FoodFeeWaiversCentralWard

FoodFeeWaiversCentralWard

Schrinner Council slashes fees to keep Brisbane’s businesses afloat

 

The Schrinner Council has revealed Brisbane’s food businesses have collectively saved more than $6.5 million in fee waivers since the start of the pandemic.

 

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said more than 7000 businesses across 186 suburbs had their food business and footpath dining fees waived as part of the Economic Recovery Taskforce’s Business Relief Package.

 

“Our cafes, restaurants and food trucks were some of the hardest hit during the pandemic with many seeing their cash flow evaporate entirely overnight,” Cr Schrinner said.

 

“My Council made it a priority to support these hard-working owners and their staff through a package of financial relief measures.

 

“By waiving a range of fees for local food businesses, we’ve helped more than 7000 businesses save a combined total of more than $6.5 million.

 

“We didn’t want this pandemic to result in empty strips of shops.

 

“For food businesses, many of which are small, family-owned and the only source of people’s livelihoods, waiving these fees helped them keep their doors open and the lights on.

 

“Easing financial pressure meant they were able to focus on the important things like keeping their business running, retaining staff and pivoting their operations.”

 

In total, more than $5.2 million in food business fees and another $1.2 million in footpath dining applications were waived between 1 March 2020 and 31 December 2020.

 

Cr Schrinner said Brisbane’s reputation as a food destination rivalling Sydney and Melbourne was growing prior to the pandemic.

 

“We’re committed to rebuilding Brisbane’s reputation as Australia’s most small business-friendly city and will continue to help where we can,” he said.

 

“Free one-on-one sessions with our food safety officers and Council’s new pre-lodgement service are also helping to make the process of opening and operating a compliant food business simpler.”

 

The Schrinner Council is continuing to provide financial assistance through a range of measures to small businesses in Brisbane to support them through COVID-19.

 

Top 20 Suburbs for food waivers:

#BUSINESSES     #FEE RELIEF

  1. BRISBANE CITY                  546                         $610,654
  2. FORTITUDE VALLEY          283                         $284,213
  3. WEST END                           163                         $213,868
  4. SOUTH BRISBANE             232                         $198,343
  5. MANSFIELD                        168                         $124,333
  6. WOOLLOONGABBA        131                         $122,644
  7. UPPER MT GRAVATT        159                         $122,531
  8. SUNNYBANK                      144                         $118,088
  9. ST LUCIA                              119                         $86,453
  10. SANDGATE                         55                           $85,830
  11. BULIMBA                             56                           $84,272
  12. NEW FARM                         70                           $83,777
  13. CHERMSIDE                       117                         $82,892
  14. PADDINGTON                   75                           $82,114
  15. HAMILTON                         101                         $79,272
  16. SPRING HILL                      83                           $78,219
  17. TOOWONG                         74                           $78,001
  18. STONES CORNER              37                           $74,565
  19. COORPAROO                     75                           $72,525
  20. SUNNYBANK HILLS         96                           $70,506

To find our even more about how we are supporting Brisbane Businesse, just visit https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/governance-and-strategy/business-in-brisbane  and https://vickihoward.com/