BULOKE Shire Council has established a new online resource to continue the support of its local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Buy Buloke website has been launched to provide the community with a website to browse local businesses and services as well as current trading terms and social media links.

Council chief executive officer Anthony Judd said reaching COVID normal was an “extremely complex situation”.

“I don’t envy (chief health officer) Brett Sutton in making these recommendations. We all hope that regional Victoria can hit the milestones set by the state government quickly so we can move through the steps and open up as quickly as possible,” he said.

Buloke has not recorded any positive cases since the pandemic began. 

“We know many of our businesses are hurting and are asking the state government to do more to support them, particularly the sole traders, which we have many, that have missed out on some of the support to date,” Mr Judd said.

“Council continues to work with our local businesses with a dedicated team of staff deployed to that area under the Working for Victoria program to support them and help identify relevant financial assistance as well as checking in on them.”

Council has also extended by six months its COVID-19 financial hardship policy and a budget initiative of waiving fees for businesses that would normally pay an annual registration fee to operate.

Mayor Carolyn Stewart was excited by the possibilities of the site now, and into the future, and urges the community to get behind it.

“The Buy Buloke website is much more than a business directory. It is a one-stop shop for our community to understand what businesses are operating across the shire and in what capacity during the health crisis,” Cr Stewart said. 

“It is also a great resource for business operators, linking them with state and federal government support as well as key links to financial and health assistance.

“Council is pleased to launch the site as a key plank in supporting our community during this most difficult of times.”

Any business that wants to be added or have details already included changed, call council on 1300 520 520. 
View the website now at www.buybuloke.com.au.

As of yesterday, Swan Hill had recorded five total cases since the pandemic began, Mildura six, Loddon four and Gannawarra two.