Brimbank council is set to extend the St Albans Town Centre Marketing and Business Development special rate, allowing businesses to continue hosting local events and activities.
At the council meeting on September 19, council resolved to give notice of its intent to declare the special rate for a further five years.
Introduced in 2019, the special rate scheme provides continued funding from Brimbank council to support events promotion and business development initiatives in St Albans.
The St Albans Business Group Association Incorporated (SABGAI) wrote to council requesting the special rate be renewed, with the current special rate ending on June 30, 2024.
President of the SABGAI Sebastian Agricola said since the introduction of the scheme, the association has been able to extend its activities significantly.
“Much has been achieved but much is still to be done to continue all the good work. Hence the association is in favour of extending the scheme another five years,” he said.
All property owners and business operators will receive information about the special rate, which is proposed to commence on July 1, 2024, and end on June 30, 2029, raising a total of $832,583.15. This equates to almost $160,000 in the first year, increasing at a rate of two per cent each year for the term of the scheme.
Brimbank mayor Bruce Lancashire said many great events and activities are funded by the special rate.
“It also makes possible an ongoing program of marketing and business development initiatives that help boost the number of people who visit St Albans for a meal or shopping,” he said.
The special rate pays for the appointment of a professional marketing coordinator, promotional, advertising, marketing and business development. Several activities are funded by the special rate, including the St Albans Lunar Festival, Westside Crawls as part of the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Easter and Christmas activities and support for the council’s Enjoy Local Activation program.
