Port Phillip Council declares economic emergency during COVID-19 shutdown
Businesses have been hit so hard by the pandemic in Melbourne’s inner south many are “on the bones of their shins”, with just one street alone having 23 shop vacancies. The situation has become so dire one council has decided to take action.
Inner South
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Port Phillip Council has declared an economic emergency in the municipality with small businesses in the area on their knees as a result of the pandemic.
Councillors last week voted in favour of declaring the fiscal crisis and implementing measures to help businesses who are “on the bones of their shins”.
Measures include using a portion of the $1.7 million leftover from the cancellation of next year’s St Kilda Festival to aid economic recovery, such as reducing or waiving footpath trading fees into the future.
The council will also advocate for extensions to the Federal Government’s JobKeeper and JobSeeker payments, as well as regular reporting on local economic conditions including shop vacancy rates.
It comes as 286 applications for rates deferral were received and approved for the 2019/20 financial year, totalling $568,932.
Mayor Bernadene Voss said rates notices for this financial year had only just been sent out and therefore no deferrals requests had yet been received for 2020/21.
Cr Marcus Pearl current stimulus programs were “crucial” to keep the local economy alive.
“The economic situation at the moment in our city is extraordinarily delicate,” he said.
“It’s crucial we advocate for these programs to continue until we enter into a time where business can get back to what it does best — creating prosperity, creating local employment, creating opportunities for young people.
“This shows our small business heroes that we could not be taking this emergency any more seriously, that we’re ridgy didge.”
Cr Pearl said there were about 23 shop vacancies already along Bay St in Port Melbourne, with more expected in the coming weeks.
“(Declaring an economic emergency) demonstrates that this is an organisation that is going to do everything we possibly can to help our community and help our small businesses,” he said.
Cr David Brand said the “silver lining” of the St Kilda Festival being cancelled meant the money could be used to leverage support for sectors who would have benefited most from the event, including hospitality and creative industry.
Most councillors voted in favour of declaration with only Cr Katherine Copsey voting against.
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