Further relief for local small businesses impacted by COVID-19

We've extended a range of relief measures for local small businesses to help ease the ongoing economic impacts of COVID-19.

The measures, valued in excess of $2 million, are in addition to a $5 million relief package launched in March to help all small businesses, including local pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants, which have faced difficult trading conditions due to COVID-19.

Rent relief for Council’s small and medium commercial and community tenants will be extended for a period of six months from 1 October 2020 to 31 March 2021 with a further review of the program to be undertaken and reported to Council in February 2021.

Mayor of Woollahra, Councillor Susan Wynne said the Council remains firmly committed to helping local businesses remain viable during the pandemic.

“A key focus for Council has been helping to provide a level of financial stability for the Woollahra small business community during COVID-19, and the extension of these measures will provide continued assistance to hopefully help ease the economic impacts,” the Mayor said.

The rent relief will be based on demonstrated COVID-19 related downturn in revenue and in the case of food premises, on COVID-19 related spatial restrictions.

We will also waive footpath dining fees until 30 June 2021, an additional 6 months of relief which follows a recent extension to 31 December 2020.

To further enhance our capacity to support small businesses in the Woollahra local government area, a new Economic Development Officer role will be created to coordinate a range of initiatives until 31 December 2021. The financial assistance measures will be notified for 28 days before a final decision by Council on 28 September 2020.

Our $5 million support package introduced in March included rent relief for 6 months for all small business tenants of Council-owned properties and for the same period, no fees charged to any small business in the local government area for health, hygiene, licensing and fire safety inspections, plus a waiver of all outdoor and footpath dining fees for a period of 6 months.

“Thank you to everyone in our community who has lent their own support to local businesses during this period - I encourage you to keep shopping local whenever possible, as they need your support now more than ever,” the Mayor said.