Application Closing date: 11 Dec 2020 12:00 AM AEDT
This is a reminder for those who haven’t yet got their application in for the outdoor dining package. There are 6 weeks until the deadline. Don’t put it off for too long!
WHAT IS IT?
The Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package will provide $87.5 million to councils and businesses outside of Melbourne’s CBD to make outdoor dining experiences safe and practical under COVID-19 restrictions.
Businesses are able to apply for grants of up to $5,000 to fund the purchase of practicalities such as umbrellas, outdoor furniture, Perspex screens and other equipment. Funds will also be used to invest in training, advertising and other business needs.
ELIGIBILITY
The grants will be available to the following businesses with a payroll of less than $3 million:
- Licensed and unlicensed cafés
- Restaurants
- Takeaway food businesses
- Pubs, taverns, bars and clubs
Permits for Outdoor Dining
As part of the Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package, funding of $29.5 million will be provided to local councils to streamline the new permits, enforcement and monitoring processes required to facilitate the expanded outdoor dining in the Third Step of the roadmap to reopening. This tells us that even if you’ve been denied previously for a council permit to open/extend your outdoor dining area, you should absolutely apply again; the state government is pushing for these rules to be relaxed, and is giving funding to councils who do so.
This money is also able to be passed on to businesses in the form of reduced/waived permit fees or investment in infrastructures such as lighting and streetscaping.
Printable Form: https://businessvic.secure.force.com/ViewPrintableFormPdf?responseId=VdY5gBKZV7kIS6juz7UtiFBXi5s1CDpv9lgyCB5NS7oLTkyOTEz
Online Application: https://businessvic.secure.force.com/PublicForm?id=oafb2020#no-back-button
