Main-street traders seek support

Ablock of Firebrace Street traders desperate to remain open in Horsham are waiting for a favourable outcome from months of discussions with their Horsham council landlord.

The trading group, representing businesses on the east side of Firebrace Street from Horsham Post Office to Roberts Avenue, has been negotiating with the council on a rate-relief plan.

Horsham Rural City Council owns much of the block from its inheritance of former Wimmera Shire offices and leases shops to a variety of businesses.

One of the businesses is home to sound-system specialist Chisholm Hi-fi and owner Jeff Allan said the cost of rent during the COVID-19 lockdown had and continued to pinch hard.

“Rent plays such a huge role in budgeting when it comes to commercial trading, especially in the main street of Horsham. Many businesses have taken a significant financial hit,” he said.

“Overcoming this financial burden is critical for businesses to get back on their feet.”

Mr Allan confirmed the trading group had been party to a series of discussions with councillors and council staff since March and was anxious about how the council might help and what provisions might be attached to any agreements.

He said an initial offer of simply deferring rent payments, while well meaning, fell well short of addressing major financial shortfalls and simply compounded the issue.

“Deferral of rent, while perhaps working okay as a very short-term easing of pressure, doesn’t really help the bottom line, and these costs never go away,” he said.

“So we’re hoping for something that is a bit more profound that gives us greater confidence to move forward.

“We know of several private commercial landlords that have offered reductions in fees and other helpful responses and we’ve had some councillors who have told us they are keen to support us in some way.

“We’re well aware that asking for this type of help is unusual. But trading circumstances have also obviously been unusual and stressful. And we’ve been keen to follow the government directive of tenants and landlords discussing a way through this dilemma.

“We’re open to and welcome whatever the council can provide.

“But whatever they come up with, to seriously help, must be realistic and ultimately support us with a bottom line.”

Committed

Horsham council chief executive Sunil Bhalla said the council was ‘very much’ aware of economic circumstances businesses and families had been confronting during the pandemic.

“We are committed to providing assistance that is both meaningful for businesses operators and acceptable for all ratepayers in the municipality,” he said.

“As per the National Cabinet Mandatory Code of Conduct, businesses who lease council properties are able to apply for rent concessions.

“These are based on the reduction of income due to the pandemic compared with the same time last year.

“The Code of Conduct sets eligibility criteria that businesses must be eligible to receive Jobkeeper payments.

“The council will extend the criteria to include all businesses occupying council-owned properties that have been impacted by COVID-19.

“We are committed to continue meeting all eligible businesses owners to discuss their options for assistance.”