Council rates will be waived
from 1 April 2020 to 30 June 2020 for the estimated 130 Greater Geelong
businesses which have been required by state government coronavirus directions
to fully close, at a cost of approximately $262,000.
These impacted businesses include
gyms, cinemas, function centres and night clubs. Council’s decision includes
businesses that can prove they were required to shut down due to the State Directions
but haven’t been identified as part of the 130 affected businesses. The rates
waiver will be reviewed again in June.
Council has also endorsed a
total of $283,907 in financial support to the 1,482 local businesses who pay
the Central Geelong Special Rate, which will cover a quarter of the annual
special rate.
The special rate raises $1.13
million each year to develop and implement programs that support Central
Geelong’s activation. These activities deliver more than $20 million of total
economic output per year, supporting over 30,000 jobs within the city centre.
The special rate funding will
be covered within the City’s 2019-20 Budget, ensuring the Central Geelong
Marketing Committee’s capacity to support Central Geelong businesses through
the pandemic isn’t reduced.
This $556,000 round of
financial support takes the total value of Council’s coronavirus support
measures to $5.45 million for the community, plus
a special COVID-19 Financial Hardship Policy
