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Page 14 The Moorabool News – 22 March, 2022
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Moorabool
from 29 March
‘Melbourne Money’ comes to Moorabool By Lachlan Ellis A stimulus package from the State Government is set to now benefit Moorabool customers and businesses alike after a tough two years, with discounts and grants up for grabs. The Business Stimulus Package will inject $200 million into measures aimed at helping businesses increase revenue and recover from the pandemic, including reimbursement for customers’ dining and entertainment costs, and grants to help businesses modernise. President of the Ballan & District Chamber of Commerce, Michael Ryan, said there was still some hesitance among many people to go out to eat or attend events, but these incentives would help. “There is no doubt there is a hesitancy amongst a certain demographic, and I’m part of that demographic – we normally are spontaneous and make decisions to go out spontaneously, but COVID has made us reluctant. I think this may help overcome that,” Mr Ryan told the Moorabool News. “It’s a good incentive, especially from Monday to Thursday when perhaps it’s not as busy, and the risk of catching the virus might be less anyway.” On the $1,200 rebates for modernising business operations, Mr Ryan said he thought it was great. “It’s not the way of the future, it’s the way of the present. Some people think it’s too hard and don’t bother, but if they can get some assistance and get more modern systems up and running, I think it’s great,” he said. “Customers are expecting it, especially the younger generations. Businessed that aren’t digitised will struggle… people will say ‘I want to order online, I want to pay online, I want to do everything online or use my phone’…so I think it’s a really positive initiative.”
The famous ‘Melbourne Money’ initiative was first launched by Melbourne City Council in June last year, allowing diners to claim 20 per cent off their dining bills from venues within the City of Melbourne. Many regional Victorian businesses have since called for an equivalent program, and the State Government is finally delivering. The $30 million ‘Statewide Dining Vouchers’ program is set to launch on 29 March, reimbursing 25 per cent of dining costs in Local Government Areas outside the Melbourne CBD from Monday – Thursday, between $40 and $500. Also scheduled for a 29 March launch is the “Entertainment Voucher Scheme’, which will offer discounts for entertainment costs such as cinema tickets, live music, and exhibitions. Another component of the package is the ‘Small Business Digital Adaptation Program’, which will offer $1,200 rebates to businesses for upgrades such as websites, stock management tools, and online menus and ordering systems. Victorian Minister for Industry Support and Recovery, Martin Pakula, said the package would help Victorian businesses get back on their feet. “We’re encouraging Victorians to experience the best the state has to offer by going to see a show, having lunch with friends or visiting somewhere new,” Mr Pakula said. “Business and consumer confidence is critical for our continued economic recovery and that’s why we’re investing in these programs to deliver a boost where it is needed most.” It is understood that the Statewide Dining Vouchers will work along the same lines as Melbourne Money, with hospitality customers taking a photo of their receipts and sending them to the State Government via an online form, along with contact information, bank details, date, and bill amount. For more information, visit www.vic.gov.au/business-stimulus-package.
Have your say on local infrastructure Council has over $668 million worth of infrastructure assets, and with the Shire set to double in population over the next 20 years, Council wants your input on how to best manage those assets. From roads, libraries, sports pavilions, playgrounds and more, Council is the custodian of hundreds of assets, and wants to hear from the community on how they think these assets should be managed. • Council has prepared five documents for public review: • Draft Asset Management Strategy 2022–2032 Asset Management Plans for four categories: • Buildings • Open Space • Storm Water • Transport The documents detail expected maintenance costs, life expectancy for the assets, what condition they have been judged to be in, the challenges faced by Council in maintaining these
assets, improvement plans, and more. You can view the documents and submit either a prepared submission, or write your feedback on as many of the documents as you like, by visiting www.moorabool.engagementhub.com. au/asset-management-strategy-plan.
Copies are also available at Council’s service centres between 8.30 am and 5.00 pm, and written submissions can be sent marked “Attention: Asset Management Department, PO Box 18, Ballan VIC 3342”. Submissions close on Thursday 7 April.