The economic impact of bushfires, drought, floods and the ongoing pandemic will take years for councils to overcome if major infrastructure projects remain unfunded, local government has said.
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Bega Valley Shire Council mayor Kristy McBain has called on the state and federal governments to help fund projects in the region, including proposed sports grounds upgrades, in order to stimulate the quickly stalling economy.
"Given where we are now with COVID-19, 'business as usual' has significantly changed and will change for some time into the future," she said following Wednesday's council meeting.
"We are in a position now where we are going to have to look very closely at every aspect of council. Every line in our budget, every finance centre, and see where we can make savings because this is going to take a big toll on our community - not just now but into the future.
"There are discussions that will need to be ongoing with both state and federal governments over the impact of COVID-19 in those affected councils, because it will be significant."
She said council is still yet to receive funding for sports grounds upgrades in Bega and Pambula from the state government, and areas of the masterplans will need to be scrapped in order for the projects to be within budget.
"What we do want to do is work with government, because right now in this COVID-19 world we are living in, having those dollars [put] into the Shire and being able to get those works started and tendered out while sport isn't happening, while people need some employment - it will be fantastic as a bit of a stimulus to get things going," she said.
"So we'll work with the state government on that. We will put together project control groups for each individual site, and there will be a councillor representative on each individual site.
"And, hopefully work to get those projects rolled out as soon as possible."
Wednesday's meeting took place using Zoom Video Communications software, which has become popular due to social distancing laws, but was recently removed from Google employees devices due to security concerns.
Councillor McBain said councillors are "adapting" to the use of videoconferencing software after the closure of the chambers due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
She said there are plans to have future meetings live streamed, and there will "still be room for engagement" by the community, who can email and share video records of depositions.
The meeting saw the approval of the reduction of council's passenger head tax on Region Express flights from Merimbula by 70 per cent, and discussions on how to pay for the rebuild of recreational assets including parks and reserves, which are not covered by federal bushfire relief funding.
Cr McBain said she will continue to attempt to get an answer from the government over why the Shire has received a smaller bushfire relief package than other affected local councils.
"We did question why we got less than others. So we will continue to follow that up," she said.
Meanwhile, council has announced its early childhood education centres will remain open, after the federal government announced the service will be free of charge over coming months.
"Our centres remain open to ensure families working in emergency and essential roles, as well as disadvantaged and vulnerable children, are safe and receiving care," children services coordinator Matt Simpson said.
"However, most families are now following government advice and keeping their children home, where possible.
"For most of our children's services staff, working from home just isn't an option and so they continue to walk through the door of their workplace every morning with a smile on their face and spring in their step."
