Food premises hit with fees increase

by Yvette Brand After a challenging 12 months in the hospitality industry, a Trafalgar business owner is disappointed that Baw Baw Shire has increased food premises registration fees.

Brendan Kingwill said pubs, restaurants, cafes and food outlets were hard hit by two COVID shutdowns last year and he was shocked to receive increased registration fees from council last month.

“People in our industry tend to just pay it but we have to speak up.

“There were a lot of businesses in the second shutdown that didn’t re-open,” he said.

Mr Kingwill said while his takeaway food business was one of the fortunate ones that continued to trade, many were still trying to recover.

But, he said, the biggest frustration was this is the second year of increased fees.

Mr Kingwill said pre-COVID last year, representatives of business groups in Trafalgar, Yarragon and Warragul met with the shire early last year to voice their concern when food licencing fees increased 20 per cent.

Now 12 months later, after officers allegedly guaranteed fees would not increase again, Mr Kingwill said they were being hit again.

“Although the businesses did not agree with this random price hike they were comforted by the fact that it was stated and recorded that there would be no increase next year.

“They sat there and said we are not going to put them up again.

“The fact nobody else (municipalities) are charging full price this year, let alone increasing it, it’s disappointing,” he said.

Mr Kingwill acknowledged council refunded six months of last year’s registration fees as part of its COVID support package to businesses.

He said the refund was well received and appreciated by everyone in the industry.

“But the process of recovery is bigger than what they did.

“At the moment we have to fight for everything whether it’s local government, state government or federal.

“The small business sector, in particular the hospitality sector has been decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic which saw many businesses close their doors, put off staff or sell off assets to keep their dream alive.

“With around 60 per cent of our employment coming from small business, now more than ever we need support from council and not price increases,” he said.

Shire chief executive officer Mark Dupe said council reviewed fees for food premises in May 2019.

He said the review involved extensive benchmarking against other municipalities.

“The review found that many premises were subsidising others like premises based on size, nature and classification.

“A proposed revised fee structure, with an equitable approach and in keeping with the guidance of the Food Act 1984, was put forward to council and formally adopted as part of council’s 2019/20 budget,” he said.

Council’s $440,000 community and business support package during COVID last year provided a 50 per cent waiver/refund for eligible new and existing food permits for the six month period between March and September.

This year’s fees were set as part of council’s budget process and adopted in August last year. The two per cent increase was part of council’s long term financial strategy and was capped in line with the consumer price index (CPI).