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The Victorian premier has announced huge changes for Melbourne’s CBD, and support for sole traders and the entertainment industry, which have been struggling in the lockdown.
On Monday, Daniel Andrews unveiled the $290 million package, which includes re-purposing Melbourne’s CBD to allow outdoor dining over summer.
“Many cities like New York and London have led the way in transforming footpaths and roads to whole new experiences,” he said in a statement.
“Melbourne and Victoria will apply the best overseas experience to create a new, exciting model for outdoor entertainment as the weather begins to warm up.”
Funding of $87.5 million will be given to councils and businesses outside of Melbourne’s CBD to make widespread outdoor dining safe.
And $58 million will go to grants of up to $5000 to help businesses to pay for things to make this work, including umbrellas, outdoor furniture and other equipment.
The grants will also be available to licensed and unlicensed cafes, restaurants, pubs and clubs with a payroll less than $3 million.
“We will change the way this city operates,” Andrews said.
Funding of $29.5 million will be provided to local councils to support the outdoor dining in the Third Step of the roadmap.
A further $100 million will go to funding the “reshape” of Melbourne’s CBD in partnership with the City of Melbourne, where there are more than 16,500 businesses registered.
Sole traders will be given grants of $3000.
“We think this will support around 33,000 sole traders across the state,” Martin Pakula said.
“That will be those traders who work in areas like accommodation and tourism, some permitted retail, media and film production, gyms, creative studios, outdoor entertainment, private museums and galleries.”
The $3 billion business package
A $3 billion package in the form of cash grants, tax relief and cashflow support was unveiled on Sunday.
Andrews called it the “biggest package of business support in the history of this state”.
More than $1.1 billion in cash grants will support small and medium-sized businesses most affected by the Stage 4 lockdown and ensuing restrictions.
About 75,000 eligible businesses with payrolls up to $10 million will receive grants of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 depending on size.
More than 108,000 businesses had already received grants from the first two rounds of Business Support Fund grants.
To support bars, restaurants, pubs, clubs, hotels and reception centres, the Andrews government established a $251 million dedicated Licensed Venue Fund.
It will offer grants between $10,000 and $30,000 for licensed venues.
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