A SPECIAL rates scheme could be introduced among businesses in the Sunshine Town Centre.
Last Tuesday, Brimbank City Council considered a written request from the Sunshine Business Association (SBA) to introduce a Special Rate Scheme for a defined area within the Sunshine town centre.
The council voted to support the scheme and give public notice of its attention to adopt the plan.
If the scheme is adopted, the rates collected would be used for marketing, promotion and business development within the town centre.
The SBA has requested for the scheme run from 1 July this year and end on 30 June 2018.
The special rate scheme would raise $117,070 in its first year and more than $646,900 in total across five years.
The proposal would not cover all Sunshine Town Centre businesses but those located in the Main St Precinct and Southern Precinct, as described in council’s town centre structure plan.
All properties included in the scheme – except those located in Sunshine Plaza and the Sunshine Marketplace – would be charged a base rate of 0.00053, multiplied by Capital Improved Values (CIV) based on 2012 valuations.
The rates would increase at a rate of two per cent per annum over the five years of the scheme.
Businesses in the Sunshine Plaza would have a base rate of 0.00032 multiplied by CIV based on 2012 valuations.
The Sunshine Marketplace rates would have a base rate of 0.00025 multiplied by CIV based on 2012 valuations.
Proceeds raised by the scheme would be used to engage a professional marketing person to implement activities in Sunshine, promote the area as a whole, improve the town centre’s website, improve safety and cleanliness programs and begin business development activities.
