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A stimulus package valued at more than $10 million has been announced by the City of Melbourne designed to keep workers in jobs and support city businesses affected by Covid-19.
The package, supported by City of Melbourne councillors, includes:
- A virtual Business Support Summit at Melbourne Town Hall;
- Suspending fees for Food Act registrations and street trading permits for three months;
- Halving rent for eligible tenants in Council owned buildings for three months;
- Opportunities to deploy casual and part-time staff to enhance city cleanliness and amenity; and
- Developing a Rates Hardship Policy for consideration by the end of this month.
"We recognise that cash flow management will be a pressing issue for small businesses in the coming weeks and months," says Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne Arron Wood.
"This is the first package of support and will be doing more over the coming weeks to assist our local business community."
In particular, Lord Mayor Sally Capp says the City of Melbourne is dedicated to supporting traders at the Queen Victoria Market.
"Queen Victoria Market is the lifeblood of our city and we're doing everything we can support traders affected by the downturn," says the Lord Mayor.
"We will request the Board of the Queen Victoria Market to consider rent relief for affected tenants and stall-holders.
"We're doing everything we can to help businesses stay open and keep Melburnians in jobs."
Updated at Noon AEDT on 18 March 2020.
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