Whittlesea Council offers grants to help businesses offer outdoor dining
Businesses across Whittlesea can apply for cash to help them adapt to offering outdoor dining this summer, which could include serving meals in carparks and along footpaths. It comes as active coronavirus cases in the area continue to fall.
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Outdoor dining along footpaths and carparks could become a reality in Whittlesea this summer, with cash up for grabs to help businesses adapt.
Whittlesea Council is offering businesses grants of up to $5000 to help them operate in a COVID-safe environment.
It comes as the number of active coronavirus cases in Whittlesea fell to just 15, according to Monday’s figures from the Department of Health and Human Services.
Six of the active cases are linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care.
There are four active cases in Wollert, two in Lalor and one each in Thomastown, South Morang and the 3757 postcode, which covers Whittlesea, Kinglake West, Pheasant Creek, Humevale, Eden Park and Kinglake Central.
The council hopes the cash will help businesses adapt in a way that increases their viability during the final stages of COVID-19 restrictions and helps them recover once Victoria enters the COVID-normal phase.
Whittlesea Council administrator Bruce Billson said he supported bringing indoor dining outdoors, spilling onto footpaths and carparks.
“It is great to see what is being achieved in big global cities like London and New York that have transformed outdoor spaces into amazing alfresco cafes and restaurants so these businesses can continue serving customers at a time when social distancing rules are likely to be around for a while yet,” he said.
“We can’t wait to activate our outdoor spaces in a similar way here in the City of Whittlesea and to do what we can to support our hospitality businesses at this challenging time.”
The State Government is giving hospitality venues the chance to open up with al fresco dining from late October if coronavirus infections are below certain levels.
The Government announced it would provide $87.5 million to councils and businesses outside of Melbourne’s CBD to make widespread outdoor dining a reality this summer.
Whittlesea Council also has a $500,000 businesses resilience and recovery program aimed at supporting all businesses, which includes waiving existing and new trading permit fees and implementing a fast-tracked processing system for the permits.
The council is also waiving A-frame permit fees for signage, and is upgrading streetscapes to improve the appeal of local shopping areas.
“We are doing some fantastic work to revamp Thomastown and Lalor streetscapes to bring vibrancy and vitality back to those really important local shopping precincts that are packed with unique, one-off businesses that really add to the character of our city,” Mr Billson said.
To express interest in outdoor dining email the council’s economic development team at business@whittlesea.vic.gov.au or phone 9217 2278.
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