Brisbane City Council to waive fees for businesses, sports clubs and community groups
As the local community learns to live with the Coronavirus pandemic, doing this in a cost-effective manner is key, given the uncertainty still present.
The Brisbane City Council has announced a $5 million economic relief package to support local businesses, clubs, and groups, as they endeavour to bounce back from reduced operational capacity.
Given the current economic climate, consumer and business confidence is low. The waiving of certain fees is aimed at boosting this confidence and bringing our local communities back together.
Which scenarios will fall within this package?
This package predominantly consists of waiving certain council application, transfer, renewal, assessment, and permit fees, covering a range of categories. It also includes waivers of rent and leasing charges for community organisations that lease Council sites and Council community facilities.
A full list of scenarios and fee types provided by the Local Government is provided below:
| Categories | Fee Types |
|---|---|
| Advertising sign permits | • Annual renewable licence fee • Application fee • Assessment fee • Resubmission of application fee • Temporary sign - Generally inappropriate assessment fee • Temporary sign assessment fee • Transfer of licence fee • Generally inappropriate assessment fee |
| Amplified music venue | • Licence renewal application • New application with / without plans • Variation of conditions of permit |
| Food trucks and standing street vehicles | • Food Truck: Application fee • Food Truck: Design assessment fee • Food Truck: Occupancy fee • Standing Street Vehicle: Application fee • Standing Street Vehicle: Design requirement fee • Standing Street Vehicle: Occupancy fee |
| Footpath dining | • Application fee • Design requirement fee • Occupancy fee |
| Entertainment venues and events | • Entertainment events: Amendment fee • Entertainment events: Application fee • Entertainment events: Self-assessable application fee • Entertainment venues: Application fee • Entertainment venues: Design requirement fee |
| Food safety | • Application fee • Design requirement fees – Major, Medium and Minor • Food safety program accreditation and amendment – Major, Medium and Minor • Food stall |
| Personal appearance services | • Amendment (significant) fee • Licence renewal fee • New application with plans • New application without plans • Transfer fee |
| Malls | • Annual Outdoor Dining Consent fee for outdoor dining areas in the Queen St and Valley Malls • Permit to occupy fee |
| Commercial vehicles parking | • Annual application fee • Annual permit fee • Annual replacement label fee • Short term application fee • Short term permit fee • Short term replacement label fee |
| Commercial driveway | • Application fee |
| Permission to cross commercial kerb and channel | • Application fee |
| Film in Brisbane | • Fees and permits associated with filming in Brisbane |
| Community organisations: leases and licences | • Waiver of rent charges and licence fees. Community organisations in Council land |
| Business recycling fees | • Fee relief on commercial recycling bins |
| Leases - Retail and Tourism Sector | • Waiver of rent charges. Groups in Council owned sites, includes commercial lease rents and community organisation rents in Council community facilities |
| Community organisations: leases and licences | • Waiver of rent charges and licence fees. Community organisations leasing Council sites |
What dates will the package be in force?
These waivers will automatically apply to any new application and existing renewals that fall between 1 January 2022 and 31 March 2022. Provided they fit into one of the council’s specified categories outlined above, there are no further criteria to satisfy.
If you are not sure whether your business, club, or community group may be eligible for any of these waivers, contact Link Advisors and we can provide you with further clarification.
