The City of Ballarat will waive outdoor dining permit fees to allow Ballarat businesses to offer immediate outdoor dining options as a first step to economic recovery for the hospitality industry.
Easing of restrictions under the Victorian Government’s roadmap to reopen regional Victoria will allow Ballarat businesses to apply for funds to purchase outdoor dining equipment to serve patrons outside, with customer limits and social distancing requirements.
The Victorian Government’s Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package will provide $87.5 million to councils and businesses outside of Melbourne’s CBD to make widespread outdoor dining safe, practical and a reality.
Regional city councils will be eligible for up to $500,000 in assistance. This money can be passed on to businesses in the form of reducing or waiving permit fees or invested in infrastructure such as streetscaping and lighting.
The City of Ballarat is consulting with its business community to ensure businesses throughout the municipality are ready to start or expand their outdoor dining offer as soon as Premier Daniel Andrews gives the green light.
To fast track the recovery plan, the City of Ballarat will waive its three-year outdoor dining permit fee until the end of January 2022. Those businesses who have already paid their fees will be given a refund. The City of Ballarat will monitor if their outdoor dining approvals need to be extended or altered.
This is in addition to waivers and deferrals of fees and charges, including liquor licensing fees, offered by the Victorian Government as part of the recovery plan to get businesses operating again.
Ballarat Mayor Cr Ben Taylor says a dedicated team of Council officers will work with business owners to ensure a safe and efficient re-introduction of outdoor dining, that meets all safety and accessibility requirements, without the red tape.
“This funding gives us the opportunity to explore all options and to be innovative with our café and restaurant operators,” Cr Taylor says.
“If more outdoor dining options can be easily extended it will help create a vibrant and thriving return to business in our community,” he said.
In order to ensure hospitality businesses can have their new or varied outdoor footpath dining organised as easily and quickly as possibly City of Ballarat will provide the required public liability cover for this activity on a temporary basis. Hospitality businesses interested in discussing options should contact the City of Ballarat’s Business Help Desk by emailing [email protected] or phoning 5320 5500.
