Shire spends to ease COVID pain
THE Mornington Peninsula had more businesses relying on the federal government’s JobKeeper program throughout the COVID-19 pandemic than any other Victorian municipality.
From September, 59.2 per cent of peninsula businesses were being supported by the program – the third highest number in Australia.
At the peak of the downturn in August 2205 “local” jobs were lost.
In the wake of those statistics Mornington Peninsula Shire has decided to spend more than $10 million on helping the community recover from the economic and social effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nepean MP Chris Brayne said while the peninsula’s economy was “certainly hit hard last year, we have already begun to see the signs of economic recovery after a really good summer”.