Congratulations to Banyule City Council for agreeing to a very substantial financial package of about $900,000 to support its main street business associations and businesses. Key features include funds to develop online training programs for businesses as well as grants to individual businesses to help them work up their ecommerce capabilities. The most significant allocation will cover all the costs over the next nine months of the special rates and charges currently levied to business operators and property owners to fund the coordinated marketing and business development programs in 11 strip shopping centres across its municipality. This is a tremendous initiative and shows again the great leadership that Banyule Council has demonstrated over many years. I urge other councils to follow this impressive lead.
Peter McNabb – President Mainstreet