Maribyrnong council will explore further incentives to attract business investment and develop vacant and disused properties in Footscray.
A motion moved by outgoing mayor Pradeep Tiwari aimed at attracting new businesses to the Footscray CBD, was endorsed at the final meeting of his term on Tuesday night.
The motion, which includes a range of incentives aimed at attracting businesses, supporting existing traders and developing vacant and disused properties, was endorsed unanimously at the meeting.
As a result, a report will be prepared that outlines council’s existing support for traders in the Footscray CBD as well as exploring other opportunities.
These include waiving council fees for new businesses and providing them with a 30-day business concierge service, which would be trialled during a nine-month pilot period.
The report will be tabled at council’s last meeting for the year.
Cr Tiwari said the motion was the result of feedback he’d received from Footscray traders throughout his term as mayor.
“The feedback has been consistent: Footscray has potential but needs targeted, practical support from council,” he said, adding that these initiatives would compliment existing council support for traders as well as initiatives to assist vulnerable members of the community such as helping the Salvation Army to establish a health hub for rough sleepers.
“We know the challenges, empty shop fronts, rising costs, slower foot traffic, the pressures are real. But so is the opportunity.
“With the right settings we can transform vacant spaces into vibrant hubs for jobs, culture, creativity, food and innovation.
“This motion is about sending a very clear message that Footscray is open for business.”
Cr Mohamed Semra seconded the motion,.
“Footscray is not just an activity centre in Maribyrnong, it’s a place where cultures meet, where small family run shops sit alongside longstanding institutions and where generations of traders have built livelihoods,” he said.
The motion follows the recent establishment of a pop-up park at the former Belgravia Hotel site on the corner of Nicholson and Buckley streets and the announcement of a temporary car park on vacant land in the Joseph Road precinct.
