Noosa Business roundtable scores COVID win

Noosa’s Business Roundtable is calling it a win for local business, after successfully lobbying the State Government for a COVID-19 cleaning rebate. 

Mayor Clare Stewart, Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Ralph Rogers (right) and Council Director Anthony Dow, have welcomed the announcement of $20 million worth of funding to help Queensland businesses cover the cost of COVID-19 deep cleans.

The Treasurer today announced $20 million in funding to help the business sector as part of a total $70 million business rescue package.

Council’s Acting Environment and Sustainable Development Director, Anthony Dow, initiated a sub-committee of the Noosa Business roundtable to gauge how Council could provide immediate support to the business community during the lockdown.

Sub-committee member and Interim Noosa Chamber of Commerce and Industry President, Ralph Rogers, flagged the idea of urgent funding for COVID deep cleans at a discussion last week.

“This was something our committee, on behalf of our members and other business associations, felt strongly about. It's unfair a business that is adversely affected at a time they need help gets stuck with the cost and management of appropriate deep cleaning,” he said.

It was one of several initiatives raised by Mayor Clare Stewart during a ZOOM meeting with South-East Queensland mayors and State Treasurer, Cameron Dick.

“It’s fantastic that the idea was well received by the Treasurer and other mayors,” the Mayor said.

“Our Business Roundtable members work extremely hard to identify workable solutions during this pandemic and it’s a credit to them that we have managed to get a result from the Queensland Government."

Mr Rogers applauded the collaborative approach.

“It’s easy to come up with the ideas, but equally important is having the civic leader who can successfully lobby the local cause,” he said.

Mr Rogers said the new measures would deliver immediate help to many local operators.

“This funding will certainly help ease the financial burden on them and assist them at a time they most need it,” Mr Rogers said.

Cr Stewart said working together is the only way forward.

“We need to listen to our business community and work with them to get through this challenging period,” Cr Stewart said.

Cr Stewart thanked Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson for his efforts in arranging last week’s ZOOM call with the State Treasurer.

Cr Stewart acknowledged the work of Member for Noosa, Sandy Bolton, who’s been strongly advocating for our business community for additional support.