One stop shop for COVID-19 business support

Back

Published: 30th March 2020

Fraser Coast Regional Council has set up a portal to assist businesses to navigate and quickly check coronavirus (COVID-19) financial assistance packages offered by all levels of government.

“The page on the Council website, https://www.frasercoast.qld.gov.au/coronavirus-support-businesses will help businesses quickly navigate the raft of information available,” Fraser Coast mayor George Seymour said.

“There is a lot of information available as each level of government has launched programs to help businesses through these tough times.

“Our webpage brings together all of that information in one place.”

The information includes details of Council’s $1million assistance package, which includes waiving a range of charges and permit fees for local businesses, extending the due date for rates and providing grants for community and sporting groups.

The financial assistance package includes:

Extending the due date for the current rates notice until 30 June 2020;
A $500,000 grants program for sporting and community groups adversely affected by coronavirus restrictions, up to a maximum of $10,000 for each eligible group;
Refunding all event application and permit fees for events cancelled as a result of coronavirus restrictions;
Waiving of all airport related fees for commercial aircraft until 30 June 2020;
Extending regulated premise licences and permits for six months at no charge;
Providing a 100 per cent discount on new application fees for all regulated business activities up until 31 May 2020 and a 50 per cent discount from 1 June 2020 to 30 June 2020;
No cost for fresh produce traders when they apply for itinerant vendor or mobile food vendor permits to operate on Council-owned or controlled land.

Council is also:

Investigating further rates concessions options that could be adopted for the 2020/21 financial year;
Updating its financial hardship policy, and;
Considering other measures to reduce the financial impact of the coronavirus on the community.

Details of the grants program for community and sporting groups adversely affected by coronavirus restrictions, including the eligibility criteria, will be available from today (Monday, Mach 30).
Council is meeting with Fraser Coast Tourism and Events and the various chambers of commerce to help develop plans and strategies to mitigate the effects of the virus on the Fraser Coast and speed the region’s recovery.

The strategies will focus on tourism as well as ensuring supply chains can be maintained to ensure Fraser Coast businesses can return quickly to full operation.

Council’s Economic Development team is here to support businesses during this challenging period, Cr Seymour said.

The team can be contacted by email or phone 1300 79 49 29 and ask for the Economic Development team.