Sunshine Coast Council

• The Coronavirus business support line is available between 8am-8pm, seven days a week. The number to call is 13 28 46.

• Coronavirus Business Liaison Unit provides updates to government on crucial issues.
  
  

• The Continuing your Business Guide is designed to keep your business operating. View the guide here.
  
  

• Coronavirus marketing kit for peak bodies and industry associations.
  
  

• Visit the Australian Government business website for more information and support.
  
  

• JobTrainer -  training for school leavers and job seekers that will help them develop new skills in growing job sectors.

• JobKeeper - subsidy for businesses affected by COVID-19. This payment has been extended to 28 March 2021.

• JobMaker - money for business from the government for creating new jobs.

• Mandatory Code of Conduct for Commercial Tenancies.

• Export Market Development Grants - financial help program for aspiring and current exporters.

• Australian Small Business Advisory Services - Digital Solutions Program.
  
  

• New business assistance - more information. 

Economic stimulus package

• Boosting cash flow for employers to keep staff - More information.

• Apprentices and trainees - More information. 
  
  
• Temporary relief bankruptcy - More information. 
  
  
• Increasing instant asset write-off - More information.
  
  
• Tax relief - email COVID-19Taxissues@ato.gov.au
  
  
• Backing business investment - More information.

Below is a list of key support available from the Queensland Government.

Start here first

• Business QLD

• QLD Roadmap to Restrictions

• Call for advice - local teams are ready to talk you through the support and services on offer – call 1300 654 687 to find out more.

• Business assistance finder - Use the Queensland Government Coronavirus (COVID-19) Business Assistance Finder to learn what support you may be eligible for. Current Queensland Government financial support information can be found on the Business Queensland website business.qld.gov.au or by calling the Small Business Hotline on 1300 654 687.

• Complete the online survey to help the government understand the impact of COVID-19 on your business and assess what support you need.

• Read the Queensland Government support package overview.

• Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning has compiled a useful factsheet of assistance[520KB] available to you from far and wide.

Additional support

• Free online training for small businesses and employees including, digital skills and adapting to change. More information. 
  
  

• $400 million in land tax relief and payment deferrals for commercial and residential property owners. Apply here.

• Queensland job seekers can register their details, skills and location via the Jobs Finder Queensland portal and access free online training. Access the online portal.

• Small business financial counselling services - The Rural Financial Counselling Service has been expanded to support any small business impacted by COVID-19 and is funded by grants from government to local organisations that employ financial counsellors. Any small business impacted by COVID-19 can now contact the Small Business Financial Counselling Service Southern Queensland on (07) 4622 5500. 

• Job support loans - Register your interest to access the new $500 million loan facility. This is interest free for the first 12 months to support Queensland businesses impacted by COVID-19 retain employees and maintain their operations. This concessional loan facility will comprise low interest loans of up to $250,000 for carry on finance with an initial 12-month interest free period for businesses to retain staff. Send your full name, phone number and email address to register your interest or call 1800 623 946. This is now closed and applications are being processed.

• Mentoring sessions - mentors are available to provide tailored support including financial mentoring and business planning. Register at the website.

• Financial workshops - workshops will be delivered to support a place-based approach for small businesses. Register here. 

• Rent relief -  for small businesses who rent premises from the Queensland Government. A new online rental hub covid19.qld.gov.au/the-hub has information and resources to help tenants, property owners and agents.

• Queensland legal practitioners able to use video conferencing technology to conduct a range of transactions that usually require face-to-face meetings. The making of documents such as wills, general powers of attorney, enduring powers of attorney, advance health directives, statutory declarations, deeds and many other types of documents are also available under the modified arrangements. Visit Business Queensland for further small business support.

• Small business adaption grant program - apply for grants aimed at small and micro businesses. Up to $10,000 in funding available per eligible business. 

• COVID Safe Business guidance and practices

• COVID Safe Training links from the Queensland Government.

• The Queensland Government is extending support for tourism operators conducting commercial activities in national parks under its Immediate Recovery Package.

The information below contains support options available from Sunshine Coast Council.

Economic Resurgence Plan

The focus of all economic intervention and support outlined in the Sunshine Coast Council Economic Resurgence Plan is to stimulate economic activity in the Sunshine Coast over the next 12-18 months. The actions in the plan aim to return the regional economy to the level of economic growth experienced in 2019/2020. View the plan. 

Business Support Package #3

The Sunshine Coast Incentive Assistance Program (SCIAP) is a component of the Sunshine Coast Council Economic Resurgence Plan.

There are five broad areas of support under SCIAP:

1. Fee incentive of up to 25% on the cost of an eligible development application.
2. Deferment/staged payment of infrastructure charges.
3. Financial incentives under the Sunshine Coast Investment Incentive Scheme (SCIIS).
4. Sunshine Coast Infill Development Incentive - Caloundra/Nambour CBD.
5. Non-financial incentives - Business Response Group (senior council officers) provide assistance; two free pre-lodgement meetings; priority assessment and other support (e.g. connection and referrals to other regulators).

