Isaac cuts fees to boost business growth

The Isaac Regional Council is supporting small and medium businesses by reducing development application fees for 12 months.

This decision – supported unanimously at today’s Isaac Regional Council meeting – is forecast to save the local business community up to $40,000 in total over the coming financial year, based on recent development trends.

“Council wants to support businesses looking to expand and invest during the difficult economic times associated with the COVID-19 pandemic,” Isaac Mayor Anne Baker said after the meeting.

“This fee relief is targeted towards opportunities for new and expanding land uses that have potential job creation and economic diversification benefits.”

Mayor Baker said Council has endorsed a 75 per cent reduction in material change of use development application fees till 30 June 2021 for existing Isaac-based small and medium enterprises (SMEs) seeking to expand or launch new commercial or industrial uses in the Isaac Region.

The same fees would be reduced by 50 per cent for SMEs moving to the Isaac Region.

Also, there would be a temporary waiver of the regulated fee for SMEs and all residential development proposals seeking an extension to the currency period of their existing material change of use, reconfiguring a lot and operational works approvals.

However, these temporary fee reductions and waivers expressly exclude non-resident workers accommodation and extractive industries.

“Small and medium businesses make up 99 per cent of all registered businesses in the Isaac Regio,” Mayor Baker said.

“We all know that business confidence and investment across Australia has slowed due to the broader economic downturn associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Council has received a number of development inquiries from current or prospective SMEs about expanding or establishing operations in the Isaac Region.

“We hope that cutting their costs in this way will encourage businesses to make new investments and further boost jobs and economic activity in the Region.”

Note: Small and medium enterprises are defined as those firms employing fewer than 200 people and with an annual turnover of less than $10 million.