SWAN Hill Rural City Council decided to waive footpath trading fee permits for the 2021-2022 year, however local business owners want to see council more committed to keeping the CBD active and thriving after a hard couple of months in lockdown.
At the September meeting council were presented with a petition with 19 signatures from business owners in Swan Hill, organised by Kathryn Martinez of Cruz Menswear and Pete’s Hair Studio, asking that the fees be waived for the year due to many owners not being able to open their doors.
Chief executive officer John McLinden said it would have to be considered a joint letter due to not reaching the required number of signatures, however council would still be willing to waive the footpath trading permits by extending the expiry period for a period of 12 months.
“The pandemic has really hurt retail, I doubt no one would object to that statement,” Mr McLinden said.
Mr McLinden said permits ranged from $72 to $175 per annum depending on the nature of the footpath trading, and that there were currently 76 one-year street trading permits, and 19 three-year street trading permits.
However Ms Martinez questioned why the council did not inform her of their decision to waive the fees directly after the meeting, as the petition organiser, and why business owners will still asked to pay the fees when 2021 was as bad as 2020 for lockdowns.
“We are currently going through our second year of endless lockdowns, cancelled community events, and this has a huge impact on our incomes,” Ms Martinez said.
“I received the council’s phone call demanding the footpath trading fee the very day I had to send back 67 debutante suits to my hire company, as all of my upcoming debutante balls, and weddings, had been cancelled.
“The lack of compassion and understanding shown by the Swan Hill council has been deplorable.”
Ms Martinez said she had not had a council staff member or elected official come into her store to check in on how she and her staff were coping with lockdowns with the exception of Cr Stuart King.
“The concerns through all of the small business in Swan Hill and Robinvale are exactly the same.
“It has been tougher and more enduring this year, and the footpath trading fee was exempt last year due to the pandemic, but not this year.
“Why? We are still in a pandemic – what has changed?”
La Mangia cafe owner Ben Mangiameli put his signature on the open letter, and as an eatery, is currently confined to only having 10 people indoors and 20 people outdoors.
Mr Mangiameli hopes that if the footpath trading fees are waived, it will include the liquor permit being waived as well.
“It’s $72 per sign, and we rely on people sitting down, having a drink outdoors,” he said.
A business owner who did not wish to be named said that the council should be doing more to assist local businesses, as they had to continue to pay rates with their doors shut.
“Why were we asked to pay the footpath trading fees when everything was shut?” they said.
“Council needs to look after the shops we have left, and continue to promote the retail section they have left.”
Helen Ward of H for Homewares agreed that council should have considered waiving the fees sooner, considering her business was also still paying for rates and water with their doors closed.
However she was appreciative that the council had decided to have free parking in the central business district, and said that customers were consistently telling her that they were worried about the meter when browsing her store.
As for promoting the retail sector, Ms Ward is part of Swan Hill Inc. and said while the organisation was promoting Swan Hill businesses, she hadn’t been visited by an elected member or council staff.
“I’ve been here six years and I can’t recall a time when someone from council came in and asked how I was going, if my business needed any assistance,” she said.
Cr Stuart King, who also owns Swan Hill Hire, said elected members and staff should be backing local businesses in the Swan Hill district “100 per cent”.
“We need to do all we can to support the community, and council is dependent on the rates and charges we receive from these businesses for their own employees,” he said.
“Overall, we need to give back, and support local business, and help them get through this.”
When contacted for comment, Council provided clarity on how the footpath trading permit fees were structured, and outlined the various ways they were committed to With footpath trading permits, they expire on June 30, and although fees have been waived businesses still need to complete an application and apply to council for a permit to place items on council land.
All items are to be placed within the trading zone and within the businesses property line (cannot place items in front of another business), and permit holders need to ensure they provide council with current public liability insurance certificates.
For 20/21 fees it was $72 for a sign, with a business only having a max of 2 signs including flags and banners; $72 to display goods for sale e.g. clothes rack; $175 for outdoor dining (no set amount of tables and chairs); $175 for a liquor permit to consume liquor in a prescribed area (CBD is prescribed area 24/7).
Council have also re-opened applications for Outdoor Dining Pods, and have a COVID support officer who can help with any questions businesses may have about operating during restrictions.
The also had Local Entertainment Grants introduced February 2021, with $500 for a business to have entertainment within their premises, with $10,500 remaining for eligible businesses.
Council also also have Event Support Fund Grants, and in conjunction with Swan Hill Inc. are supporting the Shopfront Initiative, a Shop Local campaign, a market day, and a Christmas promotion.
