By Ann MarieAngebrandt
LOCAL business owners have cautiously welcomed Hobsons Bay’s new footpath policy.
The policy is aimed at cleaning up street-side retail displays for easier pedestrian access, and regulating kerbside eating spots.
Tony Napoli, president of the 70-member Williamstown Business Tourism Promotions, said he was glad retailers were not charged by the metre for their displays, as originally planned.
“That would have seriously affected fruit and florist shops, which all contribute to the vibrancy of street life,” he said.
Instead, all retailers will be charged a flat rate of $218 regardless of the size of their displays.
Restaurants with kerbside eating will now require windproof ashtrays, safe furniture, and toilet facilities calculated on patronage.
The standards were already in place, but not enforced, Mr Napoli said.
“One of the biggest sticking points is that there has been no enforcement in the past, so that has caught some business owners off guard,” he said.
The average restaurant will be charged about $500 for its kerbside eating area.
A clearway of 1.8 metres in most cases will be required to ensure prams and wheelchairs can get by.
Real estate agents will for the first time be charged $400 per agency per year to display their auction and open house signs.
Mr Napoli said that charge was contentious.
“We hate to continually accuse the council of revenue-raising, but when these signs are used only temporarily on weekends, what else can we think?”
Cr Angela Altair said she was aware of the burden the policy would have on some businesses, especially in areas where “rents have gone through the roof”.
She suggested freely providing the windproof ashtrays to cafes from the revenue generated by the new trading code.
