By Vanessa Chircop
ANGRY business owners are outraged at a council funding scheme that proposes to offer a $500 grant to remove solid roller shutters from businesses.
Hobsons Bay Director Planning and Environment Peter Gaschk told Star the funding scheme is seen by the council as a positive way in which to encourage and assist traders to remove unsightly roller shutters.
“The council understands why traders have erected the screens,” Mr Gaschk said.
“However, once erected these screens also become the targets of graffiti, which only compounds the unsightly nature of the security shutter, making the area uninviting.”
Cr Michael Raffoul told the council that solid roller shutters are an eyesore on main roads that are gateways into the city.
“This is a good story that now offers the owners of the property or the people that are leasing it a grant to put up something that is a bit more nice,” he said at the meeting.
Deputy mayor Tony Briffa said the council has the right to assert the removal of shutters.
“This is indeed a positive news story,” he said.
Cr Briffa noted Harrington Square and Pier St in Altona as areas with problem shutters.
However business owners in Harrington Square remain unconvinced, with some stating they would not replace their shutters.
Sana, who owns and runs Harrington Square Fish n Chips with her husband Alex, told Star the $500 grant was not enough of an incentive to replace their shutter.
“When they fix up the shopping area then they can talk about removing shutters,” she said.
“We’ve been waiting five years for proper signage to say what shops are in the centre and we’re still waiting.”
Sana said their business has been broken into three times through the front door – the only part of the shop that isn’t covered by a roller shutter when they’re closed. During one break-in thieves stole $700 worth of goods and even stole Sana’s baby’s $300 pram to carry some of the goods out of the shop.
Sana said removing the shutters would not prevent graffiti, it would just encourage vandals to etch their front windows or break in via the windows.
Navin, who owns ‘lol coffee and games’ at Harrington Square, said the previous owner was forced by the council to replace their steel shutter with a transparent one. Navin said the transparent shutter cost the owner $5000 making the $500 grant insignificant.
Lily, the manager of Foodworks, said she doesn’t see the point in swapping the shutters because they’re only an “eyesore” when down and that’s not that often.
“Will council cover our higher insurance premium because the shop is not as secure?” she asked. Foodworks has seven solid shutters and Lily estimated it would cost the business more than $35,000 to have them all replaced.
