website and would be required to read, understand and acknowledge all of the information presented.
At the conclusion, they will successfully answer a series of multiple choice questions to qualify to become a COVID Prepared business.
The business would be issued with stickers to place at their shopfront and there would be an expectation guidelines are continually met.
Councillor Steven Perryman explained the initiative which is in its infancy at last Thursday’s special council meeting with funding set to be provided to the Chamber of Commerce to auspice the project.
“We will continue to have discussions with the Chamber of Commerce, they have not agreed to auspice at this point in time, but hopefully they can come on board and provide that leadership for Mount Gambier and the region they do in other areas,” he said.
“That is not yet finalised and there is also a question about whether council staff may be able to play a role in terms of supporting the initiative if and when it is rolled out.”
Speaking before South Australia’s road map to recovery was released on Friday, Cr Perryman believed there was merit behind the initiative regardless of national cabinet outcomes.
“To date, there is no one place you can go for information, it is pretty scattered and this initiative will seek to assist with that,” Cr Perryman said.
“We will be able to say to our own community and people who may look to visit us, that we are aware, we are prepared and if there is wide take up of it across the city and the region they can feel comforted that we are taking their health and well-being seriously.”
Elected members endorsed the project, citing its potential and agreed to contribute a modest investment of $2000 if it were to go ahead.
