Victoria has entered another seven-day lockdown. While we can understand the reasons behind the decision, none of this makes things any easier because of the toll this takes on businesses and families.
I am especially proud that the Ararat business community have continued to show resilience and a willingness to follow the health advice to protect the community. We resolved that we would be stronger together and we have done exactly that.
It is because of your efforts that Ararat's economy has been extremely robust in responding to the pandemic. Our unemployment rate has fallen to 3.2% which is 2% below pre-pandemic levels.
Local employment growth is outpacing regional Victoria and tripling that in metropolitan Melbourne.
Unprecedented high demand for housing is about to unlock a development boom in Ararat that previously seemed to be an insurmountable challenge.
Projects in the pipeline but which never seemed to materialise such as the Ararat East Development Zone and the Gordon Street Recreation Reserve Redevelopment are funded and getting underway.
Council's record investment in roads and capital works, our success with attracting new partnerships, and investment from local businesses in new plant and equipment have set up the Ararat economy for a prosperous transformation.
However, these positive signs don't change the fact that today and the months ahead will be hard while we wait for that magic number when enough of the population is vaccinated. Until then, we seem to be in a perpetual cycle of working from home, adjusting retail and factory settings, suspending community sport and helping our kids with remote learning.
For those that really need some extra help, Council's Community Relief Centre is available on (03) 5355 0980 and can provide assistance with access to food or material aid for those needing to isolate.
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