The plan, which will see a number of business and community orientated measures developed, received unanimous support from Maitland councillors this week.

Maitland mayor Loretta Baker said the plan is extremely important for the community and local businesses.

"We want to ensure that our community members and businesses get through this difficult time and to the other side ... if fully implemented would see initiatives of up to $2.5 million in value through our response and recovery effort," she said.

"We are all in this together and I am confident that our COVID-19 response and recovery efforts will provide relief to our community."

Council will permanently remove the special higher rate for the 61 businesses in The Levee, which funds council's marketing and promotion program, and will see a revenue foregoing of more than $330,000.

Funding for The Levee's marketing and promotion program is raised through a two-tiered special rate - the first, a lower tier over a defined footprint of the CBD and the second, a higher tier on properties with defined frontages to The Levee.

As part of the recovery and relief package, council will also review its hardship policy which will include the suspension of interest charges on outstanding rates for a period of six months and waive lease payments for Council lease or licence holders for six months.

Maitland Business Chamber president Judy Brown said it was "fantastic to see council stepping up".

"It's great they are acknowledging what they can do to help and being proactive rather than reactive," she said.

A number of other community initiatives include taking the existing Live @ The Levee program online and a 'Taste of Maitland' which will be an online promotion to encourage residents to support local food and beverage outlets.

The indicative costs of other potential support and recovery initiatives identified in the report amount to an estimated $1 to $1.5 million - indicating a potential total response and recovery package of up to $2.5 million.