By YASEMIN TALAT
AN introduction of a special rate is around the corner with Brimbank Council commencing the statutory process to introduce the new scheme for St Albans Town Centre.
The new special rate will encourage commerce and retail activity as well as boosting employment opportunities in the town centre.
St Albans Business Group Association (SABGA) requested council to introduce the special rate to fund marketing, promotional and business development activities and programs in the town centre.
President of SABGA, Sam Agricola said the proposed special rate scheme was an important part of achieving recognition for the town centre.
“We have no funding apart from what we can scrounge from fund-raising activities,” Mr Agricola said.
“It will give us some better tools and funds to promote the area,” he said.
“A strip shopping centre like ours has to compete with the big hard tops that surround us who have multi-million dollar marketing budgets and a department to look after it,” he said.
“There’s a lot of competition out there, we need to be in a position to compete some way.”
“The last thing you want to see is the streets full of empty shops where businesses fail.”
Chair of Brimbank Administrators John Watson said the SABGA request was an important aspect of their business plan, and was in line with both the Brimbank Council Plan and the Special Rate and Charge Scheme policies.
“SABGA and a significant number of local traders believe this special rate will be beneficial to the traders by attracting more people to visit and shop in one of the most cosmopolitan shopping precincts in Melbourne’s western region,” he said.
It is proposed that SABGA will be appointed to administer the proceeds of the scheme in accordance with terms and conditions outlined in a funding agreement that will be monitored by council.
Council will write to all property owners and occupiers included in the scheme advising of the proposed special rate.
Any person affected may make a written submission or objection by 2 October, which council will consider prior to making a decision at its ordinary council meeting on 26 November.
