Residents will still have to pay rates, but no interest will be raised between March and June, and the due date for animal registration fees has been extended to June 30.

Community and sporting groups have been given the biggest leg up, with rent and fees on council-owned land completely waived, and rent reduced by 50 per cent for council-owned buildings between March 1 and June 30.

Businesses going through financial hardship can defer this quarter's rates installment to the 2020-21 financial year and spread the payment over that year.

Indigo Council has also waived a series of fees that relate to activities banned as part of Australia-wide restrictions.

Outdoor eating, display of goods for sale and advertising signs permit fees will all be waived for 12 months.

Building and planning permit application fees relating to the COVID-19 emergency will also be waived until June 30 and the council will fast-track applications.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Councillors had intended to debate the financial assistance at last month's meeting, but decided to cancel it so councillors could practice social distancing.

Mayor Jenny O'Connor said the decision was made via a video conference and councillors asked the chief executive to implement the changes.

"We understand members of our community are really struggling due to the dual impacts of the bushfire and now the coronavirus pandemic, and as a council we are committed to assist in any way we can," she said.

"Our tourism, accommodation and retail sectors which form the backbone of our local economy, have been severely impacted and we need to do what we can to ensure their long-term survival."

Meanwhile, Wangaratta Council has extended the deadline for the fourth quarterly installment of residential rates to June 30, allowed businesses to suspend commercial waste services until June 30, waived building and planning permit fees relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, and waived licence agreement fees for sporting clubs while there can be no games.

Mayor Dean Rees said the measures would allow those in financial distress to have breathing space during uncertainty about restrictions.

"I encourage people not impacted by COVID-19 to continue to pay rates and charges so that financial assistance can go to those who need it most," he said.

"We will continue to advocate for state and federal government support for our municipality as we know our community will need more financial support to get through this stage of COVID-19 restrictions and eventually recover."

Moira Council also not charge user fees to its sporting clubs that use municipal land or buildings and whose seasons have been affected by the health crisis.

Rent for the businesses operating on council land, which have been forced to closed due to coronavirus restrictions, will be waived for the June quarter.