Focusing on a strong return to economic performance, City of Perth Commissioners approved a comprehensive $20,115,000 COVID-19 Economic Rebound Strategy to support Perth’s community over the next three years.
In order to boost confidence within the local economy, the City of Perth has proposed a list of operational projects, aiming to make it easier to do business in Perth, cut red tape and improve community outcomes as Australia recovers from the effects of COVID-19.
“The business community has been impacted heavily by the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic over these past months, with a range of business sectors, including retail, hospitality, tourism and the arts being the hardest hit,” Chair Commissioner Andrew Hammond said.
“The reduction of available jobs and the reduction in the payment of wages have also had flow-on impacts to households, causing major financial stress to many members in the community.”
Informed by key stakeholders, the aims to provide clarity on the City’s activities and priorities over the next three years, ensuring the community, businesses and visitors have the best opportunity to thrive in a landscape that has been altered significantly.
The strategy focuses on three aspects; return and recover, re-invent and revive and recalibrate and repeat.
During the return and recover phase, the City of Perth’s aim is to get Perth back up and running.
Several measures have already been implemented in this phase to provide immediate support including increased safety, hygiene and outreach services, waiving of fees and charges for businesses, free parking initiatives and business support through grants, workshops and campaigns.
“Our plan is to ease the community, businesses and city workers into the new ‘normal’ way of life, whereby people enjoy this great capital city safely. The main objective is to rapidly establish Perth city as a safe and re-energised destination that is open for business and ready to welcome back the community,” Chair Commissioner Andrew Hammond said.
This will involve features that make it easier to do business, enhancing cleaning and safety practices, addressing homelessness and returning vibrancy to the city.
As the threat to health softens and the community prepares to return to some level of normality, the City will work alongside the community and stakeholders to revive Perth as a destination of choice to visit, live, play, work, invest or study in.
Three advisory committees have been set up to make sure ongoing collaborating and feedback from various sectors of the business community are undertaken over the next 12 months.
This includes a Marketing and Promotion Advisory Committee, City Amenity Advisory Committee and Events, Culture and the Arts Advisory Committee.
“We plan to maximise this collaboration through continued engagement with stakeholders so City services, business support, activities and events meet mutual expectations,” Chair Commissioner Andrew Hammond said.
Finally, the City of Perth will continue to seek stakeholder feedback and evaluation on recovery and rebound activities undertaken, delivering services that are valued by the community and responding to changing needs by recalibrating activities that no longer meet those needs.
It is envisaged the City will seek ongoing collaboration and engagement with stakeholders to continually improve and deliver the best outcomes for the community.
