Ettalong group may get money and rates levy

The Ettalong Beach Business Group Inc (EBBGI) has secured $75,000 in seed funding as part of Gosford Council's Business Improvement District Policy.

However, the group will have to wait until the public exhibition period for the policy is completed and adopted by council.

Once the policy has been finalised, council will issue the group three yearly instalments of $25,000.

Ettalong Beach Business Group member Mr Ray Dearlove said the funding assistance was a "great step toward the renewal of Ettalong Beach".

"Ever since the inception of the Ettalong Beach Business Group in late 2007, the group has been working towards the establishment of a Business Improvement District," Mr Dearlove said.

"The purpose of a BID is to improve conditions for business in a specific area, attract and retain businesses, generate jobs and improve the quality of life for those who use the district. "It enables stakeholders to decide which services to provide to meet the district's unique needs."

Mr Dearlove said the group would announce an Ettalong Beach Business Forum once the public exhibition period for the policy was finished.

He said this would give local business owners in the area the opportunity to have their say on what the money should be used for.

"We will let local business owners know about the forum and eventually the community will be closely consulted with," Mr Dearlove said.

"We need the local business community's ongoing support, but we also need their opinions and suggestions on how this funding should be applied so that we gain the maximum benefit for Ettalong Beach.

"As we all know, it is very, very difficult to make things happen without funding.

"With the confirmation that the other two viewing platforms will be built on the foreshore in the next six months and ongoing work to restore Ettalong Beach, there are exciting times ahead."

Council also resolved to support the future introduction of a special levy on commercial properties in Ettalong Beach, dependent on achieving demonstrated endorsement from at least 75 per cent of the owners of commercial properties determined to be applicable and from owners paying 75 per cent of the total aggregated levy.

A council report stated: "Should EBBGI decide to seek a special rate levy applied to all commercial properties, as is the usual way of funding a BID, it will require formal council support".

"In preliminary discussions, EBBGI has been informed that council would need evidence of strong local support for any such levy," the report stated.

According to the council report, the group has proposed to reduce street level commercial vacancy rates in the medium term, increase the occupancy of the three main hotels/motels in Ettalong Beach, increase, on an annual basis, the number of hits on the Ettalong Beach Business Group website and development of a marketing brochure for Ettalong Beach this year.

Council has stated the proposals will be used as key performance indicators and would require further negotiations to determine a methodology for measurement and clear targets.

Clare Graham, 6 May 2010 Interviewee: Ray Dearlove, Ettalong Beach Business Group Council agenda ENV.21, 27 Apr 2010