EDITORIAL: NOW that the dust is settling after a protracted storm over the proposed Warrnambool business promotion levy, it’s time to let the democratic process take its course.
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About 1300 business operators and commercial and industrial property owners will receive notices in the mail this week indicating how much they would pay, along with an outline of how the money will be spent.
Occupiers of a property covered by the proposed levy have 28 days to respond in writing.
Their responses will determine if the city council takes another vote in December to decide if the scheme should be enacted for the next five years.
It’s been a divisive issue for most of the year since Commerce Warrnambool released its strategy to raise $600,000 through levying business operators with annual fees ranging from $300 to $6000 which would be collected via the city council rates billing system.
The money would fund extensive promotions aimed at bringing more customers and visitors to revive the city’s flagging economy.
The backlash before and after the council voted in May to roll out the proposed declaration triggered a major review by the commerce group, which scaled back proposed levies and halved the revenue target.
This trimmed-down version got the council nod on Monday night to go out to the business community for comment.
Unfortunately, some opponents have been using personal attacks on social media to push their views.
It’s time for the bitterness to stop and let business operators decide for themselves if they think the levy is a good move.
It will mean an annual bill of between $100 and $300, rising by about 3 per cent for the next five years to ramp up promotional branding for Warrnambool.
Past attempts to get a meaningful chamber of commerce like Commerce Warrnambool have fallen flat through apathy and infighting.
Time will tell whether this new concept succeeds, but something must be done to revive the once vibrant Warrnambool retail economy.