North Sydney Council prioritises income as pool costs soar
North Sydney Council will continue charging outdoor dining licence fees for local businesses, saying it cannot afford to lose any income given cost blowouts for its pool redevelopment.
Outdoor dining fees are budgeted to generate $945,000 for council this financial year. Council ceased the fees during COVID-19 lockdown to help local businesses, but it recommenced charging the fee in July 2022. It had examined whether a fee waiver for outdoor dining would be feasible for the North Sydney area in the next six months, which would mean a loss of $375,000 in income.
Council says that given it was ‘a time for caution,’ with a projected $2.42 million deficit, and ‘additional costs’ for the pool redevelopment, it would not waive the fees. Following feedback from businesses, council is now developing a ‘hardship’ policy for any in financial distress.
But Crows News shop owners are concerned about forthcoming streetscape upgrades which will rip up their outdoor dining areas.
The transformation project for the Willoughby Rd dining strip is set to ‘renew’ the outdoor dining terraces to give a more ‘village feel’ to the town centre.
Davide Crespi, co-owner of Brewmance restaurant, said while the upgrades would benefit the popular dining strip, he is concerned about how eateries will be supported while the works are taking place.
“The project seems to be very promising in the long run, but what’s going to happen once they start digging in front of the shop?” Mr Crespi said. “Will I still have to pay the outdoor dining fee? Are they going to reimburse us for the loss of trade?”
Mr Davide said the fee waiver should be considered for shops affected by the renovations, which are scheduled to take place from July until March next year.
“Council needs to come up with a solution for every business, because it could be a loss of trade for everybody.”