A Lismore City councillor is pushing to reduce the total amount of general rates paid by inner central business district businesses.
Cr Gianpiero Battista has lodged a notice of motion for tonight’s council meeting calling on the council to review business rates with a view to reduce rates for the inner CBD, and present the results at a future council meeting.
The proposed reduction would be for businesses in the central block, bounded by Keen, Woodlark, Molesworth and Magellan streets.
‘The reason I am proposing this review is because I believe it is time to support our inner CBD in easing the amount of rates paid by our businesses in the area in consideration of a number of factors’ such as competition from Ballina and southern Queensland, and increased competition from online shopping, Cr Battista said.
He argues that the CBD has historically been seen as the centre of business in Lismore and therefore should contribute more to the business rate, however this is not substantiated by facts.
He said the council was investing considerable resources to the CBD with a new gallery, discount policies on CBD dining and ‘shop top’ housing.
‘It is clear to me that in the last four years the council and community have benefited from an increased focus on activities and development in the CBD though Thursday markets and events such as Eat the Street.
No mention is made of decreasing the business rate for properties in North and South Lismore, which were majorly impacted by recent flooding.
The motion will be debated at this evening’s council meeting which begins at 6pm in the chambers at Goonellabah.
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