The Victorian Government has outlined funding and support for the hospitality industry to serve customers outdoors as COVID-19 restrictions are relaxed.
We’re working to facilitate this quickly so that restaurants, cafes and bars in Stonnington can start planning for the Victorian Government’s re-opening date of 26 October outlined in their Industry Restart Guidelines for Hospitality.
Following feedback from our business community our immediate focus is to deliver two key pieces of work that will unlock outdoor trading space for businesses leading up to 26 October:
- A fast tracked process for hospitality businesses that already have footpath trading in place to extend this to neighbouring properties if they are vacant or with the approval of neighbouring business owners.
- A process for hospitality businesses to apply to use car parking out the front of their property for dining where safe or practical to do this.
We’re also seeking commitments from Victorian Government bodies such as the Department of Transport and the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation to free up similar state based time frames for approvals.
We have received strong interest from our hospitality business community for the above and similar opportunities, as well as proposals for larger activation plans over summer. We’re continuing to review these as they are received, and will formally respond to people once our short term plans are finalised and rolled out.
We’re also looking into opportunities to create ‘parklet’ style communal gathering spaces in precincts across Stonnington to enable people to meet, gather and relax.
Interested businesses can:
- Complete our expression of interest form and we’ll keep you updated with progress
- Investigate funding available from the Victorian Government to help your business adapt
- Review the Victorian Government’s COVIDSafe Business guidance
- Talk to your neighbouring businesses if they aren’t using footpath trading and ask them whether they’d be willing to let you use their space.
