Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood unveils $25m package to get Melbourne ‘back in business’

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood would move to make Town Hall employees return to the office at least four days a week under a $25m plan to get Melbourne “back in business”, if elected to the city’s top job.

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood would move to make Town Hall employees return to the office at least four days a week under a bumper package to get Melbourne “back in business”, if elected to the city’s top job.

Mr Wood, together with his running mate Erin Deering, will on Saturday unveil their biggest election policy to date, dedicating $25m to re-establish Melbourne as a “global business hub”.

The pair said they would commit to “leading by example” by working with the City of Melbourne chief executive to get its employees returning to the office at least four days a week.

The Saturday Herald Sun understands that City of Melbourne employees who are able to work from home are expected to work from the office at least three days a week.

Arron Wood and Erin Deering have pledged $25m to re-establish Melbourne as a ‘global business hub’. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Wood said small businesses were at a “crisis point”, pointing to a recent survey from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that found 45 per cent of small business owners have considered closing or leaving in the past 12 months.

“When you’re at a point of crisis, the City of Melbourne needs to be pulling every lever within its power to make sure it stops that loss of small businesses,” he said.

“And I don’t see that sense of urgency from the City of Melbourne.”

Under the $25m package, Mr Wood and Ms Deering have committed to, among other things:

• Reducing council and permit fees by at least five per cent for businesses;

• Slashing fees on parklets to zero;

• Offering businesses access to free advertising across the council’s social media channels;

• Creating a mentoring program to connect existing and upcoming business owners with successful local entrepreneurs; and

• Launching a dedicated tourism portfolio that develops marketing campaigns promoting the City of Melbourne to the world.

Mr Wood and Ms Deering say they would work with the City of Melbourne chief executive to get its employees returning to the office at least four days per week. Picture: Mark Stewart

“Businesses need help now more than ever and our policy is designed to provide that support by cutting red tape, abolishing unnecessary paperwork and fees and making it easier for businesses to operate and grow in Melbourne,” Mr Wood said.

“Our goal is to ensure that Melbourne is not just recovering but thriving, with a vibrant, diverse economy that supports all businesses and fosters innovation.”

He added: “We will encourage knowledge sharing within the business community and leverage the expertise of those who have excelled in their fields to help others succeed.”

While Mr Wood was a local business owner for more than 20 years, Ms Deering, an Australian entrepreneur and fashion designer, grew her cult swimsuit brand Triangl to a company valued at $US200m in two years.

Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood with Miguel Ramirez from Kirks Wine Bar in Hardware Lane. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said the package would “help to provide confidence and support for business growth”.

“The Victorian Chamber maintains that if we want the CBD to thrive again, we need better access, increased safety, improved amenity and a reduction in the cost and complexity of doing business,” he said.

Kirk’s Wine Bar employee Miguel Ramirez, who moved from Spain to Melbourne six years ago to work, backed in the plan to develop marketing campaigns.

“Melbourne is not very well known to many countries in Europe,” he said.

“They know Melbourne because of the Formula 1 or the Australian Open, but it’s not really known for its … really nice restaurants.

“It could bring more people to work here, stay here and visit here.”

Last month, Mr Wood vowed to scrap the $316m Greenline project, which is expected to cost ratepayers tens of millions of dollars.

He said he would honour awarded project contracts, including the Birrarung Marr upgrade and the completion of Seafarers Rest Park, but return $10m of funding to council’s bottom line.

The pair’s package comes two weeks after fellow contender Anthony Koutoufides revealed his pledge to shout city workers a Monday morning coffee for at least a month to lure them back to Melbourne’s CBD.

Originally published as Lord mayoral candidate Arron Wood unveils $25m package to get Melbourne ‘back in business’