The City of Whittlesea will continue to support the community to recover from economic impacts of COVID-19 by waiving a variety of registration, permit and inspection fees in 2022.
Chair administrator Lydia Wilson said the fee waiver formed part of a series of supports implemented over the past two years and would help support organisations and businesses who had lost income due to the pandemic.
“Council has carefully thought through creative ways to support our community during the past two years,” she said.
“We have provided a $900,000 Emergency Relief Fund and developed a $2 million Community Recovery Action Plan.
“Work is ongoing right across council as we are acutely aware that the impacts of the pandemic are still being widely felt.”
The following fees will be either subsidised or waived:
- 2021-22 registration renewal fees by 50 per cent for 1276 local businesses registered under the Food Act 1984 and the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 that have been impacted by the State Government COVID-19 restrictions during 2020;
- 2021-22 fees for the Inspection of Aquatic Facilities, as scheduled under the Environment Protection Act 2018, 2021-22 registration fees of sporting clubs subsidised by 50 per cent;
- 2021-22 fees for outdoor dining and footpath trade permits, as scheduled in council’s current fees and charges.
Outdoor dining to neighbouring properties’ footpaths will be extended to June 30, 2022, pending neighbouring business owner’s permission, and waive any local law fee associated with an extension of trade, with council covering the cost of public liability insurance for businesses expanding their trade onto the footpath and extension of trade to neighbouring properties’ footpath.
Council will also engage with and support privately owned shopping centres to temporarily expand footpath trading and/or outdoor dining in communal spaces or car parks.