Download the program[447KB].

Business Support Package #2

• Professional Advice Support Program - offering access to professional business advice from local accounting, legal and human resources firms, to assist local businesses make critical decisions about their operations and their future. This service provides a free initial consultation to businesses that employ up to 19 staff and have a turnover of less than $5 million. Access the program. 

• Information resources - helping businesses transition to operating in this new environment by linking them with local online service providers, video conferencing and IT specialists and providing useful resources. View the resources. 

• Business signage - business signage will be available to support businesses that have to alter their service arrangements such as providing takeaway/delivery signs outside cafes and restaurants and advice to customers on how to access online services. Download signage. 

• Community and commercial lease relief – community and commercial lessees of council properties will be eligible for a rent waiver from March 1 to June 30. Council will contact eligible groups.

• Capital works – up to $3 million in capital works projects will be brought forward to support local jobs and to keep money circulating in the local economy. These works will be on council facilities that have been temporarily closed. Details of projects will be released in the coming weeks.

Business Support Package #1

• Bringing forward works to support industry - On March 24 we announced that as part of its efforts to keep money circulating in the local economy and work flowing for the construction and related industries, council will be accelerating programmed maintenance and other works in a number of its facilities while they are closed as a result of complying with public health directions. Council would look to bring forward scheduled works at council facilities such as Venue 114, The Events Centre, Caloundra and Sunshine Coast Stadium. Council is also currently reviewing its Capital Works Program to identify opportunities to bring forward approved and budgeted projects, as a further measure to support the local economy and businesses. More information. 

• Review to fees and charges - council will contact affected businesses to discuss the following additional support measures and the reviewed fees and charges:
  • Dedicated staff to assess temporary use permits
  • Additional staff focused on building and plumbing approvals to ensure continuity of work/approvals
  • Representations made to the State Government on kitchens/liquor licensing and Federal Government on stimulus to support sole suppliers
  • Relaxation of curfews in relation to deliveries of essential items to supermarkets/pharmacies
  • Footpath/outdoor dining and trading permit fees (reimbursement or waiver from March 1 to July 31)
  • Food licensing fees (reimbursement or waiver from March 1 to August 31)
  • Community event and major event permit fees (reimbursement/refunds from March 1 to June 30 or ability to postpone for 12 months and bond refunded until new date set)
  • Commercial low-use/high-use permits (reimbursement or waiver from March 1 to June 31)
  • Filming application fees (reimbursement or waiver from March 1 to June 30)
  • Venue hire (bookings) - refunds and waiver of normal cancellation fees at all Council venues from March 16 to June 30
  • Staged payment of Infrastructure Charges for Development Approvals - The first payment can be deferred between 6-9 months and subsequent payments made every six months over 2-3 years.  No interest will be applied to staged payment agreements entered into from now until the 1 July 2020. Any development where the property will remain under the applicant’s ownership for the life of the staged payments will qualify. Hence, this will exclude reconfiguring a lot approvals and developments that are subject to strata/community title subdivision. Payment of any existing Infrastructure Charge that is overdue can be deferred until 1 July 2020. For further information please email us.
  • Parking warnings instead of infringements in general unless the infringement relates to health and safety issues or parking in disabled parking spaces.
  • Paid parking waiver for Caloundra from March 31 to June 30.

March 18 - Expediting payments - Sunshine Coast Council will be injecting up to $15 million per month earlier into the local economy by expediting payments to local contractors in a bid to improve cash flow and stem the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses that have undertaken work for council are urged to submit their invoices for receipting, processing and payment as soon as possible and preferably within seven days. Our finance team will do everything it can to expedite the processing of payments and will target paying the invoices within seven days, provided all of the information has been provided, and the goods have been received or the services delivered within contractual arrangements. Find out more. 

Ongoing business support

• Wellbeing support - Business owners and employees can log in to the free B-Well and Prosper portal available via the council's website to provide mental wellbeing support during this difficult time. For further support, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. It is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

• Funding finder - Businesses can also log on to Sunshine Coast Funding Finder to see what grants are available to support you.

• Free online courses - Many businesses are having to change the way they do business, with more outlets going online, using video for meetings and offering delivery. If you or your employees want to update your online skills you can access a free online course - Level Up.

• Remote-working support - We have released a new Level-Up blog post to support you in working remotely - Survive and Thrive: Working Remotely Guide for Employers. There are also two new blog posts, How to sell Online and Get your sales Soaring.

Contact us

Anyone needing to contact council should ideally call 5475 7272 or consider using one of the many convenient online options including MyCouncil, Web Chat, the Call Back service, or email us at mail@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au Council’s Economic Development Branch is here to support businesses during this challenging period, please contact our business support officers.

Signage for Street Performers

Signage has been developed which will assist buskers and street performers to advise the public that they accept cashless payment. Download a copy of the sign [24KB].