Pleas to share help for traders

Bid to extend marketing outside CBD

A GEELONG traders’ association has revealed its hopes the City of Greater Geelong will expand its $700,000 CBD marketing program to other trading precincts amid uncertainty around the fairness of funding only CBD projects.

Councillors voted last week to include $700,000 in the proposed CoGG 2022-23 budget to deliver a program of activities and marketing campaigns for central Geelong, and develop a three-year marketing strategy for the CBD.

The funding comes a year after five councillors successfully voted to axe the Central Geelong Marketing Committee and dump a special charge scheme that would have imposed a levy on CBD traders for five years, costing about 1500 businesses about $770 annually.

The move came despite an independent 2020 report labelling the CGMC “the gold standard for main street centre management, marketing and business development programs in terms of best practice in Australia”.

With the CoGG taking on funding the program for the next year, Geelong West Traders Association spokesman Cameron Brown said he hoped other trading precincts would be considered for similar funding.

“For the last 20 years, Geelong businesses have been asked to pay some of the highest council rates in the state of Victoria while also seeing economic development under-funded compared with some budget priorities,” Mr Brown said.

“The Geelong West business association views with favour the prioritisation of funds towards creating a sense of place for our commercial precincts.

“While there is some uncertainty as to the equity of using the rate revenue of the wider region to benefit specific commercial interests inside of central Geelong, it does act as a pilot toward the allocation of funds to branding our local activity centres.

“A functioning business association is a critical element in creating a great main street experience.

“We hope to see more funding allocated toward centres that have such entities operating.”

Community submissions regarding the city’s proposed budget can be lodged until May 24